More homes in south of France must clear undergrowth or face fine

Residents in the south of France are being reminded of mandatory undergrowth clearance regulations, following decrees last year expanding the areas where this must take place.

Both the Var and Hérault prefectures passed new regulations in 2025 greatly expanding the area covered by the ‘obligations légales de débroussaillement’ (OLD), or mandatory undergrowth clearance requirements. 

As rules only changed last autumn in the Var, 2026 is the first year where regulations apply to the vast majority of the department, with only a few urban areas excluded.

Changes were prompted in part by major fires in the south of France, including a 2021 blaze in Gonfaron (Var).

The fire saw 7,000 hectares of land destroyed, but most properties in the area were unscathed with authorities believing the undergrowth clearance rules saved around 90% of homes in the area from being burnt during the blaze.

Despite this however, many homeowners criticise the rules and the annual cost to clear properties to the specified requirements. 

Last year, authorities in the Var checked 2,000 properties which were covered by the regulations, and found 1,500 of them had not adequately cleared undergrowth from around their properties. 

Of these, 400 homeowners / tenants were each fined €200 for endangering the lives of other people through the lack of clearance.

Reminder of clearance rules

The regulations require clearance across several regions in France, mostly in the south and Corsica but also parts of Brittany and the centre. 

This official interactive map shows locations where the rules apply.

As a reminder, OLD rules require both owners and tenants (rental contracts determine who is responsible) to remove undergrowth, excess vegetation etc.

This includes outhouses and other buildings on the property (such as sheds) in gardens, expanding the radius.

Roads and footpaths leading up to your property must also be cleaned on either side up to 10 metres.

If this radius extends into other properties and public areas, you are still required to clear the undergrowth, or come to an agreement with the owner to ensure they do it.

To inform them you need to clear the undergrowth, you can use this proforma letter as a basis, then send it via recorded delivery (avec accusé de réception) to your neighbour. If they do not respond within one month, the responsibility to undertake the clearance then rests with them and you should inform your local mairie.

More information on the rules can be seen in our article here.

Note bylaws in affected departments can see certain vegetation protected, or radiuses extended (or for urban properties see all land required to undergo clearance).

Check your local planning rules or with your mairie for full information if in doubt. 

Deadlines for completing clearance are generally in place for July 1, although in most cases having the work completed by June 1 is best, as forest fires can appear earlier in the summer. 

What to do with the waste? 

Considerable vegetation and green waste (déchets verts) is collected when clearing undergrowth, however you need to be careful with how you dispose of this.

Burning garden waste is banned in all but exceptional circumstances, usually through special dispensations from local authorities. 

You must either take your waste to the local tip/déchetterie – check in advance it is accepted – or otherwise compost it or shred it to use as mulch.

If you have bins for green waste collection, you can also place it here. 

Financial aid and fines 

Gardeners can be hired to carry out undergrowth clearance, and if this is the case it is possible to employ them and benefit from tax credits under the standard ‘salarié à domicile’ system.

This covers up to 50% of the cost over a one-year period, up to a maximum of €5,000, and tax credits may be available for hiring equipment to help.

MPs voted in favour of an undergrowth clearance-specific tax credit as part of the 2026 budget, but this was not included in the stripped-down final bill. 

It would have seen a dedicated €3,000 credit, separate to that used for hiring a gardener. 

Failure to complete undergrowth clearance by the deadlines leaves homeowners open to the risk of fines, both criminal and administrative. 

The state can fine owners up to €1,500 or €50 per m² of land uncleared, with mairies able to fine those who do not respond to letters asking them to clear land up to €100 per day after a given deadline.

In cases where lack of undergrowth clearance leads to a person’s death or property damage in a forest fire, criminal penalties are possible.