Can you challenge a neighbour’s building permit?
A neighbour who can show standing to act may challenge a permit or prior declaration before the administrative court, within 2 months from the first day of continuous display on the site. An appeal to the mayor (recours gracieux) is also possible but, according to service-public.fr, it no longer extends the time limit for the court. Each challenge must be notified within 15 days. This guide describes the general rules; for a real case, consult a lawyer.
The starting point: display on the site
A third party’s time limit for court proceedings runs from the first day of a continuous two-month period of display on the site (art. R600-2 of the Urban Planning Code). That is why the notice must be readable from the street and stay in place: incomplete or interrupted display can stop the time limit from running.
Without display, a challenge in principle remains possible until six months after the works are completed (art. R600-3), according to service-public.fr.
Where to see a neighbour’s building permit
What may change around a house also shows in ZACs and reserved sites and the buildable plot next door. You can see how a dossier presents it for one address in the sample dossier.
Two routes, often combined
| Appeal to the mayor | Court proceedings | |
|---|---|---|
| Addressed to | The mayor (or the préfet in a commune with no PLU or carte communale) | The administrative court for the project’s area |
| Time limit per service-public.fr | 1 month from the first day of display | 2 months from the first day of display |
| Effect on the other time limit | Does not extend the court’s 2-month limit | — |
| Lawyer | Not compulsory | Not compulsory at first instance, often advisable |
The appeal to the mayor asks them to withdraw or amend the decision. Without a reply within two months, the request is deemed rejected. Service-public.fr states, in its page checked on 1 April 2026, that the 2-month limit before the court stays the same after an appeal to the mayor: the two steps can therefore be taken at the same time. The time limits have changed in recent years; a lawyer will confirm those that apply on the date of display.
Standing to act
Being a neighbour is not enough. The applicant must show that the building is likely to directly affect the conditions in which they occupy, use or enjoy their property (art. L600-1-2 of the Urban Planning Code), whether owner or tenant. Disruption from the works themselves does not count. Standing is in principle assessed on the date the application was displayed at the mairie.
The applicant attaches a document establishing their lawful occupation of the property: title deed, sale agreement or lease. A challenge judged abusive can expose its author to a fine and to damages claimed by the permit holder.
Notification within 15 days
Every challenge, to the mayor or to the court, must be notified to the author of the decision and to the holder of the permission, by recorded delivery, within fifteen clear days of being filed (art. R600-1 of the Urban Planning Code). Without this notification, the challenge is inadmissible. This requirement is also stated on the display notice.
The court can cancel all or part of the permission. A partial cancellation can be followed by an amended permit application that regularises the project.
For a buyer
There are two situations. If the house you are buying has itself had a recent permit, for example for an extension, ask the seller for proof of display and that no challenge was made: the notaire checks this point. If a neighbour has obtained a permit, note the date of the notice: the time limit is running whether or not you already own the house.
This guide does not say whether a challenge is likely to succeed: that depends on the PLU rules, the project and your situation, and it is for a lawyer to assess.
Questions to ask before the compromis
Frequently asked questions
What is the time limit for challenging a neighbour’s permit?
Two months before the administrative court, from the first day of continuous display on the site. A lawyer will confirm the time limit that applies to your case.
Do you need a lawyer?
It is not compulsory before the administrative court at first instance, but assessing standing and the PLU rules is a lawyer’s job.
Does an appeal to the mayor stop the works?
No, a challenge does not in itself suspend the permission. Only the court can suspend it, on a specific application.
What if the notice was never displayed?
The two-month limit does not start; a challenge in principle remains possible until six months after the works are completed.
Sources
- Service-public.fr: challenging a permission granted to a neighbour
- Service-public.fr: displaying planning permission
- Service-public.fr: administrative appeals
- Urban Planning Code, arts L600-1-2, R600-1, R600-2 and R600-3
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