Building A Treehouse: What Permits Are Required?

Many children and adults dream of having their own treehouse in the garden. Before bringing this childhood dream to life, it is important to learn about the necessary formalities and rules to follow. We will explain the required permissions for building a treehouse based on its size.

What does the law say about building a treehouse?

In France, treehouses are considered by law as light leisure dwellings or HLL.

This acronym refers to constructions for non-professional use, which are dismantlable, transportable, and intended for temporary or seasonal occupation, according to Article R111-37 of the Urban Planning Code. This means that this type of treehouse is not intended to be inhabited.

No administrative procedure is necessary to build a treehouse if the floor area is less than 5 square meters, in accordance with Article R421-2 of the Urban Planning Code.

In which cases is it necessary to request administrative authorization?

If you plan a construction with a floor area between 5 and 20 m², you must submit a prior declaration to the town hall (according to article R421-9 of the Urban Planning Code).

The absence of a response within two months following the submission of this declaration is equivalent to an authorization. After this period, you can start building a treehouse.

However, if the surface area of your treehouse exceeds 20 m², you need a building permit. You must submit a building permit application to the town hall according to article R421-1 of the Urban Planning Code.

Note: The forms to be filled out for the prior declaration or the building permit are available at the town hall and on the website www.service-public.fr.

In which cases is the construction of a cabin prohibited?

In theory, you have every right to build a treehouse in your garden for your enjoyment or that of your children or grandchildren...

However, your project could be refused by the town hall if your property is located in a protected area, near a historic monument, or within the perimeter of a remarkable heritage site. In this case, a preliminary declaration to the town hall is necessary, regardless of the size of the treehouse up to 20 square meters.

Also note that:
• You do not have the right to build a treehouse in a natural or forest area unless the PLU allows it.
• You must not disturb or alter the landscape with this construction.

In case of doubt, always check with the town hall before starting construction.

Can the neighbors prevent you from building a treehouse?

Even if you have obtained administrative authorization from the town hall, it is preferable not to start building a treehouse before informing your neighbors. Indeed, this construction should not cause excessive inconvenience to the neighborhood.

When deciding to build a treehouse, it is important to ensure that this elevated structure does not offer a direct view into the neighboring garden and does not infringe on the neighbors' privacy.

If your children have fun spying on the neighbors from their Robinson-like hideout, the latter might consider it an abnormal neighborhood disturbance and could request the demolition of the treehouse as well as damages and interest... To avoid conflicts, it is better to discuss it with them before starting construction.

If you do not have other trees available to install your treehouse, you must design it in such a way that the openings face your own garden and that the wall facing the neighbors is windowless. This way, their privacy will be respected and you will avoid neighborhood conflicts.

What are the safety rules for building a treehouse?

For all those who have always dreamed of having a secret hideout in the trees, there are several ways to make this dream come true.

You can either craft a small treehouse yourself or hire a professional to build a treehouse properly. If you undertake the work yourself, you must of course check the sturdiness of the supporting tree and the construction itself.

When this construction is intended for children, you must also:
• teach them safety rules to avoid falls.
• closely supervise them when they play Robinson Crusoe or Robin Hood in the garden.