What Permissions Are Required to Install Air Conditioning in France ?

Looking to cool down your home? With Caeli One, everything gets easier.

Want to improve your home’s comfort during the summer, but the idea of installing a traditional air conditioning system feels overwhelming due to all the red tape?
Here’s what you need to know before installing a cooling system—and how Caeli One makes things much simpler.

There are several administrative and regulatory steps to consider:

Planning Permission (Preliminary Declaration of Work)

If the installation alters the exterior appearance of your building—especially if it includes a visible outdoor unit—you must file a preliminary declaration of work with your local town hall. This applies in particular to traditional split-type air conditioners and heat pumps.

Condominium Approval

If you live in a shared residential building, you must get approval from the condominium board. Exterior parts of the building are co-owned, so installing a unit on the façade must be voted on in the general assembly.

Authorization from the French Heritage Architect (Architectes des Bâtiments de France, ABF)

If your home is located in a protected area or near a historical monument, you must receive a favorable opinion from the ABF. This requirement can be a barrier when it comes to traditional systems.

Compliance with the Local Urban Plan (PLU)

Your local municipality may enforce specific rules regarding visible installations from the street, required distances from property boundaries, or permissible noise levels.

You can check the PLU at your town hall or on your municipality’s website, or by following this link: atlas.patrimoines.culture.fr

Landlord Authorization for Tenants

If you’re a tenant, you’ll need written permission from your landlord—even if the condominium board has already given its approval.

Caeli One: Streamlined Procedures That Make Your Life Easier

With Caeli One, administrative and regulatory processes are simplified. Why? Because the installation involves less invasive work and has a minimal impact on your building and its surroundings:

• No bulky outdoor unit: Caeli One doesn’t require a visible exterior unit, which greatly reduces alterations to the building’s appearance.

• No heat exhaust: Unlike traditional air conditioners, Caeli One doesn’t expel hot air outside, eliminating disturbances to neighbors.

• Low-impact installation: Only two small wall core drillings are needed for the ventilation grilles—no major changes to the façade.

These features offer several advantages:

• Easier approval from local authorities: With fewer disturbances and minimal visual impact, your project is more respectful of the local environment—and more likely to be approved.

• Simpler condominium approval: With virtually no visual or noise impact, it’s easier to get co-owners on board.

• Better reception from the ABF: Caeli One has already been approved in many protected areas where traditional systems were rejected.

For example, our client U12 Coworking, located in the heart of Montpellier’s historic city center, received ABF approval with no issues—thanks to custom-designed exterior grilles that blended seamlessly into the architectural surroundings.

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