What Is a Plan Cadastral or de Cadastre?

Posted on 2nd October, 2025

A plan cadastral is a graphical document that maps all land properties and buildings within a commune (municipality), and is a very useful tool to understand the surroundings of a specific property when house hunting in France. It serves as the foundation for calculating local taxes and identifying parcel boundaries.

While it provides a visual representation of land and structures, including their shape, footprint, and even roads or rivers, it is essential to note that the plan cadastral does not have legal value for establishing property ownership rights.

What Is the Purpose of a Plan Cadastral?

The cadastral plan is a key tool in land management, offering a detailed graphical representation of property boundaries, buildings, and important features. It plays a vital role in both assessing property taxes and facilitating land transactions, planning, and development.

Taxation

The cadastral plan is essential for calculating local taxes, such as the taxe foncière (property tax), as it records and assesses all land properties.

Identifying Parcels

It visually outlines the boundaries of land parcels and the buildings within them, making it easier to locate and identify properties.

Planning and Development

Individuals and professionals utilise the cadastral plan to collect information about land use and parcel dimensions, which is especially beneficial for construction projects or land acquisitions.

Administrative Documentation

The cadastral plan is a part of the cadastre, a comprehensive administrative system designed to inventory all land properties within a given territory. The information on a plan cadastral includes individual parcels, graphically delineated on the map with unique identifiers, buildings represented by their ground footprint, and natural or artificial features such as roads, waterways, and other elements for context.

How to Access a Plan Cadastral

The French plan cadastral is available online and consists of 598,342 map sheets in image or vector formats. You can search, view, and order these maps through the following methods:

Online Access

Visit the official cadastre website to:

Search by department (select from a map or enter the name).
Search by commune (enter the name or postal code).
Search by address (use the street name, number, or lieu-dit, a local place name).
Search by cadastral references (enter the section prefix, section number, and parcel or sheet number).

In-Person Access

You can also visit the local Centre des Impôts Fonciers (Property Tax Office) or the town hall (mairie) of the relevant commune to request a copy.

How to Request Changes to a Plan Cadastral

If you notice an error in the plan cadastral, such as incorrect boundaries, missing buildings, or outdated information, follow the following steps to request a modification:

Step 1: Gather Documents

Prepare supporting documents, such as:

Property deeds (titres de propriété).
Architectural plans.
Building permits (permis de construire).
Survey reports (if applicable).

Step 2: Contact the Cadastral Service

Submit your request to the relevant cadastral office, typically located in your commune. You can also use the online GeoPortail Cadastre service.

Step 3: Wait for Review

The cadastral service will review your request and may ask for additional information or documents.

Step 4: Receive the Decision

Once reviewed, you’ll receive a decision notifying you whether your request has been approved or rejected.

If approved: The plan cadastral will be updated, and affected property owners will be notified.
If rejected: You may appeal or provide further evidence to support your case.

Please Note

Processing times vary depending on the complexity of the request.
Procedures may differ slightly between communes, so it’s best to check with your local cadastral office for specific details.

Practical Tips

For Property Buyers: Always cross-check the plan cadastral with the sales agreement (compromis de vente) to ensure accuracy.
For Property Owners: Regularly review your parcel’s details, especially after construction or renovation work.
For Professionals: Use the plan cadastral alongside a géomètre-expert (land surveyor) for precise measurements.

The cadastral plan is a vital tool for property owners, buyers and professionals in France. Whether you’re verifying boundaries, planning a renovation project or ensuring accurate taxation, understanding how to access and interpret this document can save you time, money and headaches.

For more information about the property buying process in France, please visit our guides, and feel free to register to receive alerts of properties and our monthly newsletters.

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