There are some parts of life, such as -For -Ir your dog to walk or cut their hedge, which come with some unexpected regulations in France. These are some of the rules that you may not know, which could lead to fines.
It is possible that foreigners living in France are not aware of local regulations related to normal daily life, such as taking their dog to walk in spring or washing their car on the entrance path, which puts them at risk of feates quite pronounced.
Many of these rules are established at the local level, so if you have any doubt about your area, you must make a quick trip to your City Council (Mairie) ask.
Here are five little known rules that could be applied in your neighborhood;
Cutting your hedges
In France, the Bird Protection League (Ligue pour the protection des oiseaux) and biodiversity protection agency (Français de la Biodiversité office) Warn housing owners every year should not do any time maintenance and coverage work from mid -March to the end of August, to avoid disturbing nested birds.
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While these are suggestions, local authorities have rules on plant pruning, and many of them download homes that cut hedges after mid -March until the end of summer. See local regulations with your MairieBecause anyone who breaks the thesis can be responsible for a fine of up to € 750.
In addition to that, if you destroy the nest of a protected species, this is a punishable crime with up to three years in prison and a fine of € 150,000. That said, you must still respect the rules related to the cleaning of weeds in areas that could be at risk of forest fires. More information in our separate article.
Read more: explained: the rules for cutting your coverage in France
Wash your car
For many automobile owners, the warm climate means time to finally give a good washing to the vehicle, but motorists in France in case you wash their car, motorcycle or other vehicle in the home can be against the law. As such, you must use a car wash (Care the Washing).
There are some types of rules that could be in place, so you must consult with your year Mairie To see what applies in your area. The first is related to drought restrictions: these will prohibit car washing if there is water shortage. You can find out if there are drought restrictions by reviewing the website of the Vigieau.gouv.fr.
The second is that most of France France’s participations adopted decrees that prohibit car washing in public spaces (roads, pavements, parks, etc.), and ignoring this rule can lead to a fine or € 450.
And the third has to do with the Environmental Code, which operates nationwide. The code establishes that “direct or indirect discharge of harmful substances in surface or underground water is prohibited.” This could include wastewater to wash a vehicle (since cars washing detergents and runoff motor oil can damage local flora and fauna).
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This rule has a wide range, which means that even if you are washing your car on your own entrance path, you could be breaking the rules and uploading a medium fine, especially if you live in a coastal area, the living order Go -de -next -a -Gowerlytlytylytlytlylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylylys
Read more: Why washing your car in France can lead to a fine of € 450
Walking your dog in spring
Even if your dog is a very good listener, you should know that between April 15 and June 30 you must keep your cap in an advantage in rural areas or French forest, unless it is on a designated road or road.
This rule is throughout the country and exists to avoid disturbing the season of reproduction of wild animals, since spring is when most animals have young people who are vulnerable to disturbed bees (or worse) by dogs that are outside the leadership. Do not respect this rule can lead to a fine of up to € 750.
The regulation does not apply to public highways, but remember that your dog should always be less than 100 meters from you when they extend and certain types of dogs should always be headed.
Read more: the little -known French law that could see the owners of fined dogs with € 750 this spring
Collect rainwater and water your plants
Collecting rainwater (Eau de Pluie) It can be an excellent way to keep your plants live with the duration of hot summer months using too much water, especially if there are drought restrictions.
However, if you start collecting rainwater, keep some rules to follow. For example, you should not use it to cook or drink, since it has not been treated.
If you want to use rainwater for domestic purposes inside the house (for example, laundry or bathrooms), you must hire a qualified plumber to connect your rainwater collection system with your domestic equipment. The plumber has to install a non -delayed valve so as not to contaminate the water of the public drinking water network.
Read more: € 45,000 Fine: What are the strict rules of France on the use of rainwater collected?
Set a bell camera
And if you leave for a few months or maybe you only want to monitor the packages left, you may be tempted to install a bell camera.
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However, France has very strict privacy laws, so this may not be allowed.
Read more: How to register your French property for police security verifications
In the letter, the French law allows you to have chambers configured in and around your home, but there are several rules and regulations of privacy relationship that you will have to respect, for example, private people cannot film public spaces or homes or doors of the neighbors.
The public domain includes the street, the pavement and the communal areas in front of its house, including the halls if it is in a shared building.
Households must be careful that the camera only aims to film within its own property, which means inside your home, apartment, garden, entrance road or on a private access road if you have one. If you use someone on your property, then you must also be aware of the camera.
Read more: Reader’s question: can I configure a bell camera on my French property?
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