All you need to know about the declaration of completion of work

Have you completed your construction or renovation project in Collioure? Congratulations! Now all you have to do is submit a declaration of completion to the town hall.

The DAACT is an administrative document certifying the completion and conformity of construction or renovation work. Is it compulsory? When and how should it be drawn up? What to do if the work is not compliant?

Paradise Immobilier, your real estate agency in Collioure, explains everything you need to know about the DAACT.

Declaration of completion of work: definition

The DAACT is a compulsory administrative document certifying the completion and conformity of work carried out on a property for which planning permission has been granted (building permit, prior declaration of work, etc.).

The DAACT is an important step in the process of building or renovating a property. It enables :

• Finalize the administrative file for your real estate project
• Releasing the land from the legal mortgage
• Selling or renting your property

Who issues the declaration of completion?

The Declaration of Completion of Work (DAACT) is an administrative form that you, as the owner or developer, must complete and sign. You can find the form on the public service website. On the other hand, the certificate of conformity of the work, which is a compulsory attachment to the DAACT, can be issued by :

• The town hall: this is the most common option. The mayor's office is staffed by an inspector who will check, if necessary by means of an on-site visit, that the work has been carried out in accordance with the planning permission (building permit, prior declaration, etc.). To request a certificate of conformity from the town hall, simply submit the DAACT in triplicate, together with the necessary supporting documents.

• An architect: if you've hired an architect to supervise your work, he or she can also issue the attestation of conformity. In this case, the architect must be independent, i.e. he or she must not have designed the plans or signed the building permit application. He must also have professional insurance covering his ten-year civil liability.

Is the DAACT compulsory?

The DAACT is not mandatory for all types of work. In fact, it is only required for work for which prior planning permission has been obtained, i.e. :

• Building permits
• Planning permission
• Declaration of work

The following works are therefore exempt from DAACT:

• Small-scale works that do not require planning permission (minor maintenance work, change of joinery, etc.).
• Building demolition

When should I submit my declaration of work completion?

The DAACT must be submitted to the town hall in the commune where the work was carried out, within 90 days of completion of the work. Please note that this deadline is strict and cannot be extended.

This period allows the town hall to check the conformity of the work, update the land registry and benefit from certain grants and subsidies. Submitting the DAACT is a simple formality that can be done online or by post.

Key steps for completing a declaration of work completion

1. Gather the necessary documents

Before you start filling in the declaration of completion, it's important to gather all the necessary documents. This includes:

• CERFA n°13408*11 form
• A copy of the planning permission (building permit, prior declaration, etc.)
• Certificates attesting that the work complies with current regulations (accessibility certificate, energy performance certificate, etc.).
• A project completion plan

2. Fill in the CERFA form

The CERFA n°13408*11 form is divided into several parts:

• Part 1: Designation of the preliminary permit or declaration
• Part 2: Declarant's identity and contact details
• Part 3: Completion of work

Please make sure that all information is correct and complete.

3. Sign and date the declaration

Once the CERFA form has been completed, it must be signed by the owner of the work or his legal representative. The date of signature must correspond to the date of completion of the work.

4. Submit your file

Three copies of the complete file (CERFA form and attachments) must be submitted to the town hall in the commune where the work is to be carried out. One copy will be retained by the town hall, another will be forwarded to the relevant department (Direction départementale de l'équipement, des Territoires et de la Mer...), and the third will be returned to the declarant after processing.

Failure to declare work completed: the risks

Failure to file a declaration of completion exposes you to a number of serious risks, both criminal and civil.

• Fines: Article L. 480-4 of the French Urban Planning Code stipulates that failure to submit a DAACT can result in a fine of between €1,200 and €300,000, depending on the nature and scale of the work. The amount of the fine is set by the mayor and takes into account several criteria, such as the surface area of the work, the seriousness of the offence and any breaches of the regulations.

• Civil liability : in the event of damage caused to third parties by undeclared work, the project owner may also be held civilly liable. The absence of a DAACT constitutes a presumption of non-conformity of the work. This means that the project owner will be presumed liable for any damage caused, unless he can prove otherwise.

• Refusal to file a new declaration of work: if the project owner wishes to carry out new work at a later date, he may be refused the filing of a new declaration of work until he has regularized the situation by filing the DAACT for the previous work. This can considerably delay the start of new projects, and cause significant financial damage.

By complying with this administrative obligation, you not only ensure the legal security of your property, but also contribute to urban harmony and environmental preservation. At Paradise Immobilier, we're here to support and advise you throughout your projects in Collioure and the surrounding area.