Permis de construire. Before building on a terrain constructible the owner must obtain a building permit (permis de construire) from the local mayor's office. For each terrain constructible there is a pre-established ratio of land size to the surface of the structure. This ratio is called the coefficient d'occupation des sols, or cos. The cos determines the maximum size of the habitable structure that may be built on the terrain. This maximum surface area of the house is called surface habitable oeuvre net, often referred to by its acronym, shon.

For example, on a one-hectare (10,000 m2) terrain with a cos of .05, one may construct a house of up to - but not exceeding - 500 m2 (10,000 m2 size of parcel X .05). On a 6,000 m2 terrain, the maximum shon is 300 m2 (6,000 m2 X .05). Another significant measurement of permissible space is surface habitable oeuvre brut (shob). This is the shon plus certain adjacent spaces like an outside terrace or attached garage.

Hectares and acres. A hectare is 2.47 acres. A hectare is comprised of 10,000 m2. Thus a 5,000 m2 parcel is 1.235 acres. A 2,750 m2 parcel is .68 of an acre (2.47 X .275).

It is rare that one finds a well-situated terrain constructible in Provence. Please contact us for information at info@justfrancesales.com or call us at 610-407-9633.