Tourist Rental Rules, Residence Permit Fees and Wildfire Checks: News Digest

New rules for furnished tourist rentals are coming into force, residence permit and nationality fees have increased, and dog owners must keep pets on leads in French forests during the nesting season. Property owners are also being urged to check wildfire clearance obligations and local water restrictions, while a collective wood pellet purchase scheme has reopened and €1 meals have been extended to all university students. Here are the France headlines you need to know this week.

New rules for tourist rentals

Owners who rent out furnished tourist accommodation in France should be aware of new rules introduced under the law of the 19th of November 2024. By the 20th of May 2026, all furnished tourist rentals must be declared through a dedicated national online service, and owners renting out their main residence will need to prove that it is their principal home, for example by providing a tax notice showing the property address.

The changes also affect tax allowances, with reduced abatement rates applying to rental income received from the 1st of January 2025. Local authorities have been given wider powers too, including the ability to reduce the maximum number of days a main residence can be rented to tourists from 120 to 90 days per year. Mayors will also be able to issue fines for failing to register a furnished tourist rental, making a false declaration, or exceeding local limits.

Less than 2 weeks to go: French Property Exhibition in Birmingham

The French Property Exhibition comes to the National Conference Centre Birmingham on the 16th and 17th of May, bringing together expert advice, seminars and exhibitors for anyone looking to buy a home in France. Visitors will be able to meet estate agents, legal experts, currency specialists, removals firms, mortgage advisers and other professionals involved in the French property-buying process.

Whether you are just starting your search or preparing to make a move, the event offers a useful opportunity to ask questions face to face, compare services and learn more about the practical steps involved in buying, owning and relocating to France.

Dogs must be kept on leads in French forests until the 30th of June

Dog owners in France are reminded that stricter forest-walking rules apply from the 15th of April to the 30th of June each year. During this period, dogs must be kept on a lead when walking outside designated forest tracks, roads, paths and marked trails, including GR routes and walking paths.

The rule is designed to protect wildlife during the sensitive breeding season, when birds are nesting and mammals are giving birth. Dog owners who fail to comply risk a fixed fine of €135. Service Public also advises walkers not to approach, feed or touch wild animals, as this can disturb their natural behaviour or cause young animals to be abandoned.

Residence permit and nationality fees increased from the 1st of May

Foreign nationals applying for or renewing residence permits in France should note that several tax-stamp fees increased from the 1st of May 2026. The standard fee for the first issue of a temporary, multi-year or resident card has risen from €225 to €350, while the reduced rate, which applies to categories such as students, seasonal workers, au pairs and family reunification, has increased from €75 to €150.

Renewal costs have also gone up, with the standard tax stamp rising to €250 and the reduced renewal rate to €100. Other changes include a new €100 fee for some provisional residence permits, a rise in the cost of validating a long-stay visa used as a residence permit, and a sharp increase in naturalisation-related fees, from €55 to €255. Applicants are usually told by SMS when their permit is ready and how much they need to pay.

Collective purchase scheme launched for wood pellets

French consumer group Que Choisir Ensemble has relaunched its collective purchase scheme for wood pellets, aiming to help households secure lower prices through bulk ordering. The campaign opened on the 4th of May, with homeowners in France, including second-home owners, able to sign up until the 24th of May.

Participants register their details and the amount of pellets they would like to buy, before receiving a quote on the 25th of May. They then have until the 7th of June to decide whether to place an order. There is no obligation to go ahead, and those who accept will be put in touch with local suppliers to arrange delivery between the 8th of June and the 19th of July. The scheme is open across mainland France, but not in Corsica.

Property owners encouraged to check wildfire and water rules

As France heads into the warmer months, property owners are being reminded to check whether their home is subject to wildfire-prevention clearance rules, as well as any local water restrictions. In areas at risk of forest fire, owners may be legally required to clear vegetation around their property, usually to a minimum depth of 50 metres around buildings and up to 10 metres on either side of private access routes. Since January 2025, sellers and landlords must also inform buyers or tenants if a property is in an area subject to this legal clearance obligation.

Water restrictions can also be introduced by prefects during periods of drought, with measures affecting activities such as watering gardens, filling swimming pools and washing vehicles. Restrictions are set locally and can range from a simple vigilance warning to a crisis level, where water use is limited to priority needs such as drinking water, health and civil security. Residents and second-home owners can check the rules for their commune via the VigiEau platform. Fines for ignoring water restrictions can reach €1,500, rising to €3,000 for repeat offences.

€1 meals extended to all university students in France

University restaurants in France have begun offering €1 meals to all students, regardless of income, in a move aimed at easing student hardship. The discounted rate was previously limited to students receiving financial aid or those on low incomes, while the standard price for a Crous three-course meal is €3.30.

Student unions had been calling for the scheme to be widened, with food insecurity a growing concern. A January survey found that 48% of students in France had gone without food for financial reasons, while 23% had done so several times a month. Around 667,000 students benefited from the €1 meal scheme in 2024, and the government is preparing for increased demand, with €120 million pledged for 2027 to support the measure.

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