Chapter I: Hygiene of buildings and built-up areas.

Articles in this section · 21

Article L1331-17

French Public Health CodeIn force

Updated 8 Nov 2023

When, for three consecutive years, the number of deaths in a municipality has exceeded the average mortality figure for France, the Director General of the Regional Health Agency will carry out a survey of the sanitary conditions in the municipality and communicate the results to the State representative in the département.

If this survey establishes that the sanitary state of the municipality requires sanitation work, in particular that it does not have drinking water of good quality or in sufficient quantity, or that waste water remains stagnant, the representative of the State in the department, after giving formal notice to the municipality, which has not been followed up, invites the competent departmental committee for the environment, health and technological risks to deliberate on the usefulness and nature of the work deemed necessary. The mayor is given formal notice to present his observations to the departmental committee responsible for the environment, health and technological risks.

In the event of an opinion from the departmental committee responsible for the environment, health and technological risks to the contrary or a complaint from the municipality, the representative of the State in the department forwards the council's decision to the Minister of Health who, if he considers it appropriate, submits the matter to the French High Council for Public Health. The latter conducts a survey, the results of which are posted in the commune. On the advice of the departmental committee responsible for the environment, health and technological risks and the French High Council for Public Health, the representative of the State in the department gives the municipality formal notice to draw up the project and carry out the work. If, within one month of this formal notice, the municipal council has not undertaken to comply, or if, within three months, it has not taken any steps to carry out the work, a decree by the Conseil d'Etat orders the work to be carried out and determines the conditions under which it is to be carried out.

The departmental council decides, under the conditions set out in articles L. 3215-1 and L. 3215-2 of the general code for local authorities, on the department's contribution to the cost of the work specified above.

Mariela Petrova

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Working with a corporate lawyer in France — Q&A

Any time a strategic decision changes how the company is owned, governed or contractually bound — incorporation, fundraising, M&A, restructuring, shareholder agreements, or major commercial contracts. Earlier engagement always costs less than later remediation.

A notary (notaire) is a public officer who authenticates specific deeds (mainly real-estate transfers and certain family-law acts). A corporate lawyer (avocat) advises on strategy, negotiates and drafts company documents, and represents you in disputes. The two roles complement rather than overlap.

Yes — most of our clients are foreign suppliers, investors or holding entities. We bridge the gap between French law and your home jurisdiction's expectations and deliver everything bilingually.

The SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is the default choice for most international structures: flexible governance, single shareholder allowed, no minimum capital, and works cleanly with foreign holding entities. We assess SARL, SA, SCI on the merits when the situation calls for it.

Yes — communications with a French avocat are protected by the secret professionnel (Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971). This protection is broader than the common-law attorney-client privilege and applies to written and oral exchanges.

We work on fixed fees for clearly scoped engagements (incorporation, contract drafting, audits) and on monthly retainers for ongoing advisory. Hourly billing is the exception, not the default. You always know the cost before work starts.

Typical timeline is 2–3 weeks from KYC kick-off to RCS registration, assuming standard documentation. Holding-company structures, foreign-shareholder identification or in-kind contributions can extend this — we flag the gating items at the first meeting.

Absolutely. We routinely coordinate with your in-house counsel, expert-comptable or notaire — pragmatic collaboration is the norm, not the exception. We send them everything they need to do their part without duplicating work.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In Corporate Practice

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Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

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