ABSTRACT
No comprehensive legal frameworks for urban land-use were instituted in France until the 19th century. The right of pre-emption goes back to the Ancien Regime: through it a feudal lord was allowed a certain period for buying real estate on the market before a deal was concluded between two parties. Private law relating to land transactions has a source different from urban planning law, and different usages apply. This chapter discusses the processes of selling and buying. There are two distinct steps: engagement and commitment (or affidavits), and the signature before the public notary that legally confirms the transfer. The chapter examines the main instruments concerned with the urban land market, showing the process from zoning to development, building permits, development freeze, expropriation, pre-emption, improvements and their charges, betterment levies etc. It highlights the principle of private property and describes briefly the available public information (cadastre and property registry).
