#2026-381France strengthens local flood prevention and river maintenance powers
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This law makes it easier for local authorities and public bodies to maintain rivers and act after floods. It adds regular river maintenance and urgent post-flood works more clearly into France’s environmental rules, including works needed to prevent a short-term repeat flood. It also sets a 45-day public consultation period for certain environmental authorization changes. Local governments, river basin managers, landowners and contractors should expect clearer rules for grouped maintenance operations and emergency interventions, with details to be set by decree.
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Key Changes
- Recognizes regular river maintenance as part of flood prevention and water management measures
- Clarifies that urgent works after floods, or works to prevent a short-term repeat flood, can fall under immediate intervention rules
- Sets a 45-day public consultation period for certain environmental authorization procedures
Obligations
What this law requires
For environmental authorization modifications covered by Article L.181-23-1 and consultation under Article L.181-10-1, the competent authority must conduct the public consultation for 45 days.
Grouped maintenance of watercourses, canals, lakes or water bodies must be implemented within the exercise of the flood prevention and water management competencies referred to in Article L.211-7 I bis.
General interest declarations for grouped maintenance operations are required only where Article L.151-37 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code requires them.