DAACT in France: Declaring Completion of Building Works
You’ve fitted the last skirting board, screwed in the last socket, and it finally feels like your build is done. Not quite. Before you can relax — and especially before you can sell, remortgage, or rely on your structural warranty with peace of mind — there’s one unavoidable administrative step left: the Déclaration Attestant l’Achèvement et la Conformité des Travaux, known as the DAACT. This document officially closes your building permit and turns your house into a “regularised” property in the eyes of the administration and your notary. Here’s how to fill it in, what to attach, and the pitfalls to avoid as a self-builder.
What is the DAACT and why is it compulsory
The DAACT (Déclaration Attestant l’Achèvement et la Conformité des Travaux — Declaration Attesting Completion and Conformity of Works) is the official document by which you notify the town hall (mairie) that the works authorised by your building permit (permis de construire) or preliminary declaration (déclaration préalable) are complete and compliant with the authorisation granted. It is governed by articles R462-1 to R462-10 of the French Planning Code (Code de l’urbanisme).
Who needs to file one?
The DAACT is compulsory for any new build, extension or alteration that was subject to:
- a building permit (permis de construire — PC)
- a development permit (permis d’aménager — PA)
- a preliminary planning declaration (déclaration préalable — DP)
In short: if you obtained a planning authorisation, you must close the process with a DAACT. No exceptions, even for self-builders.
What it actually does
Many self-builders treat the DAACT as just another piece of paperwork. That’s a mistake. Without a filed and accepted DAACT:
- A notary will block the sale of your property (a conformity certificate is required for any transfer of ownership)
- Structural damage insurance (assurance dommages-ouvrage) may refuse certain cover
- The 2-year property tax exemption on new builds does not kick in properly
- You remain exposed to a planning infringement notice for works not formally completed
- The ten-year limitation period on potential infringements does not start running
Warning — Works are considered “complete” when they are carried out in accordance with the permit and the building is habitable. If your house doesn’t yet have its exterior render or bathroom tiling, you can still file a DAACT: case law holds that interior finishes and exterior appearance are not conditions of completion, provided the building is closed and weathertight and all elements covered by the permit (volumes, floor area, heights, openings) are in place.
The Cerfa 13408*05 form
Where to download it
The official form is Cerfa n°13408*05, titled “Déclaration attestant l’achèvement et la conformité des travaux”. Download it free of charge from:
- Service-public.fr — DAACT: the up-to-date official version
- Démarches simplifiées or your commune’s GNAU portal (online planning portal) for electronic submission
How to fill it in
The form is 2 pages long. Here are the key sections:
| Section | What to enter |
|---|---|
| 1. Applicant identity | Name, surname, address — the person named as the permit holder |
| 2. Permit reference | Full permit number + date of issue |
| 3. Address of works | Exact address of the plot |
| 4. Nature of completion | ☐ Full completion ☐ Partial completion (tick the correct box) |
| 5. Completion date | The date on which you consider the works finished |
| 6. Declaration and signature | Signature of the permit holder is mandatory |
Tip — For a self-built house, always tick “full completion”. Partial completion is an option reserved for multi-phase projects (e.g. a housing development where roads are finished before plots) and needlessly complicates the process.
The compulsory certificates to attach
This is where many self-builders lose time. The Cerfa form alone is not enough: it must be accompanied by technical certificates depending on the nature of your project.
Thermal regulation compliance certificate
This is the key document for any new build. Depending on when your permit was filed, you must provide:
- Permit filed before 1 January 2022: a certificate confirming compliance with RT 2012 (the 2012 thermal regulation)
- Permit filed after 1 January 2022: a certificate confirming compliance with RE 2020 (the 2020 environmental regulation, réglementation environnementale)
This certificate cannot be self-certified. It must be produced by:
- an independent thermal engineering office (bureau d’études thermiques) — the most common option
- an architect (if they managed the project)
- a certified RT/RE assessor
- a certified body (Effinergie, etc.)
Cost: between €300 and €600 for a single dwelling. This is non-negotiable: without this certificate, your DAACT will be rejected.
Warning — Some self-builders believe they can produce their own thermal certificate because they did their own calculations. Wrong. The certificate must be signed by an approved professional who takes legal responsibility for it. Without that signature, the document has no legal value. Factor this cost into your budget from the very start of your build.
Acoustic compliance certificate
Required only in certain cases:
- New residential buildings in noise-affected zones (near airports, classified noisy roads)
- Permit filed after 1 January 2013
For a standalone house in the countryside, it is not required in the vast majority of cases. Check with your local town hall.
Seismic compliance certificate
Required if your plot is in:
- Seismic zone 4 or 5 (French Caribbean, Alps, Pyrenees, parts of Provence)
- For buildings of importance category II or higher
The certificate is issued by an approved technical inspection body (bureau de contrôle technique). Cost: €800 to €2,000 depending on complexity.
Accessibility certificate (disabled access)
Only required for ERP (Établissements Recevant du Public — premises open to the public). A private dwelling is not affected. If you’re building an attached commercial unit or medical practice, that’s a different matter.
Best practice — Compile your certificates file before the end of the build. Contact your thermal engineering office 1 to 2 months before your expected completion date. Many have lead times of 4 to 6 weeks during busy periods, and you cannot file your DAACT without their document.
How to submit the DAACT
Submitting to the town hall
You have two options:
- Paper format: 3 copies of the Cerfa form + certificates, delivered to the town hall in exchange for a receipt, or sent by recorded post with acknowledgement of receipt
- Online submission: since 1 January 2022, all communes with more than 3,500 inhabitants must accept electronic submissions via the GNAU (Guichet Numérique des Autorisations d’Urbanisme — online planning portal) or a municipal portal. Faster, simpler, and — crucially — automatically timestamped.
Tip — Use the online portal whenever it’s available. The electronic timestamp is unassailable, you receive an immediate digital receipt, and you can track the processing online. Paper submissions leave room for disputes over the submission date.
The receipt: your starting point
On receiving your file, the town hall issues a receipt stating the submission date. Keep this carefully: it is this date that starts the town hall’s processing deadline.
Town hall deadlines
Standard deadline: 3 months
From the submission date, the town hall has 3 months to contest the conformity of the works. During this period, it may:
- Request a site inspection (récolement) — a visit by a council officer to verify conformity on site
- Issue a notice of non-conformity and require modifications
- Issue an explicit conformity certificate (rare in practice)
Extended deadline: 5 months
The deadline is extended to 5 months if your plot is located in:
- A protected area (near a listed historic monument, ZPPAUP, AVAP, or remarkable heritage site)
- A Natura 2000 zone
- A national park or nature reserve
- A zone subject to the opinion of the Architectes des Bâtiments de France (ABF — the State Architects for Historic Buildings)
Silence means acceptance
This is the key mechanism to understand: if the town hall does not respond within the deadline (3 or 5 months), your DAACT is deemed accepted. You can then request a certificate of non-contestation of conformity (formerly called a “tacit conformity certificate”), which will be issued free of charge on simple request.
or ABF area?} C -->|No| D[3-month deadline] C -->|Yes| E[5-month deadline] D --> F{Town hall responds?} E --> F F -->|Silence| G[Tacit conformity accepted] F -->|Site inspection OK| G F -->|Non-conformity notified| H[Mandatory remediation works] G --> I[Request certificate
of non-contestation] style A fill:#F58220,stroke:#F58220,color:#fff style B fill:#FDB813,stroke:#FDB813,color:#fff style C fill:#0F4C81,stroke:#0F4C81,color:#fff style D fill:#FDB813,stroke:#FDB813,color:#fff style E fill:#FDB813,stroke:#FDB813,color:#fff style F fill:#0F4C81,stroke:#0F4C81,color:#fff style G fill:#56C6A9,stroke:#56C6A9,color:#fff style H fill:#CD212A,stroke:#CD212A,color:#fff style I fill:#56C6A9,stroke:#56C6A9,color:#fff
The site inspection (récolement): a possible council visit
In certain cases — sensitive zones, large-scale projects, third-party complaints — the town hall may send an officer to verify on site that the works comply with the permit. This is called a récolement (site inspection).
What they check
The officer compares the completed building against the permit drawings:
- Siting: setbacks from plot boundaries, alignment with the street
- Volumes: footprint, ridge height, number of storeys
- External appearance: colours, materials, window types
- Outbuildings: garden sheds, terraces, pools not included in the permit
What can cause a problem
The most common discrepancies that create issues:
| Discrepancy found | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Height more than 5% over permitted | Remediation works or amended permit required |
| Floor area exceeds permit | Regularisation via amended building permit |
| Opening moved or added | Amended permit required if overlooking a neighbour |
| Non-compliant render colour | Possible remediation or amended permit |
| Undeclared outbuilding | Retrospective preliminary declaration required |
Warning — If you know there is a discrepancy between the build and the permit (change of siting, extra window, etc.), don’t bury your head in the sand. File an amended permit BEFORE the DAACT. It is far cheaper and far less risky than being caught out during a site inspection and having to regularise under pressure.
Specific considerations for self-builders
Self-builders face several particular issues at the DAACT stage:
No architect countersignature
If your house has less than 150 m² of floor area, you are not required to use an architect. But this also means no one countersigns the declaration on your behalf: the permit holder bears sole responsibility. Be rigorous.
A build spread over several years
Many self-builds take 3, 5, or even 7 years. A building permit is valid for 3 years, renewable twice by 1 year (5 years maximum in total). If your build takes longer, you must request extensions or re-file for a new permit. A DAACT cannot save an expired permit.
How to justify the completion date
For the completion date to enter on the Cerfa form, the principle is simple: it’s the day on which the house is habitable and compliant with the elements covered by the permit. You can set it reasonably, for example:
- Date of final connection to mains services
- Date of moving in
- Date of receipt of the thermal compliance certificate
The tax angle: property tax exemption
The H1 declaration (form 6650) filed with the land tax office (centre des impôts fonciers), which must be submitted within 90 days of completion, triggers a temporary 2-year exemption from property tax (taxe foncière) on new builds. The completion date declared to the town hall (DAACT) and the one declared to the tax office (H1) must be consistent. Plan both processes in parallel.
Best practice — On the day you file your DAACT at the town hall, also prepare the H1 form for the tax office (available on impots.gouv.fr). These two steps go hand in hand and have significant tax implications. The DAACT + H1 combination is what officially transforms your building site into a home.
Further reading
Administrative completion is just one of the steps that close out a build. To understand the full process, also read our guides on displaying the building permit on site, processing deadlines and third-party appeals, and what to do if your building permit is refused.
Official resources
- Service-public.fr — Declaration of completion of works: full up-to-date guidance sheet
- Cerfa 13408*05 — Official form: direct download
- Code de l’urbanisme — Articles R462-1 to R462-10: legislation on completion of works
- Effinergie — RE2020 engineering office directory: find a certified thermal assessor near you
Checklist
Checklist: filing a watertight DAACT
- Works comply with the permit (volumes, height, openings, siting)
- If any discrepancy: amended permit filed BEFORE the DAACT
- Cerfa 13408*05 downloaded and completed
- Full completion ticked (unless a special case applies)
- Completion date chosen and consistent with the H1 declaration
- RT2012 or RE2020 thermal certificate obtained from an approved office
- Acoustic compliance certificate (if in a noise-affected zone)
- Seismic compliance certificate (if in zone 4 or 5)
- 3 paper copies OR electronic file ready for submission
- Receipt kept after submission
- Processing deadline noted in the calendar (3 or 5 months)
- H1 declaration sent to the tax office within 90 days
- Request for non-contestation certificate planned at day +90
- Complete file archived for 10 years
The DAACT is more than just another form: it is the administrative birth certificate of your home. Done properly, it neatly closes out your self-build journey and opens the door to everything that follows — selling, remortgaging, warranties, tax exemptions. Done badly, it can turn a successful build into an administrative nightmare. Get your certificates sorted in advance, double-check your compliance, and file as soon as the house is habitable. Three months later, you’ll finally be able to say you built your home from start to finish — right through to the last signature at the town hall.