Coastal planning guide
Selling land without building rights in Corsica
Land that cannot be built on is not worthless: whether for agriculture, grazing, recreation or private enjoyment, it has a market — provided it is presented honestly and valued appropriately.
How much is land without building rights worth?
The price gap compared with a building plot is considerable, but value varies greatly according to potential use: access, water, aspect, grazing or wine-growing potential, views and proximity to an existing building. The commune's DVF property transaction records provide real benchmarks, very different from asking prices on listing websites.
SAFER's pre-emption right — its right of first refusal
Sales of land intended for agricultural use are notified to SAFER, the rural land agency, which has a right of pre-emption within a statutory period. This mandatory step extends the sale timeline and must be anticipated at the preliminary sale agreement stage, otherwise the transaction may stall with the notary.
What you must disclose to the buyer
The seller must provide honest information about whether land can be built on. Selling land as ‘buildable’ on the strength of an old planning certificate risks an action to annul the sale or reduce the price. We always include up-to-date zoning information in the file and invite the buyer to request their own planning certificate.
Points to check
- Valuation based on actual transactions involving comparable plots
- Checking zoning and easements before publishing the listing
- Allowing for the SAFER land agency’s response period in the sale timetable
- Comprehensive information pack provided to the buyer
Free check
Local development plan (PLU) zoning, PADDUC, outstanding protected areas, easements: we review the documents applicable to your plot and call you back with a realistic valuation.
For guidance only: only the planning certificate issued by the town hall can be relied on legally.
Frequently asked questions
Can land become eligible for building again?
Only through a revision of the local development plan (PLU), a lengthy and uncertain process led by the commune, which must remain compatible with the PADDUC and the loi Littoral, France's coastal planning law. No promises can be made on this point.
Can you put a mobile home or chalet on it?
No, except on authorised, developed sites. Even a removable structure in a natural or agricultural zone may be subject to enforcement proceedings and a requirement to restore the site.
How long does it take to sell agricultural land?
Allow for the marketing period, then around two additional months for notification to SAFER, the rural land agency, and its response period.
Poursuivre
The loi Littoral coastal planning law in Corsica
The PADDUC
Outstanding natural areas and undeveloped buffer zones
Local development plan (PLU) for Porto-Vecchio
Local development plan (PLU) for Bonifacio
Local development plan (PLU) for Ajaccio
Local development plan (PLU) for Bastia
Local development plan (PLU) for Calvi
Local development plan (PLU) for Sartène
Corse Patrimoine Immobilier ·
loi Littoral: check the plot, not just the commune
A location's coastal status alone does not determine whether a plot can be built on or altered. Check the legally binding documents and restrictions affecting the exact address, then consult the competent authority.
For your local project, see the recorded property sales (DVF) in Porto-Vecchio, the steps involved in buying in Porto-Vecchio or selling in Porto-Vecchio. Also compare listings and areas in Bonifacio and the property market in Lecci.
To distinguish between the procedures: acquisition costs · inheritance and joint ownership · loi Littoral · property taxation.
Official sources consulted on 25 October 2026: Notaires de France · Service-Public, inheritance · Géoportail de l’urbanisme planning portal · DGFiP. The rules applicable to your circumstances must be confirmed; the agency is not affiliated with a notary’s office.