Ban on leaving dogs inside hot cars expands in France

A ban on leaving dogs locked in cars during hot weather or droughts has been introduced in two northern communes, following similar policies in the south of France. 

The communes of Liévin and Harnes (both in Pas-de-Calais) have issued decrees that can see dog owners who leave dogs locked in their cars penalised with fines. 

Decrees come into force when temperatures reach 20C, if the commune is facing a heatwave alert, or is under drought restrictions.

Currently, they are set to last until October 15, 2026, but could be extended.

Around 300 dogs in France die each year due to hot weather, reports media outlet France3. 

In Liévin, the order applies to dog owners and anyone responsible for the dog at the time they are inside the vehicle (including dog walkers). It also applies even if the window is left open or the air conditioning remains on.

“Violations of this order will be recorded and penalised by any judicial police officer, judicial police agent, or assistant judicial police agent with territorial jurisdiction,” the decree states.
In cases where the animal is in danger, the decrees give police officers the right to rescue them, including by forcibly opening the door or window of the vehicle.

Mayors of the two communes cite data that indicate when temperatures are 40C outside, they can reach 100C inside a car within an hour, a level deadly for pets. 

Even at temperatures of 20C outside, internal temperatures inside a car can reach 50C within 60 minutes. 

The decree also “provides a very concrete reminder that a vehicle can extremely quickly become a death trap for an animal," said mayor of Harnes Anthony Garénaux-Glinkowski to media outlet La Voix du Nord. 

Additionally, it "reinforces and provides a legal basis for interventions by municipal police officers, particularly when the situation requires rapid action,” he added.

Passersby who spot an animal trapped in a hot car – anywhere in France – should not intervene directly but rather call the local police / gendarmes after checking that the owner of the vehicle is not in the immediate vicinity.

“It is strictly forbidden for a private individual to damage another person's property, for any reason whatsoever,” states the Interior Ministry. 

There is a legal grey matter on this topic, as Article 122-7 of the French Penal Code states “a person is not criminally liable if, faced with an actual or imminent danger threatening themselves, another person, or property, they perform an act necessary to safeguard that person or property provided there is no disproportion between the means employed and the severity of the threat.” 

While it is therefore possible to argue breaking into a vehicle to rescue an animal was necessary, it is not guaranteed to be viewed this way. Therefore, calling law enforcement is the best course of action.

Nice first major city to implement ban

The latest bans come after mayor of Nice Eric Ciotti implemented a local decree on August 6 banning owners from leaving animals in hot cars, when the same conditions are in place (temperature or heatwave/drought alerts) and also ending on October 15.

Before this, a similar decree was implemented in nearby Vence (Alpes-Maritimes) in April 2026, and authorities in Fréjus (also Alpes-Maritimes) are reportedly looking into a similar policy.

Owners who fail to respect the rules in the communes face a fine of between €35 (Harnes) and €150 (Nice).

However, penalties can be more severe.

Leaving an animal in a hot car can classify as animal abuse under the 2021 animal cruelty bill. 

Those found guilty of animal cruelty face up to three years in prison and a €45,000 fine. If the animal dies as a result of this mistreatment, this increases to five years and a potential €75,000 fine.