Pornic in Brittany prepares to set limits on second-home usage

Pornic (Loire-Atlantique) is preparing to restrict the creation of new second homes in parts of the town as it seeks to ease pressure on housing for permanent residents.

The measure has been included in a proposed revision of the town’s local urban plan and could be formally adopted in March 2027. It would create a ‘résidence principale’ zone in which newly built homes would have to be occupied as a main home. Existing second homes would not be affected.

Around one third of Pornic’s 14,700 homes are currently second residences. A further 2,000 homes are expected to be built over the next decade – the town wants to ensure these are used by families and other year-round residents, rather than as holiday homes.

The proposal uses powers introduced by the Le Meur law of 2024, which gives certain communes greater scope to tackle housing shortages in areas with high numbers of second homes or strong property-market pressure.

Buyers or tenants of homes covered by the restriction would have to commit to using them as their main residence. Short-term holiday letting would still be possible for up to 120 days a year – currently the limit in Pornic.

Pornic is also considering tighter rules for its roughly 1,300 registered furnished tourist rentals, including possible limits on the number of properties an individual owner can let. Residents can give their views on the proposed planning changes until September 13, ahead of the final decision next year. Several other French
coastal towns have already introduced or considered similar measures. 

Cancale in Ille-et-Vilaine approved restrictions on new second homes in 2025, while Saint-Malo, also in Ille-et-Vilaine, approved a similar measure in July 2026. Royan in Charente-Maritime has also moved to introduce restrictions in designated areas. 

Pornic says the aim is to preserve housing for people who live and work locally throughout the year while retaining the economic benefits of tourism.