Is funding available for anti-flood works at our French home?

Reader question: Is there funding for anti-flood works at our property in France? We have seen flooding nearby in recent years and are concerned, but have not heard much about action to take before a flood hits.

To see if your property is at an increased risk of flooding, you can use the Géorisques website; enter your address to see risks your property faces.

During periods of heavy rainfall, you can check the official VigiCrues website for rising river levels and flood risks in your area, as well as the website of state forecaster Météo France for flood alerts.

Preventative works for flooding in most cases involve minimising the damage from a flood (moving fragile items or systems such as heating or gas canisters to higher areas, separating electrical circuits for flood-prone areas and higher floors etc).

The government also provides advice on creating an ‘emergency kit’ to use if a flood hits.

However, home adaptations such as installation of flood barriers, submersible pumps, and backflow valves (to prevent sewage water from entering homes through toilets and sinks) can be relevant in some cases, and in some cases works to reinforce underground cavities that would be at risk of collapse may be done. 

‘Barnier fund’ available

The most common avenue for funding preventative work is the fonds de prévention des risques naturels majeurs, often called fonds Barnier (Barnier fund).

This is a pool of funding for natural disaster relief, risk prevention, and in some cases buying land or property too dangerous for people to live in due to risks.

Funding can cover up to 80% of the total cost (up to €36,000) of certain preventative works for properties facing a risk of natural disaster damage, including flooding. 

However, eligibility and the amounts available depend on several factors including the use of the property, and the zone it is situated in.

Relevant factors include whether you have had the property’s individual risk assessed via a diagnostic de vulnérabilité, if it is situated in an area designated by the prefect under a plan de prévention des risques naturels (PPRN) or subject to an agreement called a PAPI (programme d’actions de prévention des inondations).

The latter may also help you access alternative forms of funding from the local authorities. 

A tool for assessing eligibility for the fonds Barnier is available.

You can also obtain information through your Direction départementale des territoires et de la mer (consult the ‘Risques’ section of your prefecture’s website) or your mairie.

Rule changes in 2026 will make it easier for PAPI zones to be declared by local authorities, potentially resulting in more communes being included.