--- title: "Environmental and Urban Planning Law" id: "2028" type: "expertise" slug: "environmental-and-urban-planning-law" published_at: "2026-01-26T08:29:24+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-30T15:05:50+00:00" url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/environmental-and-urban-planning-law/" markdown_url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/environmental-and-urban-planning-law.md" excerpt: "Securing your projects in a demanding environmental landscape Every industrial or real estate project now carries an essential environmental dimension that directly affects its legal and operational viability. Classified installations, contaminated sites, waste management, renewable energy, and green taxation all..." taxonomy_language: - "English" taxonomy_post_translations: - "pll_697725e4bf318" taxonomy_tax_expertise: - "Environmental and Urban Planning Law" taxonomy_tax_famille_expertise: - "Regulatory" --- ## Securing your projects in a demanding *environmental landscape* Every industrial or real estate project now carries an essential environmental dimension that directly affects its legal and operational viability. Classified installations, contaminated sites, waste management, renewable energy, and green taxation all mobilize public law, urban planning, health law, and real estate law simultaneously. We advise industrial operators, developers, local authorities, and investors in the design, operation, and redevelopment of their sites. Our assistance covers the full lifecycle of a project, including environmental due diligence prior to acquisitions, obtaining ICPE and IOTA authorizations, regulatory compliance, crisis management, negotiation of contractual provisions, and litigation before administrative, civil, or criminal courts. From solar plants to wind farms, from waste treatment to the remediation of industrial sites, we structure solutions that reconcile regulatory requirements, economic realities, and environmental responsibility. ## *our*Capabilities ### (01) Environmental Risk Audits for Industrial and Real Estate Projects Every acquisition requires an accurate assessment of present and future environmental risks. We conduct audits covering regulatory compliance in areas such as waste management, soil and water contamination, biodiversity, energy, urban planning, and classified installations. These reviews also integrate ESG considerations and relevant ISO standards. The findings directly inform the drafting of contractual provisions, environmental warranty clauses, and liability transfer mechanisms. This approach ensures that each transaction is conducted with full security and visibility over potential environmental risks. ### (02) Regulation of Industrial Sites and ICPE Installations From the earliest planning stages, we work to secure all required administrative authorizations, including ICPE permits, pollution emission approvals, IOTA authorizations, and building permits. We negotiate easements and land-use restrictions, monitor regulatory developments, and assist clients in their interactions with administrative authorities. In the event of an incident, pollution event, or major crisis, we intervene to defend our clients’ interests and safeguard operational continuity to the greatest extent possible. This ongoing oversight ensures that sites remain fully aligned with evolving legal and technical requirements. ### (03) Site Closures, Divestments, and Industrial Redevelopment The closure or transfer of an industrial site involves complex administrative procedures, including site remediation, decontamination, redevelopment, transfer of responsibilities, and the implementation of the third-party applicant mechanism. We advise clients on environmental provisions in sale and acquisition agreements, oversee remediation and redevelopment work, and assist project owners throughout the process. These operations require precise coordination between legal constraints, operational timelines, and financial imperatives. We facilitate the transition from one operator to the next within a fully secured legal framework. ### (04) Environmental Tax Assessment Eco-contributions, the TGAP, sector-specific taxes (including nuclear, oil, electricity, and transport), waste charges, and energy-related levies: more than a dozen environmental tax mechanisms now apply to businesses. We assess their financial impact and assist clients in understanding regulatory developments and implementing an appropriate strategic response. ### (05) Energy and Renewables Solar plants, wind farms, and hydroelectric facilities all require sophisticated structuring to move from concept to operation. We support the development of energy infrastructure projects in France and abroad, covering legal structuring, administrative authorizations, contractual relationships with operators and local authorities, and project financing. These projects call for cross-disciplinary expertise in energy law, urban planning, and environmental regulation. ### (06) Waste Management Local authorities, businesses, and treatment operators rely on our support for all legal aspects of the waste sector. We assist with public procurement, negotiation and drafting of collection, transport, recycling, recovery, and disposal contracts, whether involving local or cross-border waste streams. We also assist with facility operations, risk audits, reuse strategies, producer responsibility, and waste traceability. This comprehensive approach enables the development of compliant, sustainable, and efficient waste management systems. ### (07) Environmental Litigation Class actions, noise and odor nuisances, pollution incidents, challenges to permit refusals, and environmental warranty claims: our experience covers the full spectrum of environmental disputes. We defend our clients’ interests in both pre-litigation and litigation phases, during court-appointed expert proceedings, and before administrative, civil, and criminal courts. Collective excellence at the service of the *highest standards.* Team [Hélène Billery ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/helene-billery/) [Vincent Brenot ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/vincent-brenot/) [Ghislain Minaire ( Counsel )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/ghislain-minaire/) [Charles Maurel ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/charles-maurel/) [Victoire Le Calvez ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/victoire-le-calvez/) Précédent Suivant ## Contact Us ## *our*References Environmental and Urban Planning Law #### Thermal Insulation Distributor – Energy Saving Certificates Regulation Advice to a distributor of thermal insulation materials on regulatory analysis of the Energy Saving Certificates (CEE) scheme, including conditions for valuation and eligibility of operations. Environmental and Urban Planning Law #### Industrial Client – ICPE Permit and Environmental Impact Assessment Advice to an industrial client on obtaining environmental permits for the construction of a classified installation for environmental protection (ICPE), including preparation of the environmental impact assessment and processing of the application with competent authorities. Environmental and Urban Planning Law #### Energy Group – PFAS Decontamination and Regulatory Compliance Advice to subsidiaries of an energy group that acquired, stored, and used fire-fighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across various sites. The firm assists the client in achieving regulatory compliance, including development of an action plan for PFAS foam elimination, use of alternative foams, and equipment decontamination in… *Rankings*& Recognitions m - (01)Décideurs 2025 – France Energy & Environment - (02)Décideurs 2025 – France Energy & Environment - (03)Décideurs 2024 – France Energy & Environment [More distinctions](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/distinctions/?search_tax-expertise%5B%5D=environmental-and-urban-planning-law) ## *FAQ* ### (01) How does a law firm specializing in environmental law audit the risks of an industrial or real estate project? Every industrial or real estate project has an environmental dimension that determines its legal and operational viability. Article L. 512-1 of the French Environmental Code subjects installations likely to present risks to the environment, health or public safety to a prior authorization requirement. We conduct environmental audits ahead of acquisitions and development projects: identification of ICPE constraints, soil diagnostics, review of existing permits and assessment of regulatory obligations. Each audit quantifies the risks and enables the structuring of contractual clauses accordingly. ### (02) How can you secure the sale or redevelopment of a potentially contaminated industrial site? Selling an industrial site involves strict environmental obligations whose breach engages the liability of both seller and buyer. Article L. 556-1 of the French Environmental Code requires the seller or landlord of land that has hosted a classified installation to inform the buyer in writing and, where applicable, carry out a soil study. Upon cessation of operations, the last operator must restore the site to a condition compatible with its future use. We advise sellers, buyers and operators on securing transactions: drafting environmental clauses, managing remediation obligations, negotiating with authorities (DREAL) and structuring financial guarantees. ### (03) What environmental tax and waste management issues affect industrial operators? Green taxes (TGAP, carbon tax, environmental levies) and waste management obligations (extended producer responsibility, traceability, EPR schemes) directly impact operating costs and site disposal terms. We advise industrial operators on the tax impact of their activities, applicable exemption or reduction regimes, and the structuring of waste management contracts. Compliance with traceability and environmental reporting obligations determines market access and the preservation of the company’s reputation. ### (04) How should you structure a renewable energy project within the applicable regulatory framework? Renewable energy projects (wind, solar, biogas, hydrogen) operate within a dense regulatory framework combining planning law, environmental law and energy regulation. Law No. 2023-175 of 10 March 2023 on the acceleration of renewable energy production (APER Act) simplified certain authorization procedures and introduced acceleration zones identified by local authorities. We advise developers, investors and local authorities on obtaining permits (ICPE, building permits, grid connections), negotiating power purchase agreements (PPAs) and managing third-party challenges. ### (05) How does an environmental law firm handle administrative and criminal litigation? Environmental disputes (challenges to ICPE permits, pollution liability claims, contaminated land litigation, environmental criminal offences) require dual expertise in administrative and criminal law. We defend clients before administrative courts (annulment, suspension orders) and criminal courts (pollution prosecutions, ICPE offences), coordinating the legal response with operational crisis management. Preventively, we structure compliance frameworks and risk management programs to limit exposure to enforcement action. ### (06) Why choose August Debouzy as your law firm for environmental and planning law in France? Industrial operators, developers, local authorities and investors entrust us with securing their most complex projects. Our work covers the entire site lifecycle: environmental audits, obtaining ICPE and IOTA permits, regulatory compliance, crisis management, contractual clause negotiation and litigation before administrative, civil and criminal courts. From energy to contaminated land, from planning to waste management, we bring together public law, environmental law, health law and real estate law.