To find the cadastral reference of a French address, open cadastre.gouv.fr, use the search by address, then read the section and parcel number of the plot where the building stands. Treat the result as a map reading: one address can cover several parcels, and the French cadastral map does not prove who owns the property.
Quick Answer: On cadastre.gouv.fr, choose the address search, enter the municipality, street and number, then open the map to read the section (letters) and the parcel number. Géoportail also shows parcels. One address may cover several parcels and the map does not prove ownership, so confirm the reference with the title deed or the seller.
What is a French cadastral reference?
A cadastral reference (référence cadastrale) identifies a parcel (parcelle), meaning a plot of land drawn on the French cadastral map. In everyday use it comes down to two parts: the section, made of one or two letters (for example "AB"), and the parcel number within that section (for example "142"). These values are fictional and only illustrate the format.
The cadastral map is kept by France's public finance administration (DGFiP, the Direction générale des Finances publiques). Its main purpose is tax: it supports property tax calculations and is not meant to guarantee ownership, as the cadastre.gouv.fr FAQ explains.
| Part | Fictional example | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Municipality (commune) | 5-digit INSEE code | Places the parcel in one specific commune |
| Section prefix | Often "000" | Separates sections of former communes that merged |
| Section | AB | Splits the commune into map zones |
| Parcel number | 142 | Identifies the parcel within the section |
In data files, these parts are joined into a 14-character identifier. For a buyer, the commune, section and number are almost always enough. French speakers sometimes say "adresse cadastrale" or "numéro de cadastre"; in practice both mean this same reference.
How do you search for a parcel by address on cadastre.gouv.fr?
The official site cadastre.gouv.fr offers a search by address and a search by cadastral reference. The site is in French. Viewing the map and printing extracts are free and need no account; only ordering an official extract is paid, according to the Service Public page on cadastral searches (checked in October 2026).
- Open the home page of cadastre.gouv.fr and stay on the address search form.
- Enter the commune (name or postcode) and, if needed, the département (the French county). A commune is required for every search.
- Enter the street number and street name (numéro and voie), or the locality name (lieu-dit) if the property has no number. Add "bis" or "ter" if the address includes one; these suffixes work like "A" or "B" in English addresses.
- Run the search and open the map sheet (feuille) shown in the results.
- Locate the building on the map. The parcel number is written inside the outline, and the section appears in the title of the displayed sheet.
- Write down the full reference: commune, section and number. The viewer's information tool can also show the contenance, which is the parcel's recorded land area.
If the search does not find the address, try again without the number, with another spelling of the street, or with the lieu-dit. Recent and rural addresses are sometimes missing. You can then browse the commune's sheet and find the street by eye.
Once you know the reference, the search by cadastral reference on the same site takes you straight back to the parcel.
How can you find the parcel with Géoportail or open data?
Several public services display the same parcels on other base maps. They help you cross-check what you read on the cadastral map.
| Source | What it adds | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Géoportail (IGN, the national mapping agency) | Address search, a "Parcelles cadastrales" layer, aerial photos | Menus may change |
| cadastre.data.gouv.fr | Map and open-data downloads of parcels, sections and buildings | No owner data at all |
| National Address Database (BAN) | Official address positions; some are linked to one or more parcels | Address-to-parcel links are incomplete in some communes |
On Géoportail, search for the address, add the cadastral parcels layer, then click the parcel to display its details. The aerial photo helps you check that the visible building matches the outline on the map.
Treat cadastre.gouv.fr as the reference when two maps disagree, because it is the DGFiP service that maintains the map.
What if the address is unknown or only approximate?
The address search assumes you already know the street and number. That is rarely the case with French property listings, which usually show only a neighbourhood or a shaded area on a map.
In that case, reverse the method: start from the listing's clues (plot size, roof shape, pool, access) and compare them with the map. Our guide on using the French cadastre map to find a property's address covers this approach, and the method to find a house's cadastral parcel from listing photos explains how to read the garden and orientation.
If the listing comes from a supported French portal, you can also submit its link to FindAddressNow. The service attempts to identify a candidate address and coordinates. It does not provide an official cadastral reference: use the result as a starting point on cadastre.gouv.fr, then ask the advertiser to confirm the address.
Finding an address does not give you permission to turn up without an appointment. Arrange any viewing through the contact shown in the listing.
What are the limits of a cadastral reference?
A cadastral reference locates land. It does not answer every question a buyer has.
- It does not prove ownership. A French court may treat the map as a presumption, but only the title deed, drawn up by a notaire (the public official who handles property sales in France), counts for the sale.
- It does not fix exact boundaries. For a disputed boundary you need a bornage, a survey by a géomètre-expert (chartered surveyor), as Service Public states.
- One property can span several parcels. A garden, driveway or separate garage may have its own number. Do not build the full list from the map yourself: ask the seller or the notaire.
- In a copropriété (a building split into owned units, similar to a condominium), the reference covers the whole building. A flat is a lot described in the état descriptif de division (the division schedule); the map shows neither the floor nor the lot number.
- The map can lag behind reality. After building work, the owner must declare the construction within 90 days, then the map is updated on the tax office's schedule, according to the cadastre.gouv.fr FAQ. A recent extension may be missing.
- The reference says nothing about risks or planning. Use it next on Géorisques (the national risk portal) and in the commune's local planning rules (PLU).
Can you find out who owns a parcel?
No, not from the public map. The cadastral map shows no names, and cadastre.gouv.fr cannot search by owner name, as impots.gouv.fr confirms. The link between a parcel and its owner sits in the matrice cadastrale, the property register kept by the tax services.
Owners can get their own information without special limits. They can ask the local land tax office (service des impôts fonciers) for a relevé de propriété (property statement) or view their properties in their online account on impots.gouv.fr.
For someone else's property, access is restricted by law. Article L107 A of the French tax procedure code (Livre des procédures fiscales) lets any person obtain, through a written request, a one-off communication of limited information about a specific property. Under article R*107 A-3 (checked in October 2026), one person cannot exceed five requests per week and ten per calendar month to a given office. The request is made in writing to the land tax office or the town hall (mairie), with the requester's identity.
This framework exists for specific needs, such as a boundary question with a neighbour. For a property on the market it is not useful: the seller, the agent and the notaire provide the information you need. Never use such information to contact, solicit or watch an occupant.
Frequently asked questions
How do you find the cadastral number of a house in France?
Enter the house's address in the address search on cadastre.gouv.fr, open the sheet shown and read the number written inside the building's parcel. The section appears in the sheet title. Then check whether other parcels belong to the same property.
Is the address search on cadastre.gouv.fr free?
Yes. Searching for a parcel, viewing the map and printing an extract are free and need no account. Only ordering an official extract on paper or in digital form is paid (checked in October 2026 on Service Public).
Where can I find the cadastral reference of my own home?
It appears in your title deed, drawn up by the notaire, and normally on your taxe foncière (annual property tax) notice. You can also find it on cadastre.gouv.fr with your address, or request a relevé de propriété from the land tax office.
Why does my address return no result?
The address may be recent, misspelled or attached to a lieu-dit. Try without the number, with another spelling or with the lieu-dit. You can also open the commune's sheet and find the street on the map.
Does a flat have its own cadastral reference?
No. In a copropriété, the cadastral reference covers the whole building's parcel. The flat is a lot described in the état descriptif de division, which the seller or the building manager (syndic) can provide.
Is the cadastral reference enough to buy land in France?
No. It locates the land, but a buyer must also check the title deed, the boundary survey, any easements (servitudes), planning rules and risks. The notaire checks these points before signing.
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