France
Street photography vs France's strong image rights, and why freedom of panorama is restricted when you sell landmark images.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Local prefecture / property owner (for organized or commercial shoots)
Cost: Varies; personal photography needs no permit
No permit for personal street photography. Commercial shoots, drones, and shoots on managed sites need authorization. France's droit a l'image (image rights) is strong: publishing a recognizable person's image, especially commercially, can require consent.
Drone / airspace
Regulated by the DGAC under EU drone rules; registration and zones apply
Flying over people and in urban/restricted zones is tightly controlled. Confirm current DGAC/EASA category rules before flying.
Street / public space
Permitted to photograph in public, but publication is constrained by image and privacy rights
Taking the photo is generally fine; publishing identifiable people can require consent under French privacy law.
Freedom of panorama
Restricted
France has a limited freedom of panorama: a 2016 exception covers non-commercial use by individuals, but commercial sale of images of copyrighted modern buildings/artworks (e.g. the Louvre Pyramid, the Eiffel Tower lit at night) can require permission.
Practical notes
- The Eiffel Tower's daytime structure is public domain; its night-time light show is treated as a protected artwork for commercial use.
- When in doubt about selling an image of a modern French landmark, clear it or shoot an alternative.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: