This new DEFIBIO project note explains how France regulates agricultural land at local level through a combination of administrative bodies and legal tools. Together, these instruments shape who can buy, lease, and farm agricultural land, and therefore play a central role in access to land.
A key actor is the SAFER, a non-profit land agency with legal powers to observe the market, ensure transparency, and intervene in sales. SAFER can pre-empt rural property transactions in the “accessible market” to prioritise agricultural use, prevent speculation, and support local development. According to the document, about one hectare out of two in the accessible market in Occitanie passes through SAFER’s hands for allocation. Decisions are examined by the Département Technical Committee (DTC), which brings together farmers, local authorities, and civil-society representatives.
Access to land is also shaped by the control of farm structures, the system that grants or refuses the right to farm. Anyone taking over or enlarging a farm above thresholds defined in the regional SDREA must apply to the administration. Competing applications may be evaluated by the CDOA, which issues opinions based on regional priority rules. These rules, defined in each SDREA, are central for access to land: they determine which applicants are prioritised, for example young farmers, those consolidating fragmented plots, or those maintaining viable farm sizes. Regional differences in these criteria lead to significant territorial variation in access conditions.
Since 2023, the Sempastous Law extends regulation to the agricultural share market, requiring authorisation for certain acquisitions of company shares that would lead to land concentration beyond SDREA thresholds. Applications are published by SAFER, and the Prefect ultimately decides, potentially imposing compensatory measures to support farm establishment or consolidation.
Overall, the note shows that France combines market oversight, administrative authorisation, and regionalised priority rules to regulate who can access agricultural land. While the national Rural Code sets the framework, local committees and regional SDREAs create room for territorial adaptation, influencing day-to-day access for farmers, newcomers, and land-based initiatives.