Required certification · France
Assurance décennale (Loi Spinetta)
Assurance responsabilité décennale — obligatoire avant tout chantier
Market position
Mandatory ten-year decennial-liability insurance under the Loi Spinetta (Code des assurances L241-1), taken out BEFORE a worksite opens. It covers, for 10 years, damage compromising the structure’s solidity or making it unfit for purpose — and working without it is a criminal offence.
France-specific note
Non-negotiable for French building work — and uniquely central: French clients expect your décennale insurer and policy number on the quote. Get cover before you start, not after.
Pros
- + Protects clients (and you) for 10 years
- + Legally mandatory — a market entry requirement
- + Routinely shown on devis/factures (trust signal)
- + Covers structural + indissociable equipment
Cons
- − Criminal penalty if uninsured: 6 months + €75,000
- − Must be in place before the worksite opens
- − Premiums vary widely by trade/risk
- − Per-activity cover scope to get right
Typical France pricing
Insurance premium (see the insurers above).
Why this matters for France trades
Facturation électronique is becoming mandatory via approved platforms (PDP) — reception for all businesses from 1 September 2026, issuance for SMEs and micro-entreprises from 1 September 2027; assurance décennale (Loi Spinetta) is legally mandatory before a worksite opens, with a criminal penalty for working uninsured; TVA is multi-rate (20% standard, 10% renovation, 5.5% energy); RGE certification is commercially essential for clients to claim MaPrimeRénov’ and other subsidies; business registration runs through the CMA/guichet unique; and regulated trades require a qualification (diploma or three years’ experience).
French artisan (bâtiment) vendor selection is shaped by the incoming facturation électronique mandate (reception for all businesses from 1 September 2026, issuance for SMEs/micro from 1 September 2027, via approved PDP platforms), mandatory ten-year assurance décennale under the Loi Spinetta, multi-rate TVA (20/10/5.5%), RGE certification for subsidised renovation work, and the micro-entrepreneur regime that most solo tradespeople operate under.
Frequently asked
Is Assurance décennale (Loi Spinetta) a good fit for France trades?
Mandatory ten-year decennial-liability insurance under the Loi Spinetta (Code des assurances L241-1), taken out BEFORE a worksite opens. It covers, for 10 years, damage compromising the structure’s solidity or making it unfit for purpose — and working without it is a criminal offence. Non-negotiable for French building work — and uniquely central: French clients expect your décennale insurer and policy number on the quote. Get cover before you start, not after.
What does Assurance décennale (Loi Spinetta) cost in France?
Insurance premium (see the insurers above).. Pricing and availability can change by region — confirm current France pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Is Assurance décennale (Loi Spinetta) recommended?
Yes — it is a Tier S (Recommended) pick in our France directory for required certification, based on market fit and reputation. Still compare it against the alternatives for your specific trade and region.
Other France vendors
Facturation électronique (e-invoicing)
Required certification
RGE (Reconnu Garant de l’Environnement)
Required certification
TVA bâtiment (20 / 10 / 5,5 %)
Required certification
URSSAF & régime micro-entrepreneur
Required certification
Immatriculation CMA (guichet unique / RNE)
Required certification
Qualification professionnelle (Code de l’artisanat)
Required certification