The architect contract in France: missions, stages and clauses
No work should start without a signed contract: it is an ethical obligation for French architects and your best protection. Here is what it should contain.
A written contract, compulsory before starting
The architects' code of conduct requires a written agreement, signed before the mission starts, that defines the mission and the fees, even for small works. The Ordre des architectes provides model contracts that architects generate with its online tool: house, advisory visit, housing estate permit, among others.
Three common formats
- Advisory visit or preliminary study: an opinion on feasibility, the plot or the existing building, for a fixed fee or by the hour.
- Mission up to the building permit: design and permit application; you then manage the builders and the site.
- Full mission: from the first sketch to the handover of the works.
The stages of a full mission
| Stage | What you receive |
|---|---|
| Sketch (ESQ) | First proposals testing the brief, the site and the budget. |
| Outline design (APS) | The chosen layout and volumes, with a first cost estimate. |
| Detailed design (APD) | The fixed design: dimensions, materials, a firmer estimate. |
| Building permit application | The drawings and documents for the planning application. |
| Technical design (PRO) | Detailed drawings and technical specifications (CCTP). |
| Tendering (DCE, ACT) | The tender package, analysis of quotes and help signing the works contracts. |
| Checks and site management (VISA, DET) | Checking the builders' drawings, site meetings and minutes, checking invoices. |
| Handover (AOR) | Help with the handover, the list of defects and follow-up until they are fixed. |
In the Ordre's model contract, each stage is paid when it is delivered, as a share of the fee.
Clauses to check before signing
- The exact mission: which stages, how many design revisions, how many site meetings.
- The fee: percentage of the works or fixed fee, the basis of calculation, the payment schedule, VAT.
- The cost estimate: the starting figure and what happens if it is exceeded.
- Deadlines for each stage.
- Insurance: this year's certificate attached and the insurer named.
- Termination: how either side can end the contract, and what is then owed.
What remains your responsibility
The architect's contract does not cover everything: as the client (maître d'ouvrage) you sign the contracts with the builders, pay for any other studies and take out dommages-ouvrage insurance, compulsory before works start.
No work without a signed contract. Check the mission, the fee and its schedule, the cost estimate, deadlines, termination and the attached insurance certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Is a contract with an architect compulsory in France?
Yes. The architects' code of conduct requires a written contract, signed before the mission starts, that defines the mission and the fees.
What do APS and APD mean?
The avant-projet sommaire (APS) sets the layout and volumes with a first estimate; the avant-projet définitif (APD) fixes the design in detail with a firmer estimate.
How are fees paid in a full mission?
Usually stage by stage, when each set of documents is delivered, following the schedule in the contract.