Beach Restaurant Owners in Villeneuve-Loubet Push Back Against Short Dismantling Deadline

Villeneuve-Loubet – 04.08.2026: Several operators of beach restaurants in Villeneuve-Loubet on the Cote d’Azur are protesting against an order to dismantle their facilities within four months. The deadline affects the business owners during the summer season. They must now make decisions under considerable time pressure regarding staff, inventory, investments and the future use of their sites.

The trigger is the redefinition of the boundary of the state public maritime domain in the Maurettes and Vaugrenier sectors. The prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department had conducted a public consultation procedure for this purpose. The documents take into account the actual position of the coastline and those areas that, as a result of beach erosion, are now considered part of the public maritime domain.

When renewing the concession for its natural beaches in 2023, the municipality of Villeneuve-Loubet relinquished claims to several sections between Marina Harbour and the border with Antibes. State authorities cite severe coastal erosion, doubts about the long-term viability of beach operations and safety risks during heavy seas as reasons.

The new boundary is therefore far more than a technical survey. It determines which uses are legally permitted on the affected land and under what conditions facilities may be installed there. Beach restaurants and other seasonal establishments require the appropriate permits to operate on public maritime land. Previous use alone does not establish a permanent right to the site.

A ruling by the Nice Administrative Court of 18 February 2026 also describes the legal framework. In proceedings concerning a beach restaurant in Villeneuve-Loubet, the court found that no buildings or facilities may be erected on the natural public maritime domain without meeting the prescribed requirements. However, according to the ruling, an administrative order to dismantle does not automatically replace the judicial procedure provided for this purpose.

The operators are primarily objecting to the short deadline. Dismantling terraces, kitchen and storage equipment, as well as utility connections, requires planning, specialist contractors and further expenditure. At the same time, the businesses may lose precisely the months in which they generate a large share of their annual revenue. It is also unclear whether they can find legally secure sites or alternative operating models for future seasons.

The dispute highlights the direct economic consequences of coastal erosion. Where the shoreline shifts, property boundaries, permit requirements and safety standards also change. According to state documents, the affected beach areas are particularly unstable and at risk during storms. Their continued commercial use therefore depends on the new demarcation and on valid permits.