Moving Home in Paris This Winter: Parking Permit, Paperwork and a Tenant's Timeline

A winter move is all about planning ahead

Have you signed a lease starting in December or January? In winter the days are short and the weather is unpredictable, so anything that can be settled in advance should be. In Paris, the trickiest part is not the boxes but the van: where to park it, for how long, and with what permit. Here is the timeline to follow, based on information from the City of Paris (page updated on 3 July 2026) and Service Public, the official French administration website.

Parking the van: the City of Paris permit

In Paris, applying for a temporary occupation permit for a house move (autorisation d'occupation temporaire, or AOT) is optional. Without it, you may park only in paid on-street parking bays, at the usual rate, for no more than 6 consecutive hours in the same spot, and without a furniture lift.

The AOT becomes essential in three cases:

• parking outside paid parking bays (in a delivery bay, for example);
• staying more than 6 hours in the same place;
• using a furniture lift (monte-meubles), which is common in Parisian buildings with no lift.

The application is made online, through the City's digital service, with a "Mon Paris" account, at least 15 days before the moving date. After that, the City warns that the application may not be processed in time, and no reply means the application is refused.

How much does it cost?

The fees apply every day, including Sundays and public holidays:

• Light vehicle (under 3.5 tonnes): €17 per half day or €27 per day in paid parking bays; €25 or €40 elsewhere.
• Heavy vehicle (over 3.5 tonnes): €35 or €60 in paid parking bays; €50 or €90 elsewhere.
• Furniture lift: €10 or €20 in paid parking bays; €15 or €30 elsewhere.

The rules to know

• Two Paris addresses, two applications. If you are leaving one Paris home for another, you need one application for the departure and one for the arrival.
• The AOT does not reserve the space. The City does not block any parking space. You may, however, hold spaces yourself as they become free (known as ventousage), during a period that must be included in the permit and is charged for. If your space is taken, the AOT lets you use another free space nearby.
• Moving between 7 am and 8 pm only. In December, it is best to start early and make the most of the daylight.
• Number plates must be declared. The vehicles' registration numbers must be declared through the link sent with the AOT, at the latest on arrival. Without this declaration, the permit is no longer valid.
• Market days. Near a food market, parking for moving vans is refused on market days: check before you set the date.
• Changing the date. A change is possible if requested at least 2 working days before the move. If you cancel, the AOT is not refunded, except in cases of force majeure.

Outside Paris, the rules depend on each municipality: ask the town hall (mairie) of the home concerned.

Your timeline, step by step

As soon as you sign the new lease

• Give notice for your current home, respecting the notice period. Our guide to the tenant notice period in Paris explains how.
• Choose your removal company. Service Public points out that a professional remover provides a free quote and is liable for loss or breakage during transport. You can check that the company is listed in the official register of road hauliers. If you move by your own means, you will not be compensated for damage.
• Check your collective agreement. Leave for moving home exists only if it is provided for by a company or industry agreement (convention collective); some also cover part of the costs.

Three weeks before

• Submit your AOT application or applications to the City of Paris.
• Take out home insurance for the new home, starting no later than the day you receive the keys, and arrange to cancel or transfer the old policy.
• Contact your electricity, gas and internet providers: cancellation for the old home, a new contract for the next. In winter, you do not want to find out on moving-in night that the individual heating has no supply.
• Book the City of Paris's free bulky waste collection service for anything you are not taking with you.

On moving day

• Read the meters in both homes.
• Carry out the check-out inspection (état des lieux de sortie) and give your new address to the landlord or agency. If the check-out inspection matches the check-in inspection, your deposit must be returned within one month of your departure. See our guide to the inventory check and deposit.
• At the check-in inspection, test the heating and hot water. This is the ideal season to do so: a radiator that does not heat is spotted straight away. Our article on heating and service charges in winter will help you know what to check.

In the following weeks

• Declare your change of address in one go using the Service Public online service, which notifies several bodies (tax office, CPAM health insurance, Caf family benefits office, France Travail, among others).
• Inform your bank, your employer and your top-up health insurer, and have the address updated on your vehicle registration certificate (carte grise) if you have a vehicle.
• If needed, have your mail forwarded with La Poste's paid redirection service.
• Register on the electoral roll of your new municipality if you are entitled to vote, or report your new address to the town hall if you stay in the same municipality.

Frequently asked questions

Can you move during the winter eviction truce? Yes. The winter truce (trêve hivernale) suspends evictions; it does not prevent you from giving notice or moving in.

Is there any help with moving costs? According to Service Public, families with at least three children (born or expected) can apply for a moving allowance (prime de déménagement) from the Caf or the MSA, within 6 months of the move. The housing solidarity fund (Fonds de solidarité pour le logement) may also help in certain situations.

Can I move on a Sunday in Paris? Yes, between 7 am and 8 pm. AOT fees are the same every day of the week.

Conclusion

A successful winter move comes down to three habits: applying for the parking permit in time, aligning your contracts with the key handover date, and using the inspections to check everything. At APPARTE, our Rubis package goes all the way to settling in: check-in inspection, a removal company at a negotiated rate and setting up your contracts. Looking for a home in Paris or Île-de-France? Book an appointment with APPARTE.

This article provides general information that is up to date at the time of publication. For a specific situation, have your rights checked by a professional (ADIL, lawyer or notary).