Leaving one's dog locked in the car during high heat can now result in a fine in a growing number of French municipalities. Since the start of the summer of 2026, several towns have issued municipal decrees explicitly banning this practice as soon as the thermometer exceeds 20 degrees, a measure that is quickly spreading to new municipalities.
Liévin and Harnes lead the way in Pas-de-Calais
According to information corroborated by France 3 Hauts-de-France and the local media C Juste Paris, the town of Liévin has, since August 10, 2026, established a ban on leaving an animal alone in a vehicle whenever the outside temperature exceeds 20°C, or when the municipality is placed under a heatwave or drought alert. The decree, valid until October 15, 2026, is accompanied by a fine. The neighboring municipality of Harnes took a similar measure the next day, with a fine set at 35 euros in case of non-compliance.
Local authorities justify this firmness by the speed with which a vehicle's interior can turn into a deadly trap: the interior temperature can rise by several tens of degrees in less than an hour, even on days of moderate heat, posing a real life-threatening risk to the animal.
Nice and the Côte d'Azur follow suit
On the Côte d'Azur, the municipality of Nice has also announced a decree making it illegal to leave an animal alone in a vehicle during high heat, with a fine that can reach 150 euros. According to details reported by Yahoo Actualités, the interior of a car parked in full sun can see its temperature rise by « 100 degrees in less than an hour », a figure that illustrates the urgency of the measure.
The town of Vence, in the Alpes-Maritimes, had anticipated the move as early as April 2026 with a comparable measure, while the municipality of Fréjus would in turn be studying the adoption of a similar regulation, according to the media Alouette.fr.
Regulation still scattered from municipality to municipality
To date, there is no single national law prohibiting leaving an animal in a vehicle during high heat: it is the mayors who, through their policing powers, issue these decrees on a case-by-case basis. As a result, the temperature threshold, the duration of validity of the decree and the amount of the fine vary significantly from one municipality to another, which can create some confusion for pet owners who travel from city to city during the summer.
- Liévin and Harnes (Pas-de-Calais): ban since August 10-11, 2026, threshold of 20°C, fine from 35 euros.
- Nice: similar decree, fine that can reach 150 euros.
- Vence: measure in force since April 2026.
- Fréjus: regulation under study according to the local press.
Good practices to adopt when traveling or in everyday life
Beyond the question of the fine, veterinarians remind that an animal should never be left alone in a vehicle, even for a few minutes and even with the windows slightly open, as soon as outside temperatures exceed 20°C. In an emergency, most local instructions urge contacting the municipal police or the firefighters rather than breaking a window yourself, except in cases of immediate danger to the animal's life. This issue is part of the broader reflexes of practical life to adopt during heat episodes, a subject that also falls under law and the local policing powers of mayors.
Frequently asked questions
From what temperature is it forbidden to leave an animal in a car?
In municipalities that have issued a decree, such as Liévin or Nice, the threshold chosen is generally 20°C, or as soon as a local heatwave or drought alert is triggered.
What fine can one face for failing to comply with these decrees?
The amount varies by municipality: for example, it is 35 euros in Harnes, and can reach up to 150 euros in Nice.
Is there a national law on this subject?
No, there is not yet a single national legislation: these prohibitions stem from municipal decrees taken municipality by municipality, which explains the differences in thresholds and sanctions from one city to another.
Sources
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