[DREAL OCCITANIA] Municipalities concerned by a prefectural decree on the fight against termites

Xylophage insects, and termites in particular, can cause significant damage to buildings by degrading wood and its derivatives used in construction. Their activity can affect the quality of use of buildings but also cause significant disturbances in their very structure. In the most extreme cases, it can lead to their collapse. The legislative and regulatory provisions (Articles L.112-17, L.133-1 to L.133-6, L.271-4, R.112-2 to R.112-4, R.*133-1 to R.133-8 and R.271-1 to R.271-5 of the Construction and Housing Code) are designed to protect buildings. It defines the conditions under which the prevention and control of termites and other xylophage insects is organised by the public authorities in order to protect buildings. This mechanism, which mainly concerns termites, sets out the responsibilities of each of the players in the fight against termites: owners and occupants of buildings, State (by the prefect), persons who demolish, professionals who make diagnoses or perform treatment operations and municipalities. In particular, it lays down, on the one hand, an obligation to declare outbreaks infested and eradication measures in infested areas and, on the other, obligations in the case of sale, demolition or construction.