Chapter 2: Mountain.

When the ski lift service is organised by the département in application of the provisions of article L. 342-10, the département may, by agreement, entrust the communes or groups of communes, within a defined geographical area, with the organisation and implementation of the service. Similarly, and at its request, the département may join forces with communes or groups of communes to organise this service.

The provisions relating to ski-lift operators may be laid down in accordance with the legal, administrative and financial procedures defined by decree in the Conseil d’Etat.

The service is provided either by direct management, by a public entity in the form of an industrial and commercial public service, or by a company that has signed a fixed-term agreement with the competent authority for this purpose.

The agreement is drawn up in accordance with the provisions of articles L. 342-1 to L. 342-5 and sets out the nature, operating conditions and funding of the service. It defines the respective obligations of the parties as well as the conditions under which compensation will be paid to owners for easements instituted pursuant to articles L. 342-20 to L. 342-23. It may provide for the operator to contribute financially…

Ski lift services are subject to the provisions of Titles III and IV of Book II of Part Two of the Transport Code, with the exception of Articles L. 2231-1, L. 2231-4, L. 2240-1 and L. 2241-8.

Articles L. 472-1 to L. 472-5 of the French Town Planning Code lay down the rules relating to authorisations prior to carrying out works and putting ski lifts and ski area developments into operation.

I. – The design, construction and modification of ski lifts, the way in which they are operated and the checks carried out to ensure that they are in good working order are subject to administrative and technical safety rules and to the supervision of officials from the Ministry of Transport. II. – For the construction and substantial modification of a ski lift, the project owner entrusts the project management to…

The provisions of article L. 342-17 apply to conveyers providing transport for tourism or sport in mountain resorts. In addition, before being put into operation, this equipment is subject to the authorisation provided for by Article L. 445-1 of the French Town Planning Code. The conditions for the application of this article are specified by a Conseil d’Etat decree.

The easement provided for in articles L. 342-20 to L. 342-23 may only be established within the zones and sectors defined in local town planning schemes. This provision does not apply to easements established to facilitate cross-country skiing or access to mountaineering and climbing sites in mountain areas and to nature sports within the meaning of L. 311-1 of the French Sports Code, as well as access to mountain refuges.

In municipalities classified as winter sports and mountaineering resorts and having a land use plan that was enforceable on 10 January 1985 or a local town planning plan, the provisions of article L. 342-18 apply from the date of approval of the amendment or revision of this plan.