Article L752-1 of the French Commercial code
Commercial authorisation is required for projects involving: 1° The creation of a retail shop with a sales area of more than 1,000 square metres, resulting either from a new construction or from the conversion of an existing building; 2° The extension of the sales area of a retail shop that has already reached the 1,000 square metre threshold or is expected to exceed it through the completion of the project….