Article R3213-7 of the French General Code of Local Authorities
For real estate acquisitions made in administrative form by the départements and their public establishments, a deposit may be paid to the seller, as soon as the periods open for taking registrations with retroactive effect have expired, up to a maximum of three quarters of the difference between the stipulated price and that of the charges and accessories. This deposit is paid after authorisation by the authority empowered to receive…