In short
How are an architect's fees set for an office project in France?
There is no fee scale: according to the French Order of Architects, fees are freely negotiated. The architects' code of ethics requires a prior written agreement defining the nature and extent of the services and the terms of remuneration (art. 11); the fee is calculated according to the services entrusted and, unless otherwise agreed, it is single and borne exclusively by the client (art. 46). It may be a fixed fee, an hourly rate or a percentage of the construction cost, and these methods may be combined.
- A fixed fee is determined before the start of the engagement and set as an absolute amount (code of ethics, art. 46).
- An insurance certificate is attached to the contract (Law no. 77-2 of 3 January 1977, art. 16).
- The former article 47 of the code, which referred to fee scales, has been repealed since 1 July 2026 (Decree no. 2026-568).
What the law requires
- A prior written contract: “Any professional engagement of the architect is the subject of a prior written agreement with the client, defining the nature and extent of the architect's services or interventions and the terms of the architect's remuneration” (architects' code of ethics, art. 11).
- A fee linked to the services: it “is calculated according to the services entrusted” to the architect (art. 46).
- A single payer: unless the parties agree otherwise, the architect's remuneration “is single and borne exclusively by the client or employer”, and must be clearly defined in the contract (art. 46).
- Information before any engagement: before any engagement, the architect gives the client the code's rules on remuneration and the terms of the architect's own remuneration; these rules and terms are set out in the contract (art. 46).
- Certified insurance: an insurance certificate is attached, in all cases, to the contract between the client and the architect (Architecture Act, Law no. 77-2 of 3 January 1977, art. 16).
The architects' code of ethics was amended by Decree no. 2026-568 of 26 June 2026, in force since 1 July 2026. The former article 47, which referred services made compulsory by the 1977 Act for private clients to fee scales annexed to a decree on the remuneration of engineering and architectural services for public bodies, has been repealed since that date.
No fee scale: fees are negotiated
According to the French Order of Architects (Ordre des architectes), “fees are freely negotiated between the client and the architect”, and professional bodies may not publish fee scales, under decisions of the Competition Council (Conseil de la concurrence). A “usual” percentage found online therefore has no official standing.
Negotiation has a limit: the code prohibits any attempt to take clients away through a “manifestly misleading undervaluation of the services to be provided”, competition between architects being based “only on competence and the services offered to clients” (art. 18). A markedly cheaper proposal should first be read for what it leaves out.
Fixed fee, hourly rate, percentage
The Order distinguishes three main methods of calculation, which may be combined:
| Method | Principle | What to check in the proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed fee | An agreed amount for defined services. The code specifies that it is “determined before the start of the engagement and set as an absolute amount” (art. 46). | The exact scope covered and what triggers an amendment (changed brief, added stages). |
| Hourly rate | A fee based on time spent. | The rate, how time is recorded and, where relevant, a cap or an estimate of the time. |
| Percentage of construction cost | A fee proportional to the cost of the works. | The basis used (estimate or actual cost), the trade packages included and what happens if the cost of the works changes. |
The code also mentions a fee calculated on the basis of actual costs (art. 46). In every case, the Order points out that the contract must state the method of remuneration and its amount.
What an engagement covers
Comparing fees starts with comparing services. For public procurement, the French Public Procurement Code lists the elements that a design and site supervision engagement (maîtrise d'œuvre) may include (art. R2431-1):
- preliminary studies;
- diagnostic studies;
- sketch design, preliminary design and detailed design studies;
- assistance to the client in awarding the works contracts;
- construction studies, or review of their conformity with the design and approval;
- management of the performance of the works contracts;
- scheduling, management and coordination of the works;
- assistance at handover and during the one-year completion guarantee period (garantie de parfait achèvement).
These articles bind public-sector clients (in particular the State, local authorities and their public bodies, art. L2410-1 and L2411-1), not a company fitting out its own offices. Their breakdown is nonetheless a useful grid for reading a private proposal: which stages are included, and which are excluded or left to others. For the refurbishment of a building, the basic public-procurement engagement does not include a sketch design (art. R2431-5). For reference, the fee for a public design and site supervision contract is a fixed fee that reflects the extent of the services, their complexity and the estimated cost of the works (art. L2432-1).
The Order's model contracts
The French Order of Architects publishes model contracts according to the type of client:
- for professional clients of the construction sector (“property developers, landlords, large companies”): a design and supervision contract, an architect's contract and a contract for preliminary studies;
- for private clients who are not construction professionals (“individuals, professionals (other than construction), operators of buildings open to the public…”): a two-contract method and a three-contract method, the latter separating an advisory visit, sketch designs and the architect's contract.
A company fitting out its own offices may fall into either category: ask which model the proposal is based on, and have the contract reviewed by your adviser if needed.
Comparing two proposals: the questions to ask
- Which services are included, from the condition survey to handover? Which are excluded?
- Which method of remuneration, what amount, and on what basis if it is a percentage?
- What happens if the brief or the works budget changes along the way?
- Which engineering consultants or other parties will have to be paid on top (structure, building services, acoustics, technical inspection, health and safety coordination)?
- Is the insurance certificate attached to the contract?
- Who else pays the provider? An architect is paid by the client, unless the parties agree otherwise.
Using an architect is not compulsory for works subject to a building permit or authorisation that concern only the fit-out and equipment of interior spaces (1977 Act, art. 4, para. 2): it is a choice, which you can compare with a design-and-build fit-out company (architect or design-and-build). Fees are one of the items in the budget of an office project.
Depending on the scope: a diagnostic is priced as a fixed fee, while a design and site supervision engagement is paid by stage. The engagement and the fees are set out in a contract signed before work begins. The first conversation is used to define the need and to prepare this proposal. Our method · Describe your project.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official scale of architect's fees in France?
No. According to the French Order of Architects, fees are freely negotiated, and professional bodies may not publish fee scales. The former article 47 of the code of ethics, which referred to fee scales for certain services, has been repealed since 1 July 2026.
Can the architect start before the contract is signed?
The code of ethics requires a written agreement prior to any professional engagement, defining the nature and extent of the services and the terms of remuneration (art. 11). At WorkRepublik, a first conversation is used to define the need and to prepare this proposal.
Is a fixed fee or a percentage better?
It depends on how far the project has progressed. A fixed fee sets the amount before the start of the engagement for a defined scope; a percentage follows the cost of the works. In both cases, what matters is the list of services included and the rule that applies if the brief changes.