# French municipal laundry bans

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/french-municipal-laundry-bans
> Updated: 2026-10-06T14:06:07.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

In September 2026, the Mayor of Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Guillaume Lepers, implemented a decree prohibiting residents in the city center from hanging laundry on window sills or balconies. The measure, intended to protect public security and tourism, was criticized by local opponents who argued it disproportionately impacts low-income residents. 

By October 2026, the Mayor of Thizy-les-Bourgs, Rémi Berthoux, issued a similar ordinance banning laundry and objects visible from public streets to preserve urban decorum. Berthoux’s announcement included the remark, “No, we are not in Naples!”, which drew criticism from an official in Naples, Carlo Puca. Puca argued the comparison trivialized the city’s culture and noted that sun-drying is an environmentally friendly, zero-cost practice. Under the Thizy-les-Bourgs regulations, drying racks are permitted only if they do not exceed the height of the balcony railing.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-06: Thizy-les-Bourgs mayor bans visible laundry, sparking controversy

The mayor of Thizy-les-Bourgs, France, banned hanging laundry visible from streets to improve urban decorum, sparking criticism from Naples officials over his comparison to the Italian city.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/thizy-les-bourgs-mayor-bans-visible-laundry-sparking-controversy

### 2026-09-08: Villeneuve-sur-Lot mayor bans hanging laundry on balconies

The mayor of Villeneuve-sur-Lot has banned residents from hanging laundry on windows and balconies, citing security and tourism concerns.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/villeneuve-sur-lot-mayor-bans-hanging-laundry-on-balconies

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Cite as: French municipal laundry bans. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/french-municipal-laundry-bans