MAIOT: New online procedure for reporting changes to an ICPE or IOTA

As a reminder, pursuant to Articles R. 181-46, R. 512-46-23, and R. 512-54 of the Environmental Code, any modification that is likely to be significant and made to a facility classified for environmental protection (ICPE) or to facilities, structures, works, and activities (IOTA) must be reported to the prefect by the operator.

Upon completion of the review of the notification, the inspection authority determines whether the change is substantial or significant:

• If the change is considered substantial but not significant: a new application for an environmental permit or registration, or the filing of a new declaration, will be required;
• If the modification is not considered substantial: the request may result in a letter of acknowledgment (which is treated as a decision authorizing the modification), a supplementary prefectural order may be issued to establish new requirements governing the modification, or the request may be denied.

One A note from the Ministry dated December 20, 2021, explains the criteria used to determine the nature of the proposed change.  

Since March 5, operators of an ICPE or an IOTA have been able to report changes to their facilities electronically.

This option applies in particular to:

• ICPE subject to the authorization or registration regime;
• IOTA subject to the authorization or reporting requirements.

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This online procedure is not mandatory but is strongly recommended to help ensure that applications are processed efficiently, to facilitate the issuance of an acknowledgment of receipt, and to shorten processing times. Operators may therefore choose to complete this process online or by mail.

Once the process is complete, the administrative authority will issue a receipt.

Please note that the following requests cannot be submitted via the MAIOT online system:

• Change of operator;
• Transfer of authorization;
• Declaration of prior rights or acquired rights;
• Updating the status of soil contamination whenever there is a significant change in the operating conditions of certain facilities (geological carbon dioxide storage sites, high-threshold Seveso facilities, quarries, and waste storage facilities). This report is submitted by the operator to the prefect, the mayor of the affected municipality, or the president of the EPCI, as well as to the owner of the land on which the facility is located;
• Complete cessation of operations.

They must therefore be sent directly to the relevant agency (prefecture or city hall) by mail.

This online procedure is all the more significant given that the Council of State, in a recent decision handed down on April 8, 2026, held that bringing such matters to its attention constitutes requests to amend the operating permit that are not subject to the “silence implies consent” principle set forth in Article L. 231-1 of the Code of Administrative Justice. Consequently, the prefect’s silence for more than four months from the date on which the proposed amendment was brought to his attention constitutes an implied decision to reject the request. The date on which the notification is submitted via the online procedure will therefore mark the start of the four-month period.

Finally, statements currently under review do not need to be resubmitted to the platform.

The online procedure is available at the following link: https://entreprendre.preprod.service-public.gouv.fr/vosdroits/R75904.

A list of frequently asked questions about filing assistance is also available.