Updated on April 8, 2026: Find the most recent data on our Land Price Observatory (DVF data 2020-2025) which presents average and median prices, as well as transaction ranges for your region and each department.
The purchase of agricultural land without farmer status is not only possible but is now a common practice in France. This land acquisition meets diverse needs: heritage investment, leisure projects, or supporting local agriculture by leasing farmland to operators.
It is entirely possible to buy agricultural land without being a farmer. This practice concerns many owners who rent their agricultural plot to operators or who hold parcels for equestrian activities. Holding land for personal use is also permitted by law, allowing it to be used as non-building leisure land or for planting trees according to current regulations.
Contrary to popular belief, the purchase of agricultural land is not reserved solely for farmers. Any individual, company, or investor can acquire agricultural land, provided they comply with certain administrative conditions. This openness allows for:
While real estate purchase of agricultural land is open, becoming a farmer remains accessible to everyone without a mandatory diploma. Farmer status is legally defined as "the control and operation of a plant or animal biological cycle." To obtain this status, one must:
What then does farmer status mean? We have dedicated a White Paper to creating an agricultural holding which specifically addresses the legal definition of agricultural activity: "the control and operation of a plant or animal biological cycle."
A farmer is therefore someone who carries out an agricultural activity, which requires registration with the Business Formalities Centre. And if the agricultural activity is sufficiently large, it will also be necessary to affiliate with the Mutualité Sociale Agricole, which is the social security for farmers.
It is possible to be a farmer on a primary basis but also on a secondary basis. As such, someone who is not a peasant can buy a plot of agricultural land and become a farmer on a secondary basis.
Since a 2003 law, equestrian activities have been considered agricultural activities. Article L311-1 of the Rural Code states that activities "of preparation and training of domestic equidae with a view to their exploitation, excluding entertainment activities" are by nature agricultural.
However, case law has specified that keeping equidae for pleasure or leisure is not an agricultural activity, nor is simple stabling (unless accompanied by breeding activity). Horse trading (buying and selling) is also not an agricultural activity.
In recent years, we have seen the emergence of a new phenomenon: the installation of photovoltaic panels on agricultural land, known as agrivoltaics.
But the development of agrivoltaics is strictly regulated. Agricultural activity must remain predominant on the land, which means this type of project is reserved for farmers only.
Farmers can therefore also enhance the value of agricultural land by installing solar panels, just as they already do on many agricultural buildings.
The main constraint when buying agricultural land concerns the right of pre-emption of the SAFER (Société d'Aménagement Foncier et d'Établissement Rural). This organization, which is private but performs a public service mission, monitors agricultural land transactions and can:
The notary must mandatory notify any sale to the SAFER, which has 2 months to exercise its right of pre-emption. The risk of pre-emption varies according to the nature of the project and regional agricultural dynamics.
When the SAFER has notified its intention to pre-empt, it is not possible to go back and cancel the sale. Except in the event that it pre-empts with a downward price revision.
The SAFER must, of course, justify its decision. It will refer to regulatory objectives, following a priority order that favors the establishment of young farmers, organic farming projects, and the smallest agricultural holdings.
If your purchase project is located in a dynamic agricultural region, the risk of SAFER intervention will be significant if you do not have a real agricultural project.
The situation will not be the same if you buy land to then rent it to a farmer. Indeed, it is the project of your future tenant that will be decisive in avoiding or not the pre-emption of the SAFER. If your tenant has obtained the right to operate from the Control of Structures, the risk of pre-emption will then be much lower.
The Control of Structures imposes an authorization to operate beyond certain surface thresholds (variable by department). This regulation aims to:
Thresholds generally vary between 40 and 85 hectares depending on the region. Operating without authorization exposes one to financial sanctions.
Beyond the SAFER, other organizations may exercise a right of pre-emption:
The average prices of agricultural land vary considerably according to the region and soil quality.
The agricultural land market remains globally stable: according to our land price observatory (DVF data), 14,395 transactions were recorded in 2024 for an average price of €6,038/ha, a moderate increase of +3.1% since 2020 — representing a slight erosion in real value given inflation.
Prices are highly variable within a region and a department depending on multiple factors (local pressure, agronomic quality, parcel characteristics, etc.). Our Land Valuation Study service will provide you with all the information on local land prices and give you the keys to making your heritage decisions.
The acquisition of land can be financed through several means:
Several financial aids can accompany projects:
The purchase of agricultural land requires following several steps:
For non-farmers wishing to rent out their agricultural land, the rural lease constitutes the legal reference framework. This contract has the following characteristics:
Rents vary between €80 and €300/hectare/year depending on soil quality and the region.
Note, however, that if you are not a farmer, the rental of an agricultural plot will not fall under the status of rural leases.
The rental of agricultural land for the simple holding of pleasure horses will not fall under the status of rural leases. You will thus be free to define the terms of the rental with the owner: duration, price, termination terms, etc.
Investing in agricultural land offers several advantages:
This investment nevertheless involves risks:
The agricultural sector faces several major challenges:
Generational renewal (50% of operators will retire by 2030)
Transition to organic farming
Food security and national sovereignty
Adaptation to climate change
Pressure of the world population on resources
These challenges reinforce the attractiveness of investing in rural land and justify the strategic role of private investors.
Several structures support project developers:
The implementation of an agricultural land purchase project involves several steps:
If you find a plot of agricultural land for sale, you can therefore buy it without being an agricultural operator yourself. However, the realization of this project may encounter several difficulties.
These are mainly the administrative constraints of the SAFER and the Control of Structures that can stand in the way of your project to buy or rent agricultural land. It is therefore advisable to prepare your project well and seek good advice to achieve it.
