Bayonne and Biarritz Removals: Two Councils, Two Procedures
Bayonne and Biarritz removals go through two councils: Biarritz wants its form by email fifteen days ahead, and Bayonne's rule is not yet confirmed.
A few short questions. Nothing is sent until you check and confirm.
Why does one move on the Basque coast mean two councils?
Bayonne had 54,306 residents in INSEE's 2023 figures and Biarritz 26,206, both in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, with Anglet at 43,271. Each town runs its own public-space service, so the procedure depends on which side of the boundary the address lies.
Biarritz and Bayonne belong to the same agglomeration authority, the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque, but that body is not the one the Biarritz page names for a moving request. Ask the town hall of the street where the lorry will stand.
Duty and VAT on the belongings sit in our France customs guide.
What does Biarritz ask for?
Biarritz has a page for requests to use public space, listing moves, works and commercial events. For a move, the completed form must be emailed to the regulation service at [email protected] at the latest fifteen days before the occupation starts.
The page states that a request is not itself the authorisation, so do not book a lorry for a Biarritz street on the strength of having sent the form. Requests that attract a charge have their tariffs inside the downloadable forms, which we did not open, so no amount is stated.
The page names no pedestrian-zone rule, no limit on lorry size and no rule on who fits signs. Put those three questions to the regulation service.
What is not yet confirmed for Bayonne?
Bayonne's page on planning a move would not open for us on 1 November 2026, returning an HTTP 418 error, so we hold no Bayonne notice period, charge, pedestrian-street window or sign rule.
Ask the town hall whether the move needs a request to the municipal police, how many working days ahead it must be made, what reserved spaces cost, and whether a pedestrian street in the old town can be entered by a lorry and at what hours.
Keep the written reply and give it to the removal company, so a changed date can be checked against what the council said. Do not borrow the Biarritz fifteen days for a Bayonne address.
Does a rail link bring loads from the Channel to Bayonne?
Ports de Normandie, the authority for Cherbourg, says a rail-motorway terminal has run there since mid-2025, joining Great Britain with the south-west of France. Its service to Bayonne covers about 1,000 km, with six round trips a week and room for 36 trailers per trip.
The page describes freight trailers in general and does not mention household removals. Whether a removal company uses it for a given load is a question for that company. The Channel ports are set out in our guide to Brittany and Normandy ferry arrivals.
Pau has its own page: see Pau. For the wider region, Bordeaux is the nearest city with a full council procedure.
Quick answers on Bayonne and Biarritz
How far ahead must I ask Biarritz for a moving permit?
The council asks for the completed form by email at the latest fifteen days before the occupation starts, and says the request is not itself the authorisation.
What does Bayonne require for a move?
We could not confirm it: the council's page would not open for us.
Ask the town hall about the notice period, charges, pedestrian streets and signs.
Does a rail link carry loads from Cherbourg to Bayonne?
Ports de Normandie describes a freight rail-motorway service with six round trips a week.
It does not mention household removals, so ask your removal company.
Describe your Bayonne or Biarritz move
Say whether the address is in Bayonne, Biarritz or Anglet, the floor, any pedestrian street nearby and the dates under consideration. Note a car or pet if one is coming.
About International Removals Companies
International Removals Companies is an enquiry and introduction service run by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, in partnership with AGM Group. We don't move goods ourselves: the removal company quotes for your move and carries it out, so check its credentials and terms before you book. Our service is free. Discuss the quotation and booking terms directly with the removal company.
- Email[email protected]
- In partnership withAGM Group (agm.group)