Re: [OT] Holy Over-regulation, Batman!

On Apr 17, 2025 at 1:22:28 PM PDT, "Rhino" <no_offline_contact@example.com>
wrote:

 I was just watching the latest episode of Tim Traveller, this one
featuring an exotic chateau in southwest France:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Vx-7pfzLE [5 minutes]
 I was astonished to discover that, in France, you need the government's
permission to paint your front door a different colour! (He's not clear
which level of government needs to give consent.)
 Call me crazy but that seems like a massive case of government overreach
to me. Why on earth should any level of government be able to forbid you
to change the colour you paint your own door?

It's not all of France. It depends where you live, how old the building is, etc. There are many places around the world with similar restrictions on any changes being made to the external appearance, especially for historically important buildings or areas. Usually it's the city / regional council that has to be applied to for permission. It is done so that someone cannot create an eyesore in the middle of a important area.
Even if you live in a modern apartment block, there can be restrictions as to what you can and cannot do to the outside. For example, in one place near here there is a rule that you cannot hang your washed clothes outside to dry where they are visible from the street.