Source date: 2026-04-28
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Selling lily of the valley on May 1: is it allowed? Published on April 29, 2026 - Service Public / Direction de l'information légale et administrative (Premier ministre)
May 1 is approaching and, as every year on this date, lily of the valley will once again bloom in the streets of towns and villages. But do you really know the rules that apply to selling lily of the valley on that day? Service Public reminds you of the main rules to know about this street-selling practice, which is generally governed by a municipal order.
Image 1 Credits: digifox - stock.adobe.com
Although any street sale is in principle subject to authorization, selling lily of the valley on May 1 is an exception. An individual or an association may sell lily of the valley while following a few rules. Before setting up, be sure to check the regulations with your town hall.
The sale of lily of the valley on May 1 is generally governed by municipal orders specifying that you must:
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sell only wild lily of the valley picked in the woods (although gathering it is regulated, as forest products belong to their owners);
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sell in small quantities;
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sell sprigs only, without adding other flowers to the bouquet and without packaging;
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not set up near a florist (check your town hall's municipal orders for the required distance);
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not use tables, trestles, or chairs that could mark out the point of sale;
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not create a danger or obstruction for pedestrians and vehicles.
If you do not comply with the regulations in force, you risk a fine of €300, a fixed amount that may be reduced to €250 or increased to €600. If you do not pay within 45 days of the date the offense notice is sent or the offense is recorded, you may be liable to a fine of €3,750 and 6 months' imprisonment.
In addition, Article 446-3 of the Code pénal states that law enforcement may also destroy or confiscate the lily of the valley sprigs.
While the sale of lily of the valley is generally allowed on May 1, it remains prohibited on every other day of the year.
Sales carried out on public roads are strictly regulated; “sales from temporary stalls,” which allow individuals, for example, to sell goods at garage sales, flea markets, or clearance sales, are also subject to regulations.
Legal Texts and References
See Also
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Sales on public roads Ministère chargé de l'économie
Agenda
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From May 1, 2026 Tax stamp Residence permits: increase in the amount of taxes charged to foreign nationals from May 1 Published on April 22, 2026
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From May 4, 2026 CROUS The €1 meal available to all students from May 4 Published on April 16, 2026
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From Apr. 15, 2026 Pet Walks in the forest: you must keep your dog on a leash until June 30 Published on April 11, 2026
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From Apr. 4, 2026 School calendar The dates of the 2026 spring school holidays Published on March 09, 2026
Source: Service-Public particuliers