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Alpes-Maritimes (06)

Grasse: geology and natural hazards

What public services say about the ground beneath the commune (population 50,970) and the hazards it faces: natural disasters, earthquakes, radon, cavities, clays, groundwater and rocks.

Hazard names and other data are quoted as their producers publish them, in French.

Explore the commune on the map

Grasse at a glance

Seismic zone
3 of 5 (moderate)
Radon potential
Category 3 of 3 (significant potential)
Recognised natural disasters
39 since 1982
Underground cavities recorded
55
Ground movements recorded
5
Risk prevention plans
3

Hazards listed by the French State

Natural and technological hazards to which the commune is exposed, according to the national GASPAR database.

  • Inondation: par une crue torrentielle ou à montée rapide de cours d’eau, par ruissellement et coulée de boue
  • Mouvement de terrain: affaissements et effondrements d’origine anthropique (anciennes carrières souterraines, hors mines), eboulement ou chutes de pierres et de blocs, glissement de terrain, tassements différentiels
  • Séisme
  • Feu de forêt
  • Radon
  • Risque industriel: effet thermique
  • Transport de marchandises dangereuses

Recognised natural disasters

39 events recognised as a natural disaster by ministerial order since 1982.

  • Inondations et/ou coulées de boue: 22
  • Mouvement de terrain: 8
  • Sécheresse: 7
  • Glissement de terrain: 4
  • Tempête: 1

  1. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 15/10/2024 to 19/10/2024, order published in the Journal officiel on 04/11/2024.

  2. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 02/03/2024 to 03/03/2024, order published in the Journal officiel on 14/06/2024.

  3. Sécheresse

    Event from 31/03/2023 to 29/06/2023, order published in the Journal officiel on 18/10/2024.

  4. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/04/2022 to 30/09/2022, order published in the Journal officiel on 03/05/2023.

  5. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 24/09/2020, order published in the Journal officiel on 03/12/2020.

  6. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 23/11/2019 to 24/11/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 30/11/2019.

  7. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 23/11/2019 to 24/11/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 03/09/2020.

  8. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2018 to 31/03/2018, order published in the Journal officiel on 26/10/2019.

  9. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/07/2017 to 30/09/2017, order published in the Journal officiel on 27/07/2018.

  10. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 03/10/2015, order published in the Journal officiel on 29/10/2015.

  11. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 12/09/2015 to 13/09/2015, order published in the Journal officiel on 19/11/2015.

  12. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 26/11/2014 to 27/11/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 31/03/2015.

  13. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 25/06/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 04/10/2014.

  14. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 10/11/2012, order published in the Journal officiel on 27/06/2013.

  15. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 05/11/2011 to 06/11/2011, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/04/2012.

  16. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 04/11/2011 to 06/11/2011, order published in the Journal officiel on 19/11/2011.

  17. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 31/10/2010 to 01/11/2010, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/04/2011.

  18. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 13/12/2008 to 14/12/2008, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/05/2010.

  19. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/07/2007 to 30/09/2007, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/08/2008.

  20. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2007 to 31/03/2007, order published in the Journal officiel on 10/10/2008.

  21. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 08/09/2005 to 09/09/2005, order published in the Journal officiel on 14/10/2005.

  22. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/07/2003 to 30/09/2003, order published in the Journal officiel on 31/05/2005.

  23. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 23/11/2002 to 24/11/2002, order published in the Journal officiel on 18/04/2003.

  24. Mouvement de terrain, Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 24/12/2000 to 25/12/2000, order published in the Journal officiel on 26/09/2001.

  25. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue, Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 23/11/2000 to 24/11/2000, order published in the Journal officiel on 14/06/2001.

  26. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 05/11/2000 to 06/11/2000, order published in the Journal officiel on 29/12/2000.

  27. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 05/11/2000 to 06/11/2000, order published in the Journal officiel on 09/02/2002.

  28. Mouvement de terrain, Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 23/10/1999 to 24/10/1999, order published in the Journal officiel on 19/03/2000.

  29. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 11/01/1996 to 12/01/1996, order published in the Journal officiel on 14/02/1996.

  30. Glissement de terrain

    Event from 11/12/1995 to 12/12/1995, order published in the Journal officiel on 17/04/1996.

  31. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 26/06/1994 to 27/06/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 30/06/1994.

  32. Glissement de terrain

    Event from 26/06/1994 to 27/06/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 25/09/1994.

  33. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 05/02/1994 to 08/02/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 29/04/1994.

  34. Glissement de terrain

    Event from 01/02/1994 to 28/02/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 29/04/1994.

  35. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 05/10/1993 to 10/10/1993, order published in the Journal officiel on 24/10/1993.

  36. Glissement de terrain

    Event from 05/10/1993 to 10/10/1993, order published in the Journal officiel on 15/12/1993.

  37. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 27/09/1992, order published in the Journal officiel on 28/03/1993.

  38. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 10/10/1987 to 11/10/1987, order published in the Journal officiel on 16/01/1988.

  39. Tempête

    Event from 06/11/1982 to 10/11/1982, order published in the Journal officiel on 22/12/1982.

Earthquakes and radon

Seismic zone

Zone 3 of 5: moderate. This regulatory zoning, in force since 2011, sets the rules for earthquake-resistant construction.

Radon potential

Category 3 of 3: significant potential. At least part of the commune has higher-than-average uranium content. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can build up in poorly ventilated rooms.

Beneath the town hall

What BRGM maps say at the town hall. They describe that single point: elsewhere in the commune, the ground may be quite different.

  • Shrink-swell clays

  • Rising groundwater

  • Underground cavities

  • Ground movements

  • Earthquakes

  • Nature of the ground

Cavities and ground movements

Recorded across the whole commune by BRGM, in its national databases of underground cavities and ground movements.

55 underground cavities recorded (quarries, cellars, military works, natural cavities…).

5 ground movements recorded (landslides, rockfalls, collapses, mudflows…).

See cavities and ground movements on the map

Risk prevention plans

  • PPRN-Mvt - Grasse 2004

    Natural risk prevention plan.

  • PPRN-IF - Grasse 2009

    Natural risk prevention plan.

  • PPRN-I - Grasse 2023 [ MOD 1 - 2024 ] [ MOD 2 - 2025 ]

    Natural risk prevention plan.

The zoning and regulations of each plan, which may prohibit or restrict building, can be consulted at the town hall and on Géorisques.

Nearby communes

Sources and limitations

Listed hazards, natural disasters, seismic zoning, radon potential, cavities, ground movements and prevention plans: Géorisques, published by the French ministry for the ecological transition, under Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0, data accessed on 03/11/2026. Summary beneath the town hall: BRGM map services, queried when the page is displayed. List of communes and populations: API Découpage administratif (geo.api.gouv.fr), d’après le code officiel géographique de l’Insee, version of 30/10/2026.

This information reflects the state of knowledge at the scale of the commune or of a single point. It replaces neither a soil survey nor the official risk statement (état des risques) required for a sale or a rental, which is drawn up on the official French government service.