Skip to main content
Français

Alpes-Maritimes (06)

Nice: geology and natural hazards

What public services say about the ground beneath the commune (population 357,737) 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

Nice at a glance

Seismic zone
4 of 5 (medium)
Radon potential
Category 1 of 3 (low potential)
Recognised natural disasters
77 since 1982
Underground cavities recorded
38
Ground movements recorded
28
Risk prevention plans
7

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, par submersion marine
  • 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, recul du trait de côte et de falaises, tassements différentiels
  • Séisme
  • Feu de forêt
  • Risque industriel: effet thermique
  • Transport de marchandises dangereuses

Recognised natural disasters

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

  • Inondations et/ou coulées de boue: 37
  • Mouvement de terrain: 24
  • Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues: 11
  • Sécheresse: 6
  • Glissement de terrain: 2
  • Tempête: 2
  • Grêle: 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 01/06/2024.

  3. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 01/03/2024 to 02/03/2024, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/12/2024.

  4. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 26/02/2024, order published in the Journal officiel on 14/06/2024.

  5. Mouvement de terrain

    Event on 25/02/2024, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/12/2024.

  6. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/04/2023 to 30/06/2023, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/07/2024.

  7. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/04/2022 to 30/09/2022, order published in the Journal officiel on 08/09/2023.

  8. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue, Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event from 02/10/2020 to 03/10/2020, order published in the Journal officiel on 08/10/2020.

  9. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 20/12/2019 to 22/12/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 06/06/2021.

  10. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 01/12/2019 to 02/12/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 12/06/2020.

  11. 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.

  12. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 22/11/2019 to 24/11/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/02/2020.

  13. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 03/11/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 19/12/2019.

  14. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 31/10/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 24/10/2020.

  15. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 31/10/2019 to 03/11/2019, order published in the Journal officiel on 03/12/2020.

  16. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 03/10/2015, order published in the Journal officiel on 08/10/2015.

  17. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 03/10/2015 to 04/10/2015, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/03/2016.

  18. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 14/11/2014 to 15/11/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/06/2015.

  19. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 09/11/2014 to 11/11/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 19/02/2015.

  20. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 09/11/2014 to 12/11/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/06/2015.

  21. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 04/11/2014 to 05/11/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 06/01/2015.

  22. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 04/11/2014 to 05/11/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/06/2015.

  23. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 16/01/2014 to 18/01/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/02/2014.

  24. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 16/01/2014 to 20/01/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 26/04/2014.

  25. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 04/01/2014 to 06/01/2014, order published in the Journal officiel on 26/04/2014.

  26. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 25/12/2013 to 26/12/2013, order published in the Journal officiel on 26/04/2014.

  27. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 07/03/2013 to 09/03/2013, order published in the Journal officiel on 26/10/2013.

  28. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 30/09/2012, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/01/2013.

  29. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 24/09/2012, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/01/2013.

  30. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event on 08/11/2011, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/03/2012.

  31. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 05/11/2011 to 09/11/2011, order published in the Journal officiel on 15/06/2012.

  32. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 15/11/2010, order published in the Journal officiel on 10/04/2011.

  33. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 30/10/2010 to 25/12/2010, order published in the Journal officiel on 22/06/2011.

  34. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event on 04/05/2010, order published in the Journal officiel on 26/06/2010.

  35. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event on 19/02/2010, order published in the Journal officiel on 26/06/2010.

  36. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event from 01/01/2010 to 02/01/2010, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/05/2010.

  37. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event on 22/12/2009, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/05/2010.

  38. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 22/12/2009 to 29/12/2009, order published in the Journal officiel on 13/05/2010.

  39. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 13/12/2008 to 17/12/2008, order published in the Journal officiel on 01/07/2009.

  40. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event from 30/11/2008 to 01/12/2008, order published in the Journal officiel on 21/05/2009.

  41. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 02/12/2005 to 03/12/2005, order published in the Journal officiel on 14/05/2006.

  42. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 02/12/2005 to 03/12/2005, order published in the Journal officiel on 10/10/2008.

  43. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2005 to 31/03/2005, order published in the Journal officiel on 23/04/2008.

  44. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/07/2004 to 30/09/2004, order published in the Journal officiel on 23/04/2008.

  45. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/01/2004 to 31/03/2004, order published in the Journal officiel on 23/04/2008.

  46. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event from 31/10/2003 to 01/11/2003, order published in the Journal officiel on 23/05/2004.

  47. Sécheresse

    Event from 01/07/2003 to 30/09/2003, order published in the Journal officiel on 04/05/2007.

  48. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 25/08/2002 to 26/08/2002, order published in the Journal officiel on 24/01/2003.

  49. Mouvement de terrain

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

  50. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

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

  51. 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.

  52. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event from 05/11/2000 to 06/11/2000, order published in the Journal officiel on 23/03/2001.

  53. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 05/11/2000 to 06/11/2000, order published in the Journal officiel on 14/06/2001.

  54. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 11/10/2000, order published in the Journal officiel on 29/12/2000.

  55. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 11/10/2000 to 15/10/2000, order published in the Journal officiel on 14/06/2001.

  56. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 06/06/2000, order published in the Journal officiel on 22/11/2000.

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

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

  58. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 18/09/1999 to 19/09/1999, order published in the Journal officiel on 19/03/2000.

  59. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 30/09/1998, order published in the Journal officiel on 05/02/1999.

  60. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue, Glissement de terrain

    Event from 24/12/1996 to 25/12/1996, order published in the Journal officiel on 22/08/1998.

  61. 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.

  62. Mouvement de terrain

    Event from 11/01/1996 to 12/01/1996, order published in the Journal officiel on 17/04/1996.

  63. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 04/11/1994 to 06/11/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 25/11/1994.

  64. Glissement de terrain

    Event from 10/01/1994 to 11/01/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 10/06/1994.

  65. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 06/01/1994 to 13/01/1994, order published in the Journal officiel on 10/06/1994.

  66. 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.

  67. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 12/09/1993 to 14/09/1993, order published in the Journal officiel on 24/10/1993.

  68. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 06/10/1992, order published in the Journal officiel on 27/02/1993.

  69. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 10/09/1992, order published in the Journal officiel on 28/03/1993.

  70. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 24/06/1992, order published in the Journal officiel on 27/02/1993.

  71. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 28/09/1991 to 30/09/1991, order published in the Journal officiel on 15/10/1992.

  72. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event from 28/09/1991 to 30/09/1991, order published in the Journal officiel on 27/02/1993.

  73. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 25/02/1989 to 26/02/1989, order published in the Journal officiel on 25/07/1989.

  74. Chocs mécaniques liés à l’action des vagues

    Event from 25/02/1989 to 26/02/1989, order published in the Journal officiel on 07/02/1990.

  75. Grêle, Tempête, Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event on 24/08/1983, order published in the Journal officiel on 11/09/1983.

  76. Tempête, Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 06/11/1982 to 10/11/1982, order published in the Journal officiel on 02/12/1982.

  77. Inondations et/ou coulées de boue

    Event from 06/11/1982 to 10/11/1982, order published in the Journal officiel on 06/02/1983.

Earthquakes and radon

Seismic zone

Zone 4 of 5: medium. This regulatory zoning, in force since 2011, sets the rules for earthquake-resistant construction.

Radon potential

Category 1 of 3: low potential. The geological formations have the lowest 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.

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

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

See cavities and ground movements on the map

Risk prevention plans

  • PER-I - BV Paillons [ Nice ] 1999

    Natural risk prevention plan.

  • PPRN-IF - Nice 2017 [ MOD 1 - 2021 ]

    Natural risk prevention plan.

  • PPRN-Mvt - Nice (Cimiez) 2008

    Natural risk prevention plan.

  • PPRN-MVT - Nice 2020

    Natural risk prevention plan.

  • PPRN-I - Nice - Basse vallée du Var 2013 Révision 1 [ MOD 1 - 2014 , MOD 2 - 2020 ]

    Natural risk prevention plan, under revision.

  • PPRN-S - Nice 2019

    Natural risk prevention plan.

  • PPRN-I - Paillon aval 2020 Révision 1

    Natural risk prevention plan, under revision.

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.