The prefect has decided to extend Sunday rest exemptions for all Parisian businesses during the summer of 2024. From now on, stores will be able to open their doors every Sunday, anticipating the exceptional crowds expected during the Olympic Games. This measure aims to offer visitors a better experience and boost the local economy during the Games.
Initially limited to 15 arrondissements
The law of May 19, 2023 relating to the 2024 Olympic Games provides for the possibility for retail establishments selling goods or services to open on Sundays and grant weekly rest by rotation.
Several brands are involved:
- food retailers,
- sports and leisure goods,
- bookstores and stationers,
- multi-shop stores,
- department stores,
- ready-to-wear clothing stores,
- bicycle and motorcycle stores.
The authorization covers the period from June 15 to September 30, 2024. This measure applies to businesses using a pro account to manage their transactions.
In December 2023, the prefectoral authority had announced the possibility of derogating from the limit of 12 annual opening Sundays set by a municipal by-law. This announcement excluded the 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th and 15th arrondissements.
A broader scope of application
The opening of shops, in certain sectors of activity on Sundays during the 2024 Olympics period, will finally be possible throughout Paris declared the Paris Prefecture on April 23, which had initially decided to exclude 5 arrondissements from the derogation.
"This is to meet the exceptional needs of the public this summer. Some ten million spectators will be coming, especially on Sundays, and there will also be workers who will be coming especially," explained Christophe Noël du Payrat, chief of staff to the Île-de-France prefect.
This decision was taken following reactions from several authorities, including the City of Paris and arrondissement mayors, who felt that, for the 7 sectors of activity selected, all arrondissements should be covered.
Olympic Games 2024: the possibility for shops to open on Sundays is extended to the whole of Paris https://t.co/KYsP5qEGbL
- Cedef documentation (@DocCedef) May 22, 2024
Sunday opening: a regulated practice
In principle, Sundays are reserved for the weekly rest of employees. It is therefore forbidden to open a shop on Sundays. However, there are a number of exceptions to this rule. These are granted according to the number of employees, the nature of the business and its location.
With regard to the condition concerning the number of employees, a business may open on Sundays if no employees are required.
Concerning the condition linked to the nature of the business, a food retailer is authorized to open on Sundays until 1 pm.
With regard to the condition linked to the location of the business, a business can open on Sundays, with no restrictions on opening hours, if it is located in an international tourist zone (ZTI), in a simple tourist zone, in a major railway station or in a commercial zone.
In the run-up to the 2024 Olympic Games, it is possible for retail establishments to open on Sundays. The scope of this derogation has recently been extended to the whole of Paris, whereas it was previously limited to competition venues and communes located close to these sites.