At national level:

The law of 27 February 2002 on local democracy (title V, articles 156 to 158) sets the objectives of the population census:

• the publication each year of the legal population figures (municipal population, population counted separately and total population). These figures are calculated for France, all its municipalities and administrative districts. Insee is responsible for calculating the legal populations;
• description of the demographic and social characteristics of the population;
• enumeration and description of characteristics of dwellings.

The law nº 2002-276 of 27 February 2002 founds also the principles of execution of the census.

The main other legal texts are :

• Decree in Council of State nº 2003-485 of 5 June 2003 defining the methods of application of the law;
• Order of 26 June 2003 authorising the collection of information from people living in communities;
• Order of 19 July 2007 governing the dissemination of the results of the population census.
  The postponement of the annual census survey of 2021 is recorded in article 17 of the law No. 2021-689 on the management of the exit of the health crisis.

Beyond the institutional legal framework, the committees that give INSEE the right and legitimacy to collect these data are:

The National Council for Statistical Information (CNIS) contributes to the establishment of the official statistics programme for the following year. In particular, it examines the relevance of new projects proposed by INSEE with regard to users' needs. The work focuses on the purpose of the project, its place in the information system, and the means of dissemination envisaged. Each operation must meet a general interest need and not duplicate existing information sources. Following this examination, the CNIS may issue an opinion on the appropriateness of the project. The census is an exception to this procedure as it is a legal obligation. On the other hand, the Official Statistics Label Committee ensures, as for other operations, that the census respects statistical quality criteria. Thus, it analyses the collection and sampling method (sampling plan, data adjustment method, treatment of non-responses guaranteeing the reliability of the results, etc.), the relevance of the questioning and the adaptation of the dissemination to the announced objectives. It also ensures that the survey does not place an excessive burden on the respondents and that consultation has taken place with the relevant stakeholders. Following this examination, the Label Committee may issue a compliance notice.

At European level:

Census 2011.

Regulation (EC) No 763/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on population and housing censuses.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1201/2009 of 30 November 2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No 763/2008.

The data are made available to Ministerial Statistical Offices or researchers after clearance by the secrecy committee.

Survey of general interest and statistical quality, with compulsory nature

2015A001EC for EAR 2015 to 2019 and 2018A001EC for EAR 2018 to 2022