In order to assess local experiences of coastal management in France and their use of existing planning instruments, five case studies (Iroise Sea, Bay of Brest, Charentais Sounds, Morbihan Gulf, Bay of Arcachon) were selected along the French Atlantic coast for their geographic representativity, the issues at stake, and the coastal planning instruments under use. After a short description of their main characteristics, it is shown how a common grid of analysis has been settled and applied to the five case studies, with a focus on the definition and valuation of meaningful integrated coastal management (ICM) process indicators. The results lead to a clear identification of the strengths and weaknesses of available planning tools and their necessary adaptation to future ICM strategies at the local and national levels, in the framework of the recent European recommendation on ICZM. From the active application of such indicators, it is proposed to develop a "Good Practice Guide" which would be beneficial to ICM initiatives on the French coast and elsewhere.