diff --git a/labelGenerator.js b/labelGenerator.js
index 84e9a46..cbbdac4 100644
--- a/labelGenerator.js
+++ b/labelGenerator.js
@@ -105,13 +105,16 @@ function buildPrefixLabelParts(schema, record) {
 
 }
 
-function buildAdminLabelPart(schema, record) {
+function buildAdminLabelPart(schema, record, { withOptional }) {
   let labelParts = [];
+  const optionals = _.get(schema, 'meta.optional', {});
 
   // iterate the schema
   for (const field in schema.valueFunctions) {
     const valueFunction = schema.valueFunctions[field];
-    labelParts.push(valueFunction(record));
+    if (!optionals[field] || withOptional) {
+      labelParts.push(valueFunction(record));
+    } 
   }
 
   return labelParts;
@@ -144,13 +147,14 @@ function buildPostfixLabelParts(schema, record) {
   return [record.name.default];
 }
 
-module.exports = function( record ){
+module.exports = function( record , options ){
   const schema = getSchema(record.country_a);
   const separator = _.get(schema, ['meta','separator'], ', ');
+  const withOptional = _.get(options, 'withOptional', false);
 
   // in virtually all cases, this will be the `name` field
   const prefixParts = buildPrefixLabelParts(schema, record);
-  const adminParts = buildAdminLabelPart(schema, record);
+  const adminParts = buildAdminLabelPart(schema, record, { withOptional });
   const postfixParts = buildPostfixLabelParts(schema, record);
 
   let labelParts = _.concat(prefixParts, adminParts, postfixParts);
diff --git a/labelSchema.js b/labelSchema.js
index 7e94a82..09f585c 100644
--- a/labelSchema.js
+++ b/labelSchema.js
@@ -90,6 +90,22 @@ function getFRACountryValue() {
   };
 }
 
+
+// this function generates the region field for FRA records.
+// 1.  use nothing if the record is a in the French overseas or Paris (VP),
+//     eg - Saint-Denis, Reunion (instead of Saint-Denis, Reunion, Reunion)
+// 2.  use region name, eg - Bagneux, Hauts-De-Seine, France
+// 3.  use this with caution, Paris is both a locality and region. This can cause label like `Tour Eiffel, Paris, Paris, France`
+function getFRARegionValue() {
+  const _default = getFirstProperty(['region']);
+  return (record) => {
+    if (!_.isEmpty(record.region_a) && (_.includes(FRA_OVERSEAS, record.region_a[0]) || record.region_a[0] === 'VP')) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    return _default(record);
+  };
+}
+
 function isInNYC(record) {
   const _region_a = getFirstProperty(['region_a'])(record);
   const _country_a = getFirstProperty(['country_a'])(record);
@@ -159,6 +175,11 @@ module.exports = {
       'local': getFirstProperty(['locality', 'localadmin']),
       'regional': getRegionalAbbreviation,
       'country': getFirstProperty(['dependency', 'country'])
+    },
+    'meta': {
+      'optional': {
+        'regional': true
+      }
     }
   },
   'GBR': {
@@ -203,7 +224,13 @@ module.exports = {
   'FRA': {
     'valueFunctions': {
       'local': getFirstProperty(['locality', 'localadmin']),
+      'region': getFRARegionValue(),
       'country': getFRACountryValue()
+    },
+    'meta': {
+      'optional': {
+        'region': true
+      }
     }
   },
   'ITA': {
diff --git a/test/labelGenerator_FRA.js b/test/labelGenerator_FRA.js
index b825356..ff3efbb 100644
--- a/test/labelGenerator_FRA.js
+++ b/test/labelGenerator_FRA.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'venue name, locality name, France');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, {withOptional: true}),'venue name, locality name, region name, France');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -47,7 +48,9 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['FRA'],
       'country': ['France']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'venue name, locality name, Reunion');
+    let expected = 'venue name, locality name, Reunion';
+    t.equal(generator(doc), expected);
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }), expected);
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -67,6 +70,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'venue name, localadmin name, France');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, {withOptional: true}),'venue name, localadmin name, region name, France');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -86,7 +90,9 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['FRA'],
       'country': ['France']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'venue name, localadmin name, Reunion');
+    let expected = 'venue name, localadmin name, Reunion';
+    t.equal(generator(doc), expected);
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }), expected);
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -107,6 +113,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'house number street name, locality name, France');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, {withOptional: true}),'house number street name, locality name, region name, France');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -127,7 +134,9 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['FRA'],
       'country': ['France']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'house number street name, locality name, Martinique');
+    const expected = 'house number street name, locality name, Martinique';
+    t.equal(generator(doc), expected);
+    t.equal(generator(doc, {withOptional: true}), expected);
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -146,6 +155,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'neighbourhood name, locality name, France');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, {withOptional: true}),'neighbourhood name, locality name, region name, France');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -164,7 +174,9 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['FRA'],
       'country': ['France']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'neighbourhood name, locality name, Martinique');
+    let expected = 'neighbourhood name, locality name, Martinique';
+    t.equal(generator(doc), expected);
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }), expected);
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -182,6 +194,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'locality name, France');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'locality name, region name, France');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -199,7 +212,9 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['FRA'],
       'country': ['France']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'locality name, Guadeloupe');
+    let expected = 'locality name, Guadeloupe';
+    t.equal(generator(doc), expected);
+    t.equal(generator(doc, {withOptional: true}), expected);
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -216,6 +231,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'localadmin name, France');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'localadmin name, region name, France');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -232,7 +248,9 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['FRA'],
       'country': ['France']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'localadmin name, French Guiana');
+    let expected = 'localadmin name, French Guiana';
+    t.equal(generator(doc), expected);
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }), expected);
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -248,6 +266,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'county name, France');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'county name, region name, France');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -263,7 +282,9 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['FRA'],
       'country': ['France']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'county name, Reunion');
+    let expected = 'county name, Reunion';
+    t.equal(generator(doc), expected);
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }), expected);
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -278,6 +299,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'macrocounty name, France');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'macrocounty name, region name, France');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -292,7 +314,9 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['FRA'],
       'country': ['France']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'macrocounty name, Reunion');
+    let expected = 'macrocounty name, Reunion';
+    t.equal(generator(doc), expected);
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }), expected);
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -306,6 +330,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'region name, France');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'region name, France');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -320,6 +345,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'Reunion');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'Reunion');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -331,7 +357,9 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['FRA'],
       'country': ['France']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'macroregion name, France');
+    let expected = 'macroregion name, France';
+    t.equal(generator(doc),expected);
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),expected);
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -344,7 +372,9 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['FRA'],
       'country': ['France']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'dependency name');
+    let expected = 'dependency name';
+    t.equal(generator(doc),expected);
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),expected);
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -375,6 +405,7 @@ module.exports.tests.united_kingdom = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['France']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'locality name, dependency name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'locality name, region name, dependency name');
     t.end();
   });
 
diff --git a/test/labelGenerator_default.js b/test/labelGenerator_default.js
index 8a47814..f511865 100644
--- a/test/labelGenerator_default.js
+++ b/test/labelGenerator_default.js
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['country code'],
       'country': ['country name']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'venue name, locality name, region abbrv, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc),'venue name, locality name, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'venue name, locality name, region abbrv, country name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -49,7 +50,8 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['country code'],
       'country': ['country name']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'venue name, localadmin name, region abbrv, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc),'venue name, localadmin name, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'venue name, localadmin name, region abbrv, country name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -70,7 +72,8 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['country code'],
       'country': ['country name']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'house number street name, locality name, region abbrv, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc),'house number street name, locality name, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'house number street name, locality name, region abbrv, country name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -89,7 +92,8 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['country code'],
       'country': ['country name']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'neighbourhood name, locality name, region abbrv, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc),'neighbourhood name, locality name, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'neighbourhood name, locality name, region abbrv, country name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -107,7 +111,8 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['country code'],
       'country': ['country name']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'locality name, region abbrv, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc),'locality name, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'locality name, region abbrv, country name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -124,7 +129,8 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['country code'],
       'country': ['country name']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'localadmin name, region abbrv, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc),'localadmin name, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'localadmin name, region abbrv, country name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -140,7 +146,8 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['country code'],
       'country': ['country name']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'county name, region abbrv, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc),'county name, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'county name, region abbrv, country name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -155,7 +162,8 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country_a': ['country code'],
       'country': ['country name']
     };
-    t.equal(generator(doc),'macrocounty name, region abbrv, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc),'macrocounty name, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'macrocounty name, region abbrv, country name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -170,6 +178,7 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['country name']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'region name, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'region name, country name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -182,6 +191,7 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['country name']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'macroregion name, country name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'macroregion name, country name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -223,6 +233,7 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       'country': ['country name']
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'locality name, dependency name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'locality name, dependency name');
     t.end();
   });
 
@@ -235,6 +246,7 @@ module.exports.tests.default_country = function(test, common) {
       //note no country_a
     };
     t.equal(generator(doc),'region name');
+    t.equal(generator(doc, { withOptional: true }),'region name');
     t.end();
   });
 
diff --git a/test/labelSchema.js b/test/labelSchema.js
index 8b7cb2e..081f726 100644
--- a/test/labelSchema.js
+++ b/test/labelSchema.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ module.exports.tests.supported_countries = function(test, common) {
     t.equals(Object.keys(schemas.GBR.valueFunctions).length, 3);
     t.equals(Object.keys(schemas.AUS.valueFunctions).length, 3);
     t.equals(Object.keys(schemas.KOR.valueFunctions).length, 3);
-    t.equals(Object.keys(schemas.FRA.valueFunctions).length, 2);
+    t.equals(Object.keys(schemas.FRA.valueFunctions).length, 3);
     t.equals(Object.keys(schemas.ITA.valueFunctions).length, 3);
     t.equals(Object.keys(schemas.default.valueFunctions).length, 3);