Create or change the landscaping of your yard

Last updated May 7, 2024

Would you like to transform the landscaping of your yard? Are you considering greening your outdoor area or moving vegetation beds? In some boroughs, you will need a permit or certificate of authorization.

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In most cases, no permit is required for landscaping work involving plants. 

However, in some heritage areas, namely in areas bordering on the Parcours Gouin, you must comply with certain requirements regarding the alignment of trees and vegetable beds. 

In such cases, approval by the conseil consultatif d’urbanisme (CCU) is required, and fees must be paid prior to beginning the work.

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This service is not offered in this borough.

You must obtain a certificate of landscaping if your property is located in the Mont Royal area, for any of the following landscaping projects:  
•    Adding or moving a tree, a shrub, flower beds or green plants
•    Configuring or converting a sidewalk, a terrace, a path or a patio over an area of 200 m2 or more.
•    Building, installing, converting, removing or demolishing an outbuilding or a stairway.
•    Adding or converting a wall or a low wall. 
•    Felling a tree that is part of an alignment of 3 or more trees, or that is part of a tree cover of 5 or more trees.

Fees

The posted rates include taxes.

Types of fees

Amount

Analysis for an industrial building

$9.80 per $1,000 of work
Minimum payable: $161

Analysis of any other type of building or land

$9.80 per $1,000 of work
Minimum payable: $473

Required documents

  • Owner’s name and address
  • Adress of the immovable 
  • Certificate of location of the immovable
  • Plan to scale of at least 1:200 showing the location and nature of the projected work
  • Plan showing the exact location of all trees located on the lot and showing which trees must be protected, moved or felled  
  • Document showing measures for the protection of roots, trunks and branches
  • Analysis of the project’s impact on views of mount Royal 
  • Analysis of the project’s impact on existing landscaping 
  • Survey of the site’s archeological potential and of the project’s impact on that potential  
  • Analysis of the project’s impact on the current state of drainage at the site
  • Any other information that may seem pertinent and that may confirm that the project is in compliance with municipal by-laws

For work carried out on a co-ownership property:

  • Letter authorizing each co-owner or resolution from the co-owners’ association 

If you are an agent:

  • Power of attorney authorizing you to act on behalf of the owner

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You are required to obtain a certificate of location in the following cases:

1. If your property is located in one of the following areas:  

  • Areas bordering on Boulevard Saint-Joseph
  • The residential area bordering on the Musée de Lachine

2. If you are considering landscaping work as a result of:

  • Construction work
  • The extension or redevelopment of a property

In the above-listed cases, you must file an application at the permit counter and follow the procedure required under the Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program.

Fees

Certificate of authorization: $50
Additional fees apply under the Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program.

Required documents

  • Certificate of location
  • Survey plan
  • Current state plan
  • Color pictures of existing buildings
  • Color pictures of the lot
  • Projected work, costs and timeline 
  • Landscaping plan
  • Samples of materials
  • Plan of traffic lanes and parking areas on the lot

In some cases (check with the permit counter): 

  • Assessment of the building’s heritage interest
  • Review of the archeological potential

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You are required to obtain a permit for any landscaping work in your yard.

 In some cases, you  may also be required to provide a Site Planning and Architectural Integration Plan, namely if your property is located in a wooded area or in the area of Bois-des-Caryers. Additional fees and delays may apply.

Fees

At least $75 or $9.80 per increment of $1,000 worth of work.

Required documents

  • Certificate of location
  • Estimated value of projected work including professional fees and taxes
  • Plan including the type of landscaping, the materials, the plants and projected plantation, its location on the lot, any measurements that may provide clarity regarding the landscaping project, namely:
    • Location of fire hydrants and service infrastructures 
    • Direction of surface water drainage 
    • Composition of the soil and underground, where applicable 
    • Location of wooded areas, where applicable
    • Lot elevations at intervals of at least 1 meter
  • Power of attorney, if you are not the land owner, or administrator according to Registre des entreprises du Québec

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In person

55 Avenue Dupras
Montréal, QC H8R 4A8

To find out which landscaping regulations apply to your borough, contact your permit counter.

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In person

201 Avenue Laurier Est
Fifth floor
Montréal, QC H2T 3E6

This service is not offered in this borough.

No permit is required for landscaping work in a private yard.

This service is not offered in this borough.

No permit is required if the work aims to create or modify your landscaping, in other words if you plan to add or replace vegetation.

No permit is required if you are simply replacing vegetation in an existing plant bed.  
However, a permit is required if you wish to carry out landscaping work such as planting or displacing a tree or flower beds. All outdoor construction work (earthwork, etc.) requires a permit or authorization.  

In some cases, for instance if your property is located in the mount Royal heritage  area, you must also provide a Site Planning and Architectural Integration Plan which will be analyzed by the urban planning advisory board (CCU). Additional delays and fees apply.

Fees

Residential property and other types of buildings or land:

  • Minimum of $161 or $9.80 per increment of $1,000 worth of work.

Required documents

  • Certificate of location
  • Detailed estimate
  • Pictures

Where applicable:

  • Power of attorney if you are not the owner
  • Co-owners’ agreement if there is more than one owner
  • Plans of current and projected conditions if you wish to change the current landscaping 
  • Spreadhseet proving that vegetation proportions are in conformity 
  • Application form for authorization of work if your property is a classified heritage asset, a classified or declared heritage site, or a preservation area

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In person

1431 Avenue Van Horne, 2nd floor
Montréal, QC H2V 1K9

This service is not offered in this borough.

No permit is required for the landscaping of a yard.

However, your landscaping must be in conformity with zoning by-laws.

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12090 Rue Notre-Dame Est
Montréal, QC H1B 2Z1

Legislation

This service is not offered in this borough.

This service is not offered in this borough.

A permit is required prior to beginning landscaping work, namely for the following:  

  • Paving of a sidewalk, pathway or parking lot
  • Erection of a retaining wall
  • Laying of turf rolls

Fees

Taxes are included. Fees are non reimbursable.  

  • $255 for a property having between 1 and 5 dwelling units
  • $1,535 for any other property

Required documents

  • Certificate of location
  • Professional plan to scale
  • Detailed estimate: description of work, professional fees, human resources, materials, taxes
  • Pictures of the lot prior to the work

Where applicable:

  • Power of attorney from the owners, if you are and agent
  • Agreement by the co-owners or co-owners’ association

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8400 Boulevard Lacordaire
Montréal, QC H1R 3B1

This service is not offered in this borough.

This service is not offered in this borough.

This service is not offered in this borough.