Apply for an Air pollutants discharge permit

Is your industrial or commercial establishment located within the Montréal Urban Agglomeration? Could your activities emit air pollutants? Here’s what you need to know.

Required information

Check each section to gather the information and documents required for your permit application, depending on your situation.

  • The applicant’s name, address and telephone number and, if the applicant is a corporation or a trade association, a resolution from the board of directors authorizing the application.
  • The official cadastral designation of the lot(s) where the work or activity will take place.
  • In the event that the applicant is not the owner of the lot, a copy of the document granting the applicant rights to the lot.
  • The number of employees and operating periods.
  • The list of activities, processes and equipment used.
  • The list and quantity of raw materials used, products manufactured or services rendered.
  • A description of existing or required treatment equipment, to ensure that the establishment complies with the applicable regulations, and a description of the associated discharge pipes, including a plan showing the location of the equipment and the discharge pipes. In the case of new treatment equipment, its installation and implementation schedule.
  • A description of the pollutants likely to be found in the atmospheric discharges.
  • A description of the atmospheric discharge points.
  • A plan showing the location of the buildings on the establishment’s property, the property limits, and the distance between the property and adjacent buildings.
  • Data, studies, tests and calculations used to evaluate compliance with the requirements of this by-law.
  • Any other document that can be used to evaluate compliance with the requirements set out in the applicable regulations.

You must provide the appropriate calculations for your situation. This file contains the dispersion modelling software (in French) and a dispersion equations user guide (in French) to help you.

Permit application

If your application meets all these requirements, your permit will typically be issued within 75 working days.

By e-mail

Please send the required documents and information to the Service de l’environnement et de la transition écologique.

Sampling of air emissions

The city may conduct or request the collection and analysis of samples to:

  • Evaluate treatment equipment performance
  • Measure the amount of pollutants discharged by establishments
  • Calculate ground level concentrations to verify whether standards are being respected

If sampling points must be installed to allow representative samples to be taken, refer to the technical specifications.

Reference methods

Montréal has developed 3 reference methods for the sampling, analysis and calculation of an air pollutant.

Any questions?

Contact the Service de l’environnement et de la transition écologique team.

514-280-4330

Legislation

Overview of applicable by-laws.

By-law concerning atmospheric discharge (in French)

Learn more about the topic

Last updated May 21, 2026