Before you renovate

Comply with by-laws

Whether your renovations are minor or more complex, you must comply with all applicable standards in your borough. 

In some cases, you may also need a permit. Contact the permit counter in your borough before applying for a permit, buying materials or beginning your project. 

You must inform your contractor of all by-laws and measures required to mitigate the project’s impact on your neighbours. Your neighbours must also be informed of your intention to renovate.

Historic building or area of interest?

Additional standards and costs may apply if the building is historic or located in an area of interest. It may take longer to get your permit, especially if your project needs to be reviewed by the urban planning advisory committee.

Using a street, alley or sidewalk

During your work, you may have to install a container, equipment or scaffolding on the pavement or sidewalk or in a back alley. In this case, you must apply for a temporary occupancy of public property permit for construction purposes.

Accessing your neighbours’ property

Do you have to access your neighbours’ property to carry out your project? Ask your neigbour in person or in writing. If your renovations cause damage to their property, you will need to assume the cost of repair and restoration.

Receive subsidies

Do you plan to restore or replace interior or exterior elements of your building? The RénoPlex financial assistance program may be right for you.

Do you want to touch up the structure of your home, repair its foundations or redo the electricity and plumbing? Find out if you are eligible for the city’s  Major Residential Renovation financial assistance program.

There’s a program to help restore and renovate historic buildings).

During construction

Comply with noise levels and schedules

The by-laws on noise and schedules require you to: 

• Implement measures to mitigate nuisances such as dust
• Clean up the site at the end of each day.
• Store construction materials or debris on your property.
• Obey parking regulations at all times, unless you have a permit. It is prohibited to park on lawns.

View permit

If you were issued a permit for your renovations, you must display it for the duration of the project and it must be visible from the street.

After your renovations

Have your renovations ended, but you still have construction waste such as asphalt shingles, rocks or electrical wires? See the list of materials that each borough accepts or refuses, along with collection schedules for bulky items and construction debris.