Apply for an Air pollutants discharge permit

Last updated March 23, 2023

Is it possible that your industrial or commercial establishment, located within the Montréal Urban Agglomeration, could emit air pollutants? Here’s what you need to know.

Requirements

Your permit application must include the following information and documents:

  • 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.

Atmospheric dispersion calculations

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.

Apply for a permit 

  • Attach the information and documents about your establishment.
  • Attach the appropriate form(s) for your situation, as applicable (see the “Documents” section of this page).
  • Attach the atmospheric dispersion calculations, where required.
  • Send it to the Service de l’environnement as directed.

Issuance of the permit

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

You must receive your permit prior to beginning the work.

Sampling of air emissions

After the permit has been issued, 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 (see the “Documents” section of this page).

Montréal has developed three reference methods for the sampling, analysis and calculation of an air pollutant. They are available in the “Documents” section of this page.

Documents

Contact us

By phone

Service de l'environnement

514-280-4330

Legislation