You can apply for a permit to build a commercial terrace, also known as a “sidewalk café,” on public property only if your establishment’s certificate of commercial occupancy mentions food service or sale of alcoholic beverages. 

Before installing a terrace, you must be covered by liability insurance and provide proof of that insurance to get a permit.

How to apply 

To get your permit, you must: 

1. Go to the permit counter to check if the location of your establishment is conducive to building a terrace on public property
2. Have an account and an organizational profile
3. Apply online or at the permit counter
4. Provide all required documents in digital format
5. Pay the review fee online or at the permit counter, depending on the method you choose to complete your application
6. If your application is accepted, pay rent for the operating period upon receipt of your invoice.

The permit must be renewed annually.

Please view the page entitled Build a commercial terrace on public property to learn about the applicable standards.

Taxes are included. Fees are non-refundable.

From April 15 to November 15.

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail about two weeks after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

Each year, the owner of the establishment must pay the seasonal public property occupancy fee in order to operate the terrace. 

This rent is calculated based on the area occupied.

You can apply for a permit to build a commercial terrace (also called a “sidewalk café”) on public property only if your establishment’s commercial occupancy certificate mentions food service or the sale of alcoholic beverages as its activity.

How to apply 

To get your permit, you must: 

1. Go to the permit counter to check if the location of your establishment is conducive to building a terrace on public property
2. You’ll need to create an account and organization profile for both online applications and applications at the permit counter
3. Apply online or at the permit counter
4. Provide all required documents in digital format
5. Pay the review fee online or at the permit counter, depending on the method you choose to complete your application

The permit must be renewed annually.

The amounts are not taxable.

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail about two weeks after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

From May 1st to October 15.

If you operate a café, bistro, bar, restaurant or retail food business (bakery, grocery store, etc.) and you want to build a commercial terrace on public property (a classic “sidewalk café” or a terrace with six tables and 12 chairs), you must get a permit.
Please take the following steps to get your permit:

1. Submit a request to the Division des études techniques by mail or e-mail and pay the evaluation fee.
2. If your request is accepted, an agent will contact you by e-mail and will tell you how much more you need to pay (issue of permit and annual rent);
3. When we receive payment, we will send you the permit by email and you will be authorized to install your patio (terrace) on public property.

From May 1 to October 31

Each year, you must pay the seasonal public property occupancy fee to operate the commercial terrace.
This fee is calculated by multiplying 7.5% of the area occupied by the terrace on the public domain by the land value per m², depending on the number of days of occupation.

Taxes are included.

• PDF file Formulaire de demande de permis de café-terrasse - CDN-NDG (in French) [PDF 3 MB]

By e-mail

• By-law concerning urban planning – Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
• By-law concerning sidewalk cafés - Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (in French)

You can apply for a permit to build a terrace on public property only if your establishment’s certificate of commercial occupancy mentions food service or sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, or if you operate a grocery store or ice cream shop. 

How to apply 

To get your permit, you must: 

1. Go to the permit counter to check if the location of your establishment is conducive to building a terrace on public property
2. You’ll need to create an account and organization profile for both online applications and applications at the permit counter.
3. Apply online or at the permit counter
4. Provide all required documents in digital format
5. Pay the review fee online or at the permit counter, depending on the method you choose to complete your application
6. If your application is accepted, pay rent for the operating period upon receipt of your invoice
7. make the security deposit of $1,000. This deposit must be made in order for the permit to be issued. It will be cashed in if you do not dismantle the terrace at the end of the season.

The permit must be renewed annually.

From April 1 to October 31.

The amounts are not taxable.

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail about two weeks after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

Each year, the owner of the establishment must pay the seasonal public property occupancy fee in order to operate the terrace.

You can apply for a permit to build a commercial terrace (also called a “sidewalk café”) on public property only if your establishment’s commercial occupancy certificate mentions food service or the sale of alcoholic beverages as its activity.

How to apply 

In order to get a permit, you must:

1. Go to the permit counter to check if the location of your establishment is conducive to building a terrace on public property
2. Have an account and an organizational profile
3. Apply online or at the permit counter
4. Provide all required documents in digital format

The permit must be renewed annually.

Please view the page entitled Build a commercial terrace on public property to learn about the applicable standards.

Free.

From May 1st to October 15.

• PDF file Commercial terrace and parklet guide – LaSalle (in French) [PDF 3 MB]

• By-law concerning occupancy of public property (in French)

A permit is required to install a commercial terrace on public property, whether it is a standard sidewalk café, a terrace with three tables and 12 chairs, or a shared terrace.

To get it, you must:

1. Send us an e-mail to check whether your establishment is located in a zone where building a commercial terrace is authorized.
2. If the terrace is authorized, submit an application online and provide the required documents.

Who can submit an application?

Any person who holds a valid occupancy certificate to operate a restaurant, sidewalk café, bar or microbrewery on a ground floor or, under certain conditions, on an upper floor, can apply for a permit to install a terrace on public property.

Please note that establishments located on Rue Prince-Arthur Est or Rue Saint-Denis must apply for their sidewalk café permit before March 1, for the occupancy period starting on April 15. 

How to apply 

To get your permit, you must: 

1. Have an account and an organizational profile
2. Apply online
3. Provide all required documents in digital format
4. Pay the review fee online
5. If your application is accepted, pay rent for the operating period upon receipt of your invoice.

The permit must be renewed annually.

Fees

Occupancy fees are invoiced after the end of the season. The value of public property is set at $1,300 x area in square metres, except for sidewalk cafés located on the following sections, where the calculation is $1,300 x area in square metres x 2.

• Avenue du Parc, between Avenue Van Horne and Rue Sherbrooke Ouest
• Boulevard Saint-Laurent, between Avenue Van Horne and Rue Sherbrooke Est
• Rue Saint-Denis, between Avenue Laurier Est and Rue Sherbrooke Est
• Avenue du Mont-Royal, between Rues Hutchison and Frontenac
• Avenue Laurier Ouest, between Rue Hutchison and Rue boulevard Saint-Laurent

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail about two weeks after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

Each year, the owner of the establishment must pay the seasonal public property occupancy fee in order to operate the terrace. This rent is calculated based on the area occupied.

From April 15 to November 15.

• PDF file Guide to installing a sidewalk café on public property (in French) - Le Plateau-Mont-Royal [PDF 4 MB]

You can apply for a permit to build a commercial terrace (also called a “sidewalk café”) on public property only if your establishment’s commercial occupancy certificate mentions food service or the sale of alcoholic beverages as its activity.

How to apply 

To get your permit, you must: 

1. Verify that your establishment is located in a zone where installing a commercial patio is authorized, by consulting the interactive map of the Sud-Ouest. Need help? Contact our mobility team
2. Have an account and an organizational profile
3. Apply online or at the permit counter
4. Provide all required documents in digital format
5. Pay the review fee online or at the permit counter, depending on the method you choose to complete your application
6. If your application is accepted, pay rent for the operating period upon receipt of your invoice.

The permit must be renewed annually.

From April 1st to November 15.

Rates are set on the basis of 365 days and invoiced for full occupancy of the seasonal period, i.e. 229 days.

Fees are non-refundable.

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail about two weeks after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

Each year, the owner of the establishment must pay the seasonal public property occupancy fee in order to operate the terrace. This rent is calculated based on the area occupied.

From April 1st to November 15.

• By-law concerning seasonal public property occupancy (art. 38)

This borough does not authorize commercial terraces on public property.

You can apply for a permit to build a terrace on public property only if your establishment’s commercial occupancy certificate mentions food service or the sale of alcoholic beverages as its activity, or if you operate an ice cream shop.

In order to get a permit, you must:

1. go to the permit counter to check if your establishment is located in an authorized zone
2. schedule an appointment to submit an application for a certificate of authorization to operate a terrace, and pay the processing fee

How to apply

1. Have an account and an organizational profile
2. Apply online or at the permit counter
3. Provide all required documents in digital format
4. Pay the review fee online or at the permit counter, depending on the method you choose to complete your application
5. If your application is accepted, pay rent for the operating period upon receipt of your invoice. 

Your permit must be renewed every year. 

Operating period

From April 1st to October 31. 

Annual rent

Each year, the owner of the establishment must pay the seasonal public property occupancy fee in order to operate the terrace.

Billing method

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail about two weeks after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

If you operate a café, bistro, bar, restaurant or retail food business (bakery, grocery store, etc.) and you want to build a commercial terrace on public property, you must get a permit.

How to apply 

To get your permit, you must: 

1. Have an account and an organizational profile
2. Apply online or at the permit counter
3. Provide all required documents in digital format. 

Fee

The periodic occupation permit for the public domain: $100.
You must renew it annually.

Billing method

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail about two weeks after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

From April 15 to October 30.

You can apply for a permit to build a terrace on public property only if the certificate of commercial occupancy is for a grocery store or Category V commercial use (e.g. restaurant). 

How to apply 

To get your permit, you must: 

1. Go to the permit counter to check if the location of your establishment is conducive to building a terrace on public property
2. You’ll need to create an account and organization profile for both online applications and applications at the permit counter.
3. Apply online or at the permit counter
4. Provide all required documents in digital format
5. Pay the review fee online or at the permit counter, depending on the method you choose to complete your application
6. If your application is accepted, pay rent for the operating period upon receipt of your invoice.

The permit must be renewed annually.

From March 15 to November 15.

Taxes are included.

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail about two weeks after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

This borough does not authorize commercial terraces on public property.

If you operate a bar or a restaurant and you want to build a commercial terrace (also called “sidewalk café”) on public property, you must get a permit.

In order to get a permit, you must:

1. go to the permit counter to check if your establishment is located in an authorized zone
2. schedule an appointment to submit an application for a certificate of authorization to operate a terrace, and pay the processing fee
3. once you have the certificate, submit an application for a seasonal public property occupancy permit at the permit counter, attach the required documents, and pay the processing fee
4. if your application is accepted, please sign a letter of agreement and pay the permit fee and the rent for the first year at the permit counter in order to receive your permit

From May 1 to October 31

Each year, the owner of the establishment must pay the seasonal public property occupancy fee in order to operate the terrace.

The rent is calculated by multiplying 15 per cent of the area occupied by the terrace on public property by the municipal assessment value per m2, based on the number of days of occupancy between May 1 and October 31.

In the first financial year, you must pay the rent in a single instalment, at the time of issuance of the permit. 
For all subsequent financial years, please go to the permit counter in your borough to make your payment.

Amounts are not taxable.

• PDF file Demande de permis d'occupation périodique du domaine public pour fins de café-terrasse (in French) [PDF 78 KB]

You can apply for a permit to build a commercial terrace (also called a “sidewalk café”) on public property only if your establishment’s commercial occupancy certificate mentions food service or the sale of alcoholic beverages as its activity.

Prior to installing a terrace, please make sure that you hold civil liability insurance. You will be required to provide proof of insurance in order for your permit to be issued.

How to apply 

To get your permit, you must: 

1. Have an account and an organizational profile
2. Apply online or at the permit counter
3. Provide all required documents in digital format
4. Pay the review fee online or at the permit counter, depending on the method you choose to complete your application
5. If your application is accepted, pay rent for the operating period upon receipt of your invoice.

The permit must be renewed annually.

Please view the page entitled Build a commercial terrace on public property to learn about the applicable standards

Billing method

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail about two weeks after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

Annual rent

Each year, the owner of the establishment must pay the seasonal public property occupancy fee in order to operate the terrace. This rent is calculated based on the area occupied.

From April 15 to November 15.

This borough does not authorize commercial terraces on public property.

If you operate a bar or a restaurant and you want to build a commercial terrace (also called “sidewalk café”) on public property, you must get a permit.
This permit application must be submitted each year.

How to apply 

To get your permit, you must: 

1. Go to the permit counter to check if the location of your establishment is conducive to building a terrace on public property
2. Have an account and an organizational profile
3. Apply online
4. Provide all required documents in digital format
5. Pay the review fee online
6. If your application is accepted, pay rent for the operating period upon receipt of your invoice.

Taxes are included.

Billing method

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

Each year, the owner of the establishment must pay the seasonal public property occupancy fee in order to operate the terrace. This rent is calculated based on the area occupied.

From April 15 to November 15.

• PDF file Terraces, sidewalk terraces, food and drink areas and parklets (in French) [PDF 8 MB]

Online

If you operate a café, bistro, bar, restaurant or grocery store and want to set up a commercial terrace on public property, whether it is a classic sidewalk café or a 3-table/12-chair setup, you will need a permit. 

To apply for a permit renewal for a sidewalk café you installed the previous year, please see this How-To.

Taxes are included. The payment must be made at the counter.

You will have pay a rent (or seasonal public property occupancy fee) annually, calculated based on the area occupied by the terrace and the assessment roll in force.

From March 15 to November 15.

Required documents

• professional-quality floor plan to scale, indicating the terrace dimensions and occupancy perimeter,and the location of adjoining street furniture (benches, fire hydrants, drains, traffic lights, etc.) and publicly-owned trees
• authorization from the building owner
• proof of third-party liability insurance coverage of $2 million, that indicates the terrace is covered for the duration of the operating period and that designates the city as co-insured. You will be asked to provide it when your application is reviewed, before the permit is issued

If applicable:

• power of attorney signed by the operator
• resolution from the company submitting the application
• authorization from the neighbour if the terrace encroaches on the facade of the adjoining building

• PDF file Formulaire de demande de permis pour l’aménagement d’une terrasse commerciale ou d’un placottoir sur le domaine public - Ville-Marie (in French) [PDF 132 KB]
• PDF file Avenant d'assurance-responsabilité de la Ville de Montréal - Ville-Marie (in French) [PDF 119 KB]

You can apply for a permit to build a terrace on public property only if your establishment’s commercial occupancy certificate mentions food service or the sale of alcoholic beverages as its activity, or if you operate an ice cream shop.

How to apply

To get your permit, you must: 

1. Have an account and an organizational profile
2. Apply online or at the permit counter
3. Provide all required documents in digital format
4. Pay the review fee online or at the permit counter, depending on the method you choose to complete your application
5. If your application is accepted, pay rent for the operating period upon receipt of your invoice. 

Your permit must be renewed every year. 

Fees

Taxes not included.

You’ll receive an invoice in the mail about two weeks after you’ve obtained your permit. It must be paid in a single instalment.

Each year, the owner of the establishment must pay the seasonal public property occupancy fee in order to operate the terrace.

From April 1st to Novembre 15.