Ask for permission to put snow in the street
What if there’s no place for you to put snow on your property? In some boroughs, under some conditions, you may be allowed to put it on the sidewalk or in the street. Full details here.
In most boroughs, it is prohibited to put snow in the street, on the sidewalk or on public property.
However, some boroughs may allow this in certain very specific situations. You may need a permit.
My borough
No borough selected.
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property.
Authorization
Owners or the occupants of residential, commercial, industrial or institutional properties who don’t have anywhere to put snow can apply for a permit to put it on public property. The procedure is the same for a new application or renewal of a permit.
The snow removal contractor or the occupants or the property owner may apply for the permit.
The permit is valid from November 1 to April 30 of the following year. It must be displayed in a window and be visible from the street.
If you have questions, write to [email protected].
Fees
Up to 5 dwelling units | $52 | |
|---|---|---|
6 to 8 dwelling units | $313 | |
9 or more dwelling units | $9 per square metre of the area to be cleared of snow | |
Commercial, industrial and institutional properties | $8.95 per square metre of the area to be cleared of snow |
Alleys
If you clear snow from an alley and want to put it in the street, you must apply for a permit. The cost is $8.95 per square metre of the area to be cleared.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property without authorization from the borough, you may be liable to a fine.
Documents
Communication channels
Point of service
Suite 600
Montréal, QC H2N 2H8
Fill out the form and bring it to your borough’s service point along with your payment (cheque made out to “Ville de Montréal”, debit or credit card, or cash).
Point of service
Suite 600
Montréal, QC H2N 2H8
Send us your form and a cheque made out to “Ville de Montréal”.
Legislation
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property, except in the following situation.
When a property with a maximum of 6 dwelling units includes a garage but no outdoor parking space, snow may be put in the street under certain conditions.
You do not have to apply for a permit.
When there is at least 5 cm of snow on the ground, you may put snow in the street, on the same side as your property, before the city starts loading operations.
Only snow from your garage entrance and your main entrance may be put in the street.
Be careful not to block any of the following:
- movement of pedestrians or vehicles
- access to a driveway, a bus zone, a community mailbox, a bus stop zone or a fire hydrant
- access to parking reserved for people with a disability
Your snow bank:
- must not be more than 2 m wide
- must not be located more than 1 m from the sidewalk
Applications for permits are allowed as of October 7, 2024.
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property, except in some situations.
Owners of residential, commercial or institutional properties who don’t have anywhere to accumulate snow can ask for a permit to put snow on public property.
The snow removal contractor, the owner of the property or the tenant in the building may apply for the permit.
Hanging the permit in a window is compulsory so that it is visible from the street.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property without authorization from the borough, you may be liable to a fine.
Fees
Per square metre of the area to be cleared of snow.
Up to 8 dwelling units | $7 | |
|---|---|---|
9 or more dwelling units | $11 | |
Commercial, industrial and institutional properties | $11 |
Required documents
The following information is required:
- a site plan indicating the size of the area to be cleared
- the owner’s complete contact information
- the name of the snow removal contractor (if applicable)
Communication channels
In person
Point of service
Montréal, QC H3X 2H9
Bring your information and your payment to your borough’s service point.
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property, except in some situations.
If you don’t have enough space to put snow on your property, you can remove it from your main entrance or driveway and put it in the street.
You must put it in the street before the city starts loading snow.
If you have space to put snow on your property but you put it on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property, you may be liable to a fine.
It is prohibited to put snow from a property located in a commercial, industrial or school zone onto the sidewalk, the street or public property.
Residential buildings
You can put snow from a private property on t in the street, as long as:
- the volume of the snow is not greater than 8 m long by 2 m high
- the snow does not get in the way of pedestrians or vehicles.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property and you are not authorized to do so, you may be liable to a fine. You must also ensure that the fire hydrants are kept clear and accessible.
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property, except in some situations.
If you don’t have space to put snow on your property, you can apply for a permit to put in on public property.
You will need a permit for a building of 9 or more dwelling units or for a commercial, industrial or institutional building.
The snow removal contractor, the owner of the building or one of its occupants may apply for the permit.
The permit is valid from November 1 to April 30 of the following year. It must be displayed in a window and be visible from the street.
Permit cost
The cost of the permit is $10 per square metre of the area to be cleared of snow.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property without authorization from the borough, you may be liable to a fine
Required documents
You must provide a sketch showing the dimensions of the area from which snow needs to be cleared.
Communication channels
By e-mail
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property, except in some situations.
Authorization
If your residential building has a maximum of 4 dwelling units and you lack space to put the snow removed from your parking spaces, you may apply for a permit to put it on public property.
In the case of commercial buildings with a parking area of 400 m2 or less, if you don’t have enough room to load the snow from the parking spaces on your property, you can apply for a permit to put the snow on public property.
The permit is valid from November 1 to April 1 of the following year. It must be displayed in a window and be visible from the street.
The owner of the building, or an occupant, may apply for the permit.
Residential rates
First parking space | $194 | |
|---|---|---|
Each additional parking space | $128 per unit |
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property without authorization from the borough, you may be liable to a fine.
Commercial rates
For parking lots measuring 400 m2 or less | $10 per m2 |
|---|
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property without authorization from the borough, you may be liable to a fine.
Apply
Outside of Montréal: 514-872-0311
Monday to Friday: From 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Point of service
First floor
Montréal, QC H4C 2K4
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property, you may be liable to a fine.
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property.
However, residents who don’t have enough space on their property to pile up snow from their parking area or access path to it may now request authorization to dump that snow on public property and benefit from the authorized snow removal service.
Snow is picked up and taken to a snow deposit site by our teams during snow removal operations.
Please note that this optional service represents a practical and economical alternative to private snow removal from your parking area. Residents who do not plan to deposit snow on public property do not require authorization.
Steps
- Apply for a permit online.
- If your application is approved, you will receive an invoice by e-mail.
- Pay in person in an Accès Montréal office or by postal mail by sending a cheque to the following address:
Accès Montréal office
Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
6854 Rue Sherbrooke Est
Montréal, QC H1N 1E1
The check must be made to the order of “Ville de Montréal” for the amount specified on the bill and with the following information on the back of the cheque: Application number (which begins with 300) as well as the address of the site the application concerns.
Conditions
To get authorization to pile snow in the street, you must:
- Reside, manage a business, or own a building in the borough of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
- Have a private space that is not sufficient for snow storage
Permit application
You can apply for a permit if:
- You own the building
- You are a tenant
- You represent the company that removes snow from private property
However, it is the responsibility of the owner or occupant to ensure that the certificate has been obtained.
Applying for renewal
You can renew your permit for a period of one to three years, payable in advance and non-refundable.
Fill in the online permit application form and specify how many years you wish to renew your permit for.
Permit duration and display
The permit is valid from November 1 to April 30 of the following year. Your payment receipt will serve as your permit. It is no longer required to display your permit in a window.
Snow removal contractors must install a signpost that identifies their company on the lots that they service.
Fees
Residential buildings | $50 per parking space |
|---|---|
Commercial, industrial and institutional establishments | $8.50 per square metre of surface to be cleared |
Where and how to deposit cleared snow
Before snow removal operations, place snow on the curbside in front of your building.
Snow must not:
- Impede access to the sidewalk or road
- Block access to the building or driveway
- Exceed a width of two metres from the road or sidewalk
As well, snow must not be piled:
- Less than five metres from an intersection
- Within a 1.5 metre radius from a fire hydrant
- In front of a parking space that is reserved for people with reduced mobility
- On a bike path
- In front of a neighbouring lot
- Within a one metre radius of a sump
- In a zone that is reserved for buses and taxis
If you pile snow onto public property or disobey the rules, you risk being fined.
If you have questions, please see the FAQ below. Otherwise, call 311.
Documents
Apply
Montréal, QC H1N 1E1
If necessary, you can complete the form in person at the borough’s Accès Montréal office.
Legislation
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property, you may be liable to a fine.
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property, you may be liable to a fine.
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property, you may be liable to a fine.
It is prohibited to load, move or transport snow or ice onto public property. Snow must be piled onto the property of private buildings, making sure not to create snow banks that are higher than 3.5 metres from ground level, or higher than 2.5 metres if the property is curbside.
Exception for snow accumulation of at least 5 cm
Only the snow accumulated on public property, such as driveways, may be placed curbside, , making sure not to block access on the sidewalk or the street.
Such snow must be moved to the street within 24 hours following the precipitation. If possible, it must be left on the same side as the property, for the city to load it.
Be careful not to block any of the following:
- movement of pedestrians or vehicles
- access to a driveway, a bus zone, a community mailbox, a fire hydrant, a pedestrian crossing or a street corner
- access to parking reserved for people with a disability
Your snow bank:
- must not be more than 1.5 m high
If you put snow on a sidewalk, in the street or on public property without complying with by-laws, you may be liable to a fine.
Legislation
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property, you may be liable to a fine.
You must keep snow on your property.
Authorization
If you don’t have space to put snow on your property, you can put it in the street, provided you follow certain rules.
Snow must be dumped:
- before the start of snow removal operations
- in a way that does not obstruct the sidewalk
- in front of the property the snow was removed from, on the same side of the street
- at least two metres from the curb or sidewalk
Snow may not be dumped:
- less than five metres from an intersection;
- less than three metres from a fire hydrant;
- in a school bus stopping zone.
You must keep snow on your property.
Authorization
If you don’t have enough space to put snow on your residential property, you can remove snow from your main entrance or driveway and put it in the street. You must do this before the city starts loading snow.
You must put the snow on the side of the street. Make sure it does not get in the way of pedestrians or vehicles, or block a bicycle path that has been cleared of snow.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property after snow has been loaded by the city, you may be liable to a fine.
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property, except in some situations.
Authorization
If you don’t have space to put snow on your property, you can remove snow from the approach to a parking lot or a loading platform and put it in the street.
When there is at least 5 cm of snow on the ground, you may put snow on the street, on the same side as your property, before the city starts loading operations. Do not put snow in front of a building.
Only snow from your garage entrance and your main entrance may be put in the street.
Be careful not to block any of the following:
- movement of pedestrians or vehicles
- access to a driveway, a bus zone, a community mailbox, a bus stop zone, a pedestrian crossing, a street corner or a fire hydrant
- access to parking reserved for people with a disability
Your snow bank must not be more than 2 m high.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property, you may be liable to a fine.
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property, you may be liable to a fine.
It is prohibited to move snow from a private property onto the sidewalk, the street, or public property.
If you put snow on the sidewalk, in the street or on public property, you may be liable to a fine.
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