Get a permit to enlarge a commercial or industrial building

Last updated September 28, 2023

Do you own a commercial or industrial building? Before doing any expansion work you need a permit. You must also make sure you comply with the bylaws in effect.

To enlarge your building, you need a construction permit. Find out how to apply for a permit in your borough.

Some areas and properties are subject to particular standards to preserve their historic, architectural or landscape value. Additional documentation, such as a Site Planning and Architectural Integration Plan (SPAIP), may be required.

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Rules to follow

  • You must check to see if increasing the floor area is allowed for the planned use. Some uses, in particular those operating as an acquired right, have limitations.
  • You must comply with the maximum site coverage of the building on the parcel
  • Make sure that the use is authorized if you are adding building height
  • To modify the appearance of an existing building, check to see if the project complies with the regulation for the zone where it is located
  • The enlargement of a building may require an increase in the number of parking spaces or the creation of loading units, depending on use

Before starting your project, contact the permit counter to verify the rules applicable to your situation.

Permit fees

Processing fees for permit applications vary based on the projected cost of the work. You will be required to pay $9.80 for every $1,000 of work.

Regardless of the amount of work, you will be required to pay a minimum of $473 for a commercial, industrial, institutional or mixed-use building.

The cost estimate must include all expenditures related to the work, including plans, labour, equipment, etc. including taxes.

The fees are non-refundable.

Required documents

The following documents are required to process your application:

  • Certificate of location
  • Scaled plan of the projected building site coverage and its enlargement
  • Scaled elevation plans of all exterior walls
  • Complete plans for all levels, specifying the use of rooms
  • Details about the proposed materials and colours, indicated on the plans
  • Technical sheets for materials
  • Building technical sheet
  • Structural plans prepared by an engineer
  • Detailed submission for all work and costs related to the project

Communication channels

You need an account to use this service.

Permit counter – Ahuntsic-Cartierville

555 Rue Chabanel Ouest
Suite 600
Montréal, QC H2N 2H8

Payment method

Click on the place to see accepted methods of payment.

Legislation

Information coming soon.

You can apply online, but before beginning your application, get in touch with the permit counter to find out what you need to do. 

Permit validity

A permit is valid for six months following the beginning of the work to be done, which must begin no later than 12 months after the date of issuance.

Otherwise, the permit must be renewed once work resumes.

Fees

You must pay $9.80 per $1,000 of work, with a minimum of $473.

The estimation of costs must include all fees for the projected work and for the professionals who will prepare the plans, taxes included.

As well, additional fees may apply if your building or the area where it is located has historic value or is subject to special architectural standards.  

Fees are non-reimbursable.

Required documents

  • Certificate of location
  • Building specification sheet
  • Quote or estimation grid for the costs of work, taxes included 
  • Professional quality plans bearing an architect’s seal and signature that illustrate the current situation and the projected situation:
    • Project implementation plan
    • Plan for parts to be demolished 
    • Plan of the existing state of the building
    • Plan of outdoor developments 
    • Plan, elevation and cut showing the projected development
    • Structural plans, mechanical plans, electrical plans and sprinklers signed by an engineer plans
  • Any other document that is relevant to assessing the application

If work takes place in a co-owned building:

  • Letter of authorization from each of the co-owners or a resolution from the condominium syndicate. 

If you are a representative:

  • Power of attorney authorizing you to act on behalf of the owner

Apply for a permit

You need an account to use this service. 

As you are applying on behalf of an organization (business, agency, self-employed person, etc.), you must also have an organization profile.

By appointment
5160 Boulevard Décarie
Montréal, QC H3X 2H9

Payment method

Click on the place to see accepted methods of payment.

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You must obtain a permit before starting work.

Apply

Before starting your project, contact your permit counter for details about the steps to follow and documents to provide.

Fees

The cost to analyze a permit request varies as a function of the estimated work project cost. You must pay $9.80 for each $1000 amount of work.

If approval for a Site Planning and Architectural Integration Plan (SPAIP) is required, supplementary fees are added to the cost of the construction permit.

Learn more

In person

4241 Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville
Montréal, QC H1H 1S4

You can go to your permit counter and submit your application together with all the required documents. You can also send your documents online.

Your application must include:

  • A description of the project’s uses and the buildings involved
  • The lot numbers 
  • The name, address and telephone number of the owner, architect, engineer and any other designer or contractor
  • A description and estimated value of the proposed work

Fees

  • New construction, per local: $9.80 for every $1,000 of work with a minimum of $990
  • Enlargment: $9.80 for every $1,000 of work with a minimum of $498.

The estimated value of the work must be at least:

  • $1,733 per square metre of floor area for a commercial building
  • $1,122 per square metre of floor area for an industrial building.

Documents

Required documents

  • Building specifications sheet completed by the owner, the owner’s agent or the designer
  • Plan, elevation and cut drawn to scale
  • Power of attorney (if the applicant is not the owner)

For a new construction, a cadastral plan and an implementation plan prepared by a land surveyor including:

  • Cadastral identification, dimensions and area of the land
  • Dimensions of the existing and projected constructions, as well as their location in relation to and between the lot lines
  • Geodetic levels related to the project
  • Location of any existing or planned right of way
  • Delineation of high and low velocity zones
  • Survey of existing trees
  • Exterior developments (parking areas, access roads, loading and unloading areas and driveways)
  • Location of existing element(s) on public property facing the lot in question (tree, fire hydrant, gas line, etc.)
  • Calculations and plans for any stormwater retention structure

For an extension of the area of an existing building: 

  • Implementation plan and certificate of location including the same information required above.

Apply for a permit

1431 Avenue Van Horne, 2nd floor
Montréal, QC H2V 1K9

Legislation

Information coming soon.

Information coming soon.

Information coming soon.

Please make an appointment with your permit counter and submit your application along with all required documents.

Fees

You must pay $9.80 per $1,000 of work with a minimum of $498.

Validity period of the permit 

A permit is valid for a period of 12 months following the start of the work, which must begin within three months after the date the permit is issued. 

If the permit expires, it must be renewed before work can resume.

Required documents

  • Certificate of occupancy approved by the borough
  • Certificate of location
  • Scale plans signed and sealed by an architect (2 copies): 
    • Implementation plan showing existing lot, expansion, lot lines and exterior layout of required parking spaces
    • Floor plans showing the existing layout and that of the expansion
    • Elevation drawings of the exterior walls
    • Roof plan 
    • Wall cuts and construction details
    • Study of compliance with the Québec Construction Code
  • Structural, mechanical, electrical and sprinkler plans signed by an engineer
  • Application for approval by architectural integration and implementation plan (in some cases)
  • Retention permit and plumbing permit (in some cases)

Make an appointment

By phone

311

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.

Legislation

You must submit your application at the permit counter, along with all required documents.

Your application must include:

  • A description of the project’s uses and the buildings involved
  • The lot numbers 
  • The name, address and telephone number of the owner, architect, engineer and any other designer or contractor
  • A description and estimated value of the proposed work

Fees

You must pay $9.80 for every $1,000 of work with a minimum of $498.

The estimated value of the work must be at least:

  • $1,733 per square metre of floor area for a commercial building
  • $1,122 per square metre of floor area for an industrial building.

Documents

Required documents

  • Building specifications sheet completed by the owner, the owner’s agent or the designer
  • Plan, elevation and cut drawn to scale
  • Power of attorney (if the applicant is not the owner)

For a new construction, a cadastral plan and an implementation plan prepared by a land surveyor including:

  • Cadastral identification, dimensions and area of the land
  • Dimensions of the existing and projected constructions, as well as their location in relation to and between the lot lines
  • Geodetic levels related to the project
  • Location of any existing or planned right of way
  • Delineation of high and low velocity zones
  • Survey of existing trees
  • Exterior developments (parking areas, access roads, loading and unloading areas and driveways)
  • Location of existing element(s) on public property facing the lot in question (tree, fire hydrant, gas line, etc.)
  • Calculations and plans for any stormwater retention structure

For an extension of the area of an existing building: 

  • Implementation plan and certificate of location including the same information required above.

If after work is complete, you have a waterproof surface that is greater than 1000 m², approval from the city may be required to ensure that the rainwater management system is compliant.

Lire aussi : Apply for authorization for storm water management or connection to the domestic waterworks system.

Depending on the projected work to be done, your project may be subject to an architectural implementation and integration plan.

Make an appointment

311

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.

8400 Boulevard Lacordaire
Montréal, QC H1R 3B1

Legislation

You can apply online, but before beginning your application, get in touch with the permit counter to find out what you need to do. 

Permit validity

A permit is valid for six months following the beginning of the work to be done, which must begin no later than 12 months after the date of issuance.

Fees

You must pay $9.80 per $1,000 of work, with a minimum of $473.

The estimation of costs must include all fees for the projected work and for the professionals who will prepare the plans, taxes included.

As well, additional fees may apply if your building or the area where it is located has historic value or is subject to special architectural standards.  

Fees are non-reimbursable.

Required documents

The following documents are required to process your application:

  • Certificate of location
  • Building specification sheet
  • Professional quality plans bearing an architect’s seal and signature that illustrate the current situation and the projected situation:
  • Quote or estimation grid for the costs of work, taxes included 
  • Plans, illustrations and/or cuts that show the projected development 
  • Any other document required to process the application

If your work affects the building’s structure:

  • Structure plans signed and sealed by an engineer

If work takes place in a co-owned building:

  • Letter of authorization from each of the co-owners or a resolution from the condominium syndicate. 

If you are a representative:

  • Power of attorney authorizing you to act on behalf of the owner

Apply

4555 Rue de Verdun
Suite 109
Montréal, QC H4G 1M4

Payment method

Click on the place to see accepted methods of payment.

Information coming soon.

You can apply online, but before beginning your application, get in touch with the permit counter to find out what you need to do. 

Fees

You must pay $9.80 per $1,000 of work, with a minimum of $498.

The estimation of costs must include all fees for the projected work and for the professionals who will prepare the plans, taxes included.

As well, additional fees may apply if your building or the area where it is located has historic value or is subject to special architectural standards.  

Fees are non-reimbursable.

Permit validity

A permit is valid for six months following the beginning of the work to be done, which must begin no later than 12 months after the date of issuance.

Otherwise, the permit must be renewed once work resumes.

Required documents

  • Certificate of location
  • Building specification sheet
  • Quote or estimation grid for the costs of work, taxes included 
  • Professional quality plans bearing an architect’s seal and signature that illustrate the current situation and the projected situation:
    • Project implementation plan
    • Plan for parts to be demolished 
    • Plan of the existing state of the building
    • Plan of outdoor developments 
    • Plan, elevation and cut showing the projected development
    • Structural plans, mechanical plans, electrical plans and sprinklers signed by an engineer plans
  • Any other document that is relevant to assessing the application

If work takes place in a co-owned building:

  • Letter of authorization from each of the co-owners or a resolution from the condominium syndicate. 

If you are a representative:

  • Power of attorney authorizing you to act on behalf of the owner

Apply for a permit

You need an account to use this service. 

As you are applying on behalf of an organization (business, agency, self-employed person, etc.), you must also have an organization profile.

Permit counter

514-868-3509

405 Avenue Ogilvy
Suite 111
Montréal, QC H3N 1M3