How to obtain an excavation permit

Last updated August 6, 2024

Would you like to build a new building? Decontaminate a lot? Install a French drain? You must first obtain an excavation permit.

In addition to the documents required to obtain your permit, you may need the following items. Here’s how to get them:

  • Plans of the water and sewer systems located on public property: by email at [email protected]
  • The location of underground infrastructures, such as the Bell Canada, Energir and Hydro-Québec networks: through Info-Excavation.

My borough

Shows borough content for
Find a borough to filter the list of search content.

No borough selected.

Types of Permits

Excavation of public land

You must obtain this permit before doing any excavation work such as: 

  • Replacing or sealing a foundation
  • Decontaminating a site
  • Constructing a building.

Private excavation

This permit is required for: 

  • An excavation less than 2 m deep, if the distance from public property is less than 2 m
  • An excavation of 2 m or more in depth, if the distance from public property is less than twice this depth (for example: an excavation of 3 m in depth, if the distance from public property is less than 6 m).

The depth of the excavation, in relation to the distance from public property, is what determines the need for a permit.

Apply for an excavation permit

Send your documents by email.



When you pay for your permit, you will also be required to pay a security deposit to guarantee the repair of any damage to public property that may occur during your work.

The security deposit is payable by certified cheque, bank letter of guarantee, bearer bonds or guarantee policy.

Steps

Once you have submitted all your documents: 

  • The borough analyzes your request
  • Someone from the Division des études techniques will contact you to follow up on your file 
  • When the work is completed, an inspection is made to verify if any damage has been caused to public property or street furniture; when repairs are necessary, the cost of restoration is deducted from the security deposit.

Document

Required documents

  • Excavation permit application
  • Proof of liability insurance co-insuring the city in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence if the excavation is 4.5 m or less in depth and $2,000,000 in all other cases
  • A document in which you make commitments to:
    • Maintain this liability insurance in effect for the duration of the work
    • Hold the city harmless from all claims of any kind, take up its defence in any proceedings on behalf of third parties and indemnify them following any judgment rendered against it, in principal, interest, costs and others, which may arise directly or indirectly from such claims
  • Plans, calculations and specifications for the proposed excavation, signed by a professional engineer
  • Soil mechanics report signed by a professional engineer for an excavation where driving, drilling or tunnelling is required
  • Blasting plan signed by an engineer in the case of a rock excavation
  • Proposed method of shoring up, signed by an engineer, if applicable.

To request information or make an application

Legislation

Types of Permits

Excavation of public land

You must obtain this permit before doing any excavation work such as: 

  • Foundation replacement or waterproofing
  • Geotechnical drilling
  • Installation or replacement of a French drain
  • Installation of pilings
  • Site decontamination 
  • Construction of private infrastructure, e.g., a tunnel
  • Construction of a building

Private excavation

You must obtain this permit when the part to be excavated located on private property is close to public property, among other things, for the construction, demolition, installation or repair of a French drain, decontamination or levelling of a building.

A permit is necessary for:

  • Excavation less than two metres deep: If the distance from the public property is less than 2 m
  • Excavation two metres or deeper: if the distance from public property is less than twice the depth (e.g. if the excavation is 3 m deep and the distance from the public property is less than 6 m)

It is the depth of the excavation compared to the distance from public property that determines if you must obtain a permit.

Apply for an excavation permit

Send your documents by email.

When paying for your permit, you must also make a security deposit to cover any repairs to infrastructures that may be damaged during your work, such as a sidewalk, a tree, a lamppost, or a sewer. 

The excavation permit and cutting permit (French: permis de coupe) are payable only by certified cheque, bank draft or debit card.

Steps

Once you have submitted all your documents:

  1. Someone from the borough will go to the site to take pictures, evaluate the cost of the permit and the amount to be paid as security
  2. We will then contact you to invite you to come and pay for your permit
  3. The permit is sent to you by email 
  4. At the end of the work, an inspection is made to check if any damage has been caused to public property or street furniture. When repairs are necessary, the cost of repair will be deducted from the security deposit.

Timeframe

It takes at least two weeks to review the permit application.

Payments

Once your file has been reviewed, we will contact you concerning applicable fees and payment methods in order for your excavation permit to be issued:

Excavation permit fees:

  • Certified cheque or bank draft.
  • Pre-payment (for repair of infrastructures such as sidewalks, trees, street lamps, etc.): Certified cheque or bank draft.
  • Security deposit (for repairs of underground infrastructures like sewers, waterworks, electrical installations, etc.): Certified cheque, bank draft or bank letter of guarantee.

Documents

Required documents

  • Application for an excavation permit
  • Power of attorney signed by the owner of the property if you are acting on his or her behalf
  • Dimensions of the excavation: depth, length and width
  • Construction drawings showing the depth of the foundation on all sides
  • Site plan of the new building showing the boundaries of the property or existing building
  • Copy of the excavator’s insurance endorsement

Communication channels

Legislation

Types of permits

Excavation of public property

You must obtain this permit before doing certain work such as: 

  • Foundation maintenance
  • Construction of private infrastructure, such as a tunnel
  • Decontaminating a site
  • Geotechnical drilling
  • Archaeological digs

Excavation of private property

You must obtain this permit when the area to be excavated located on private property is close to public property, for example, for the construction or demolition of a building located near the street right-of-way. The street right-of-way is: 

  • The space between the property line and the sidewalk
  • If there is no sidewalk: the space between the property line and the edge of the pavement or roadway.

The permit is required for: 

  • An excavation less than 2 m deep, if the distance from public property is less than 2 m
  • An excavation of 2 m or more in depth, if the distance from public property is less than twice this depth (for example: an excavation of 3 m in depth, if the distance from public property is less than 6 m).

Apply for an excavation permit

Here’s what you have to do:

  • Complete the application for an excavation permit
  • Attach the plans of the new building to be constructed or the area to be excavated on public property
  • Send your documents by email.

When you pay for your permit, you will also be required to pay amounts to guarantee repairs to anything that could be damaged during your work:

  • Prepayment: for repairs to surface infrastructure such as sidewalks, trees, street lights, etc.
  • Security deposit: for the repair of underground infrastructures, such as sewerage, pipes, electrical installations, etc.

Steps

Once you have submitted all your documents: 

  • The borough will analyze your request
  • Someone from the permit counter will contact you to inform you about all the fees to be paid
  • When the work is completed, an inspection is made to verify if any damage has been caused to public property or street furniture; when repairs are necessary, the cost of restoration is deducted from the security deposit.

Timeframe

The analysis of the permit application takes two to four weeks. Analysis begins only when all the documents have been received.

Fees (taxes included)

  • Public domain excavation permit: $30 per square metre
  • Rehabilitation work carried out by the city, per square metre: 
    • Performed between April 1 and November 30: $71
    • Performed between December 1 and March 31: $117
    • Asphalt and concrete pavement: $214
    • Concrete pavement or sidewalk: $155
    • Asphalt sidewalk: $74
    • Asphalt sidewalk for bicycle path: $162
    • Concrete sidewalk or alley: $299
    • Grass: $25
  • Concrete edge, per linear meter: $150
  • Inspection of public property, during an excavation on private property:
    • Excavation less than 2 m deep: $255
    • Excavation of 2 m to 3 m in depth, per linear metre along the public right of way: $74
    • Excavation of more than 3 m depth without tie rods, along the public right of way, per linear metre: $183
    • Excavation of more than 3 m depth with tie rods, per row of tie rods, per linear meter: $183

The excavation permit and cutting permit (French: permis de coupe) are payable only by certified cheque, official bank cheque, bank draft, money order, postal order or debit card.

Documents

Required documents

  • Application for an excavation permit
  • Rider from the Ville de Montréal
  • Geotechnical study of the excavation site prepared by a professional giving the following details as applicable:
    • Site location
    • Recommendations made by the firm or professional that conducted the study
    • Nature and characteristics of soils
    • Elements to be taken into consideration during excavation and support
    • Calculation notes that take into account the recommendations made in the geotechnical study and specify the exact location of the project
    • Project site plans indicating its geographic location, neighbouring buildings, underground city pipes (water, sewer, etc.) with the dimensions of the limits between your project and the infrastructures (street names, sidewalks, etc.)
    • A complete blasting plan showing blasting points, applied loads, wave propagation speed, etc. 
    • A plan showing the shoring details with calculation notes, geotechnical study, and if it involves a change of use of the site, the environmental characterization study
    • Support plan which must indicate all the dimensions, among others including the dimensions of the building, the distance between the piles and the characteristics of wood works (nature of the materials, dimensions, etc.), the length of the sections of the walls on which the rows of tie rods are visible (the lengths for one row, for 2 rows, etc.)
    • Sectional drawings and details showing the location of underground pipelines and the distances between anchors or tie rods
    • Anchor test loads.

Communication channels

Legislation

Information coming soon.

Information coming soon.

Types of permits

Excavation of public property

You must obtain this permit before doing certain work on public property, such as: 

  • Replacing or sealing a foundation
  • Geotechnical drilling
  • Installation or replacement of a French drain
  • Installation of piles
  • Decontaminating a site
  • Constructing private infrastructure, such as a tunnel
  • Constructing a building.

Excavation of private property

You must obtain this permit when the part to be excavated located on private property is close to public property, among other things, for the construction, demolition, installation or repair of a French drain, decontamination or levelling of a building.

Apply for an excavation permit

Send your documents by email.



When you pay for your permit, you will also be required to pay a security deposit to ensure the repair of any infrastructures that may be damaged during your work, such as the sidewalk, trees, lampposts or sewers. 

The excavation permit and cutting permit (French: permis de coupe) may be paid only by certified cheque, bank draft or debit card.

Steps

Once you have submitted all your documents: 

  • Someone from the borough will go to the site to take pictures, evaluate the cost of the permit and the amount to be paid as security
  • We will then contact you to invite you to come and pay for your permit
  • The permit is sent to you by email 
  • At the end of the work, an inspection is made to check if any damage has been caused to public property or street furniture. When repairs are necessary, the cost of repair will be deducted from the security deposit.

Timeframe

It takes at least two weeks to review the permit application.

Document

Required documents

  • Application for an excavation permit
  • Power of attorney signed by the owner of the property if you are acting on his or her behalf
  • Dimensions of the excavation: depth, length and width
  • Construction drawings showing the depth of the foundation on all sides
  • Site plan of the new building showing the boundaries of the property or existing building
  • Copy of the excavator’s insurance endorsement

Send an application

Legislation

Make sure you have a permit before you excavate. This way, city crews can make sure the depth and location are safe, and that the excavation is compliant with all standards. You’ll also help passersby stay safe by preventing the collapse of streets and sidewalks near your property, while avoiding additional costs for road repairs.

Types of Permits

Excavation of public land

You must obtain this permit before doing any excavation work such as: 

  • Foundation replacement or waterproofing
  • Geotechnical drilling
  • Installation or replacement of a French drain
  • Installation of pilings
  • Site decontamination
  • Construction of private infrastructure, e.g., a tunnel

Excavation of private property

You must get a permit for construction, transformation or demolition of a building located near public property (street right-of-way, alley, park, etc.)

A permit is required for:

  • An excavation less than 2 m deep, if the distance between public property and one of the excavation planes is less than the excavation depth
  • An excavation of 2 m or more in depth, if the distance from public property is less than twice this depth (for example: an excavation of 3 m in depth, if the distance from public property is less than 6 m).

The depth of the excavation, in relation to the distance from public property, is what determines the need for a permit. See explanatory diagram

Apply for an excavation permit

  • Fill the excavation permit form
  • Send your documents by email

Timeframe

The analysis of the permit application takes two to four weeks. Analysis begins only when all the documents have been received.

After we receive your application

  1. Once we review your application, we will inform you of the cost of the permit (non-refundable inspection fee), and of the security deposit to be paid to ensure the repair of any infrastructure that may be damaged during the work you perform, such as sidewalks, trees, lampposts and sewers. Rates are based on material type and excavation size. Additional charges may apply depending on the season of installation.
  2. Visit your Accès Montréal office to pay for your permit. Bring the invoice you received by e-mail with you. 
  3. You will receive your permit by e-mail.
  4. After all work is complete, an inspector will check to be sure no damage was caused to public property or street furniture. If we should need to undertake repairs, the costs will be deducted from your security deposit. The difference will be reimbursed to you or billed to you within 60 days following the completion of repair work.

Documents

Required documents

  • Application for an excavation permit
  • Power of attorney signed by the owner of the property if you are acting on his or her behalf
  • Construction plans showing the depth of the foundation on all sides
  • Implementation plan for the new building showing the property limits, or the limits of the existing building
  • Copy of the excavator’s insurance rider

Communication channels

Legislation

Information coming soon.

Types of permits

Excavation of public property

You must obtain this permit before doing certain work on public property, such as: 

  • Replacing or sealing a foundation
  • Geotechnical drilling
  • Installation or replacement of a French drain
  • Installation of piles
  • Decontaminating a site
  • Constructing private infrastructure, such as a tunnel
  • Constructing a building.

Excavation of private property

You must obtain this permit when the part to be excavated located on private property is close to public property, among other things, for the construction, demolition, installation or repair of a French drain, decontamination or levelling of a building.

Apply for an excavation permit

Send your documents by email.

When you pay for your permit, you will also be required to pay a security deposit to ensure the repair of any infrastructures that may be damaged during your work, such as the sidewalk, trees, lampposts or sewers. 

The excavation permit and cutting permit (French: permis de coupe) may be paid only by certified cheque, bank draft or debit card.

Steps

Once you have submitted all your documents:

  • Someone from the borough will go to the site to take pictures, evaluate the cost of the permit and the amount to be paid as security
  • We will then contact you to invite you to come and pay for your permit
  • The permit is sent to you by email 
  • At the end of the work, an inspection is made to check if any damage has been caused to public property or street furniture. When repairs are necessary, the cost of repair will be deducted from the security deposit.

    If public property is damaged, the borough will plan an operation to rebuild and restore it. The costs for the repair work that the borough undertakes will be deducted from your security deposit. If your security deposit is insufficient, the difference will be billed to you. 

Timeframe

It takes at least two weeks to review the permit application.

Payments

Once your file has been reviewed, we will contact you concerning applicable fees and payment methods in order for your excavation permit to be issued:

  • Excavation permit fees: Certified cheque or bank draft.
  • Pre-payment (for repair of infrastructures such as sidewalks, trees, street lamps, etc.): Certified cheque or bank draft.
  • Security deposit (for repairs of underground infrastructures like sewers, waterworks, electrical installations, etc.): Certified cheque, bank draft or bank letter of guarantee.

Documents

Required documents

  • Application for an excavation permit
  • Power of attorney signed by the owner of the property if you are acting on his or her behalf
  • Dimensions of the excavation: depth, length and width
  • Construction drawings showing the depth of the foundation on all sides
  • Site plan of the new building showing the boundaries of the property or existing building
  • Copy of the excavator’s insurance endorsement

Send an application

Legislation

Permits issued for the following types of projects include excavation, so no additional application is required.

  • Construction and extension of a building (near the public domain)
  • Connection to a water line or sewer line
  • Replacement or waterproofing of a foundation
  • Geotechnical drilling
  • Installation or replacement of a French drain
  • Installation of piles
  • Site decontamination

Communication channels

In person

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

Contact your permit counter for information on excavation works.

Information

514-495-6234

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

Permits issued for the following types of work include excavation. You do not have additional applications to complete.

  • Construction and expansion of a building
  • Water and sewer connections

Excavation of public property

You must obtain this permit before doing certain work such as: 

  • Maintenance, installation, repair or replacement of underground structures
  • Inspection by digging exploratory wells
  • Soil decontamination.

Applying for the permit

Here’s what you have to do:

  • Send your request by mail
  • Include: 
    • Your complete contact information
    • Name, address, business name and place of business of the excavating contractor
    • The location of the excavation: address, street section, etc.
    • The dimensions of the proposed excavation (length, width and depth)
    • The planned start and end dates of the work
    • The method used to carry out the excavation, in particular if there is to be a driving, drilling or tunneling operation
  • Make an appointment with someone at your permit counter. 



When you pay for your permit, you will also be required to pay a security deposit to ensure the repair of any infrastructure that may be damaged during your work, such as the sidewalk, trees, streetlights, sewers and electrical installations.

Steps

Once you have submitted all your documents :

  • The borough will analyze your request
  • Someone from the permit counter will contact you to inform you about all the fees to be paid
  • When the work is completed, an inspection is made to verify if any damage has been caused to public property or street furniture; when repairs are necessary, the cost of restoration is deducted from the security deposit.

Fees (non-taxable)

  • Public domain excavation permit, per square metre: $29

The excavation permit is payable by cash, debit card, cheque or money order. The security deposit is payable by certified cheque or irrevocable bank letter of guarantee.

The contractor must add a rider to his insurance contract to co-insure the Ville de Montréal. If the excavation is 4.5 m or less in depth, the insurance amount shall be $1,000,000 per occurrence. If the excavation is more than 4.5 m deep, the amount must be $5,000,000.

Required documents

  • Rider from the Ville de Montréal
  • Sketch to scale showing the location and dimensions of the proposed excavation along with existing structures and amenities
  • If the excavation is 2 m or more in depth or if it is to be done by driving, drilling or tunnelling: plans, calculations, specifications and soil mechanics report, signed by an engineer who is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
  • If the excavation is in rock: a blasting plan signed by an engineer who is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
  • If there are public trees or shrubs on the site of the excavation: the proposed method of protecting them.

Communication channels

Make an appointment

514-868-4343

12090 Rue Notre-Dame Est
Montréal, QC H1B 2Z1

Legislation

Types of permit

Excavation on public property

You must obtain a permit to do certain kinds of work, such as:

  • Replacement or waterproofing of a foundation
  • Geotechnical drilling
  • Installation or replacement of a French drain
  • Installation of piles
  • Site decontamination
  • Construction of private infrastructure, such as a tunnel
  • Construction of a building

Private excavation

A permit is necessary for:

  • Excavation less than two metres deep: If the distance from the public property is less than 2 m
  • Excavation two metres or deeper: if the distance from public property is less than twice the depth (e.g. if the excavation is 3 m deep and the distance from the public property is less than 6 m)

It is the depth of the excavation compared to the distance from public property that determines if you must obtain a permit.

Request an excavation permit

Send your documents by email.

When paying for your permit, you must also provide a deposit guarantee to ensure the repair of any infrastructure that may be damaged during your project, including sidewalks, trees, street lamps and sewers. 

Excavation permits and cutting permits are payable only by certified cheque, bank draft or debit card.

Steps

Once you have sent all your documents: 

  • The borough will analyze your application
  • We will then contact you for payment of the permit fee
  • The permit will be sent to you via email
  • At the end of your project, an inspection will be made to see if any public property or street furniture has been damaged; if repairs are necessary, the cost to correct them will be deducted from the deposit guarantee.

Time frame

Review of the permit application takes at least two weeks.

Documents

Required documents

  • Excavation permit application
  • Insurance endorsement for the city
  • Proxy document signed by the building owner if you are acting on their behalf
  • Construction plans showing the depth of foundations on all sides
  • Site plan for the new building showing property boundaries or the footprint of the existing building
  • Proposed shoring method, signed by an engineer, if applicable

Communication channels

Information coming soon.

Information coming soon.

In Verdun, you can call 311 to find out the location of electrical conduits for street lights.

Types of permits

Excavation on public property

You must get a permit before doing certain work such as: 

  • Replacing or sealing a foundation
  • Installing or replacing a French drain
  • Decontaminating a site
  • Modifying existing, or connecting new, water or sewer services.

Excavation on private property

A permit is required for:

  • An excavation less than 2 m deep, if the distance between public property and one of the excavation planes is less than the excavation depth
  • An excavation of 2 m or more in depth, if the distance from public property is less than twice this depth (for example: an excavation of 3 m in depth, if the distance from public property is less than 6 m).

It is the depth of the excavation, in relation to the distance from public property, that determines the need for a permit.

Fees and payment terms 

Once your file has been reviewed, we will let you know what fees are payable for the excavation permit, including:

  • The cost of the permit 
  • Prepayment of surface infrastructure repairs (sidewalk, trees, street lights, etc.) by cash or cheque 
  • A security deposit for the repair of underground infrastructures (sewer, water, electrical, etc.) by certified cheque, bank draft or bank letter of guarantee.

Upon completion of the project, an inspection will be conducted to identify any damage to public property or street furnishings.

If damage is found, the borough will proceed with planning the reconstruction and restoration of the public domain. Costs associated with the work incurred will be deducted from the security deposit. If the amount deposited is insufficient, the difference will be charged to the applicant.

Required documents

  • Certificate of location
  • Bid from the contractor to perform the excavation work with the planned date of work
  • Location plan of the excavation including the presence of existing trees and the method envisaged to protect them
  • An insurance rider of $1,000,000 is required for an excavation up to 4.5 m deep. For all other cases, a $2,000,000 rider is required.

In the case of a new water or sewer connection on public property, a civil plan drawing, signed and sealed by an engineer, will be required.

Communication channels

In person

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

Types of permits

Excavation of public property

You must get this permit to perform the following work on public property (street right-of-way, alley, park, etc.): 

  • Foundation or French drain maintenance
  • Construction of private infrastructure, such as a tunnel
  • Geotechnical drilling
  • Archeological digs
  • Exploratory digs

Excavation of private property

You must get a permit to perform the following work on private property:

  • Construction, transformation or demolition of a building located near public property (street right-of-way, alley, park, etc.)
  • Decontamination of a site requiring excavation work near public property (street right-of-way, alley, park, etc.).

On public property, a permit is required to perform an excavation:

  • At a depth of less than 2 m, if the distance between the public property line and one of the excavation faces is less than the depth of the excavation.
  • At a depth of 2 m or more, if the distance between the public property line and one of the excavation faces is less than twice the depth of the excavation, e.g., for an excavation at a depth of 3 m, if the distance to public property is less than 6 m).

The street right-of-way includes lanes for car, bicycle and pedestrian traffic, as well as street furniture (lampposts, signage, bus shelters, etc). It ends at the private property limit.

Submitting your permit application

Send your application to the Ville-Marie permits and inspections division by e-mail

You must attach the following documents to your e-mail:

  • Ville-Marie excavation permit application (in French)
  • City insurance rider - Ville-Marie (in French)

A $1,000,000 insurance rider is required for excavations up to 4.5 metres deep. For all other cases, a $2,000,000 rider is required per person and per event.

Processing times

Evaluating a permit application takes three to four weeks (depending on the volume of applications being evaluated and the complexity of the project)

Payments

Once your file has been reviewed, we will let you know what fees are payable for your excavation permit to be issued under the following conditions:

  • Fees for the excavation permit: Certified cheque or money order 
  • Anticipated payment (for the repair of surface infrastructures such as the sidewalk, trees, street lamps, etc.): Certified cheque or money order
  • Security deposit (to repair underground infrastructures such as sewers, water mains, electrical installations, etc.): Certified check, money order or letter of guarantee from a bank

At the end of the project that required excavation, a final inspection will be performed to make note of damage caused to public property and street furniture.

If there is damage, the borough will plan reconstruction work to restore the public property to its original state. The costs of the work performed by the borough will be deducted from the security deposit. If the amount of the deposit is insufficient, the difference will be billed to the permit holde

Required documents

On top of the insurance rider and application form:

  • Plan that shows temporary shoring details (signed and sealed by an engineer)
  • Detailed plan for underpinning work (signed and sealed by an engineer), if required 
  • Calculation notes (signed by an engineer)
  • Geotechnical study
  • Project implementation plan
  • Environmental characterization study (when decontaminating land) 
  • Dynamiting plan signed by an engineer (for rock excavations)

Plans showing details of temporary shoring, calculation notes and a geotechnical study are not required only when excavation dept is equal to or less than 2metres.

Documents

Communication channels

Legislation

Types of permits

Excavation adjacent to public property

You must get this permit before starting the following work: 

  • Foundation replacement or waterproofing
  • Geotechnical drilling
  • Installation or replacement of a French drain
  • Installation of pilings
  • Site decontamination 
  • Construction of private infrastructure, e.g., a tunnel
  • Construction of a building

Private excavation

This permit is required when the part to excavate on private property is close to public property. Examples of this type of excavation include the construction of an areaway, the repair or replacement of foundation walls, the demolition or decontamination of a building, the installation of pilings, or French drain repairs.

Apply for an excavation permit

Steps

Visit the permit counter to meet with an agent and to obtain an excavation permit application form.

Once you have submitted all your documents by email or in person :

  • A person from the borough will visit the premises to take photos, estimate the cost of the permit and the amount of the security deposit.
  • You will then be contacted and asked to come and pay for your permit.
  • The permit will then be sent to you by e-mail.
  • Once the work has been completed, an inspection will be conducted to check if damages were caused to public property or street furniture. When repairs are required, the costs will be deducted from the security deposit.

When paying for your permit, you must also make a security deposit to cover any repairs to infrastructures that may be damaged during your work, such as a sidewalk, a tree, a lamppost, or a sewer. 

The excavation permit and the cutting permit are payable only by certified cheque, bank draft or debit card.

Processing times

Please allow for at least two weeks for your permit application to be processed.

Required documents

  • Completed application form for an excavation permit
  • Power of attorney signed by the building owner if you are acting on their behalf
  • Dimensions of the excavation: depth, length and width
  • Construction plans showing the depth of the foundation on all sides
  • Implementation plan for the new building showing the property limits, or the limits of the existing building
  • Copy of the excavator’s insurance rider

Communication channels

405 Avenue Ogilvy
Suite 111
Montréal, QC H3N 1M3