Install a temporary pedestrian shelter

Last updated October 26, 2023

Want to install a temporary pedestrian shelter? Most boroughs do not require that you get a permit to install one. However, you must observe certain regulations when you install this type of winter shelter.  Find out what you need to do, depending on  the borough in which you live.

The temporary pedestrian shelter must consist of materials that harmonize with those used to build the temporary car shelter.

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This type of temporary shelter is prohibited.

Dates permitted

From November 1 to April 15

Outside of this period, the metal structure must be completely dismantled.
However, the metal structure can be installed without the fabric as of October 15.

Materials permitted

  • Flexible fabric,  translucent or transparent.
  • Industrially manufactured and removable metal structure.

Communication channels

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

This type of temporary shelter is prohibited.

This type of temporary shelter is prohibited.

All types of temporary shelter are prohibited.

Information coming soon.

Dates permitted

From October 15 to April 15

Outside of this period, the metal structure must be completely dismantled.

Your shelter must meet the following criteria

You may only install one temporary pedestrian shelter per lot. It must be used to shelter one pedestrian entrance within a parking area and must not be used for storage purposes.

It must:

  • Have a maximum height of 2.5 m 
  • Be secured to the ground by anchors or counterweights 
  • Be maintained in good condition
  • Not include any heating system.

The shelter must be installed on a pedestrian walkway, an extension or a stairway serving a residential building or building used for collective and institutional facilities, at least:

  • 0.75 m from the sidewalk or the road if there is no sidewalk.
  • 1.5 m from a fire hydrant.
  • 5 m from the intersection if your house is located on a street corner.

Materials permitted

Removable metal structure with synthetic fabric, white and translucent.

Learn more

815 Rue Bel-Air
First floor
Montréal, QC H4C 2K4

Legislation

Dates permitted

From October 15 to April 15

Outside of this period, the metal structure must be completely dismantled.

 

Materials permitted

  • Synthetic fabric, white and translucent.

  • Removable metal structure.

Historical areas
Installing a temporary pedestrian shelter is prohibited in the following areas. Please contact the borough to check if this restriction applies to your address.

Communication channels

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

Dates permitted

From October 15 to April 15

Outside of this period, the metal structure must be completely dismantled.

Temporary pedestrian shelters are prohibited in the area of the Contrecœur project.
Contact your permit counter and get informed before you purchase your shelter. 

Materials permitted

  • Synthetic fabric, white and translucent.
  • Removable metal structure.

Communication channels

By phone

Permit counter – Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve

514-872-6099

Legislation

Dates permitted

From October 15 to April 15.

Outside of this period, the metal structure must be completely dismantled.

Please contact the permit counter to find out which areas can be used for storage.

Your shelter must meet the following criteria:

  • Maximum height of 3.1 m. 
  • Prefabricated.
  • Be anchored in the ground or kept in place using bags filled with water or sand.
  • Be clean and free of any obstruction.

The shelter must be installed at least:

  • 0.3 m from the sidewalk or the road if there is no sidewalk..
  • 1 m from the limits on each side of the property.

You can install a temporary pedestrian shelter on your property.

Materials permitted

  • Synthetic fabric, waterproof, white and translucent.
  • Removable metal structure.

Communication channels

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

All types of temporary shelter are prohibited.

Information coming soon.

Dates permitted

From October 15 to April 15

Outside of this period, the metal structure must be completely dismantled.

It is prohibited to store the temporary shelter in front of your home. 

Criteria for residential buildings

Dimensions

  • maximum height of 4 m.

Location

The shelter can be installed:

  • At the entrance to a building, on the ground floor
  • On a protrusion of the building, such as a balcony or porch
  • In a yard at the level of the basement (areaway)
    • An areaway (sometimes called a basement walkout) is an outdoor space located below ground level and providing access to a basement entrance.
    • The shelter’s structure must be installed at ground level on either side of the walkout, so that the shelter fabric covers the belowground space.

The shelter must be installed at least:

  • .75 m from the sidewalk or the road if there is no sidewalk.
  • 1.5 m from a fire hydrant.
  • 7 m from the intersection, if your home is at the corner of two streets.

Allowable materials

The car shelter must:

  • Be made of a metallic frame that can be disassembled
  • Be covered with either translucent white synthetic fabric or plexiglass
  • Have a transparent strip on each side, at least 2 m from its opening, with an area of at least .5 m2 if it is located at least 3 m from a sidewalk or a curbside (if there is no sidewalk)

Important

Car shelters should not:

  • Be used for storage
  • Have heating units inside

Historical areas
Installing a temporary pedestrian shelter is prohibited in the following areas. Please contact the borough to check if this restriction applies to your address.

Communication channels

By phone

Permit counter – Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles

514-868-4343

Legislation

This type of temporary shelter is prohibited.

All types of temporary shelter are prohibited.

Temporary pedestrian shelters must be connected to the entrance of a main building.

Permitted building types.

  • Commercial establishment with a surface area of more than 2,000 m², located on a site of more than 10,000 m².

  • Industrial establishment.

  • Community facility.

  • A dwelling that has an on-street parking space or a handicap drop-off. For more information, visit the Apply for Disabled Parking page.

Period of allowed use

From the Saturday before Thanksgiving Day of one year to April 15 of the following year.
Outside this period, the metal structure must be completely dismantled.

Materials permitted

  • Flexible and translucent fabric.
  • Tubular metal structure, industrially manufactured and removable.

Communication channels

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.

This type of shelter is prohibited in Verdun.

Dates permitted

From October 15 to April 15

Outside of this period, the metal structure must be completely dismantled.

Your shelter must not be visible from the street.

Materials permitted

  • Translucent white cover made of plastic or fibreglass.
  • Removable metal structure.

Historical areas
Installing a temporary car shelter is prohibited within the Old Montréal historical site and the Mount Royal Heritage Site. Please contact the borough to find out if this restriction applies to your address.

Communication channels

By phone

Permit counter – Ville-Marie

514-872-0311

Legislation

Authorization

The borough of Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension does not require a permit for the installation of a temporary pedestrian shelter.

Permitted dates

From October 15 to April 15 of the following year. 

Outside these dates, the two components of the shelter (the frame and the cover) must be completely dismantled and removed.

Heritage sectors

The installation of a temporary pedestrian shelter is prohibited in heritage sectors as well as on any property occupied by a heritage building.

Permitted materials

  • White, translucent synthetic fabric
  • Removable metallic structure

Installation standards

To be compliant, a shelter must meet the following conditions:

  • Be installed to protect a passageway located at ground level or, at most, at the landing leading to the ground floor and basement of a building
  • Be located only along the width of the pedestrian passage and not in front of a building window
  • Include a lit passageway
  • Have walls with a maximum height of 2.4 m measured vertically from natural ground level or a landing to its highest point
  • Have transparent sections in a minimum of 25% and maximum of 50% of its side walls
  • Respect the following minimum distances: 1.5 m from a fire hydrant; 5 m from the pavement curb at an intersection; 0.75 m from the sidewalk or, if no sidewalk, from the curb
  • Be supported by a specially designed metal frame, securely anchored at its base or counterweighted
  • Not be anchored by one or more guy wires
  • Must not be used for storage purposes or include a heating system
  • Be in good condition and well maintained.

Fines

Shelters that are not properly installed may result in complaints. If violations are found, corrective action will be requested. Possible fines range from $100 to $300 for a first offence and more for a subsequent offence.