Obtain a permit to distribute advertising materials

Last updated February 6, 2024

Are you planning to distribute advertising materials in Montréal? In some cases, a permit may be required. Here’s what you need to know.

The term “advertising materials” refers to pamphlets, circulars, brochures, leaflets or any similar printed matter created for advertising purposes.

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You don’t need a permit if you hold a commercial and professional activity permit valid for the Montréal area.

Advertising items may be distributed in the borough between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Distributors from outside Montréal

We suggest you contact the borough’s Accès Montréal office for more information.

Communication channels

In person

Bureau Accès Montréal – Ahuntsic-Cartierville

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

You may solicit door-to-door if you have a door-to-door sales (“solicitation”) permit.

You must apply for a solicitation permit at the Direction de l’aménagement urbain et des services aux entreprises (the urban planning and business services department). 

This permit is valid for up to 12 months.

Fees (taxes included)

  • $25 per person
  • Free for Montréal non-profit and charitable organizations and schools and recreational associations.

Each person engaged in door-to-door sales must have their own permit.

Conditions of Distribution

No person shall solicit, advertise, sell, carry on any trade or craft or do business on sidewalks or in streets or public places.

It is also forbidden to leave any paper on a motor vehicle parked on public property, except for a parking ticket.

Door-to-door solicitation is permitted from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Communication channels

In person

Comptoir des permis – Anjou

By appointment
7171 Rue Bombardier
Second floor
Montréal, QC H1J 2E9

You may distribute advertising materials at no extra cost if you hold a valid commercial and professional activity permit issued by Ville de Montréal.

Conditions of Distribution

Advertising items may be distributed in the borough between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Distributors from outside Montréal

We suggest you contact the borough’s Accès Montréal office for more information.

Communication channels

In person

Bureau Accès Montréal – Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

5160 Boulevard Décarie
Montréal, QC H3X 2H9

This service is not offered in this borough.

You must obtain a permit to distribute advertising items in the borough.

Exception

A permit is not required if you are representing a religious or educational institution, a political party or an organization recognized by the Direction de la culture, des sports, des loisirs et du développement social.

Conditions of Distribution

Advertising items may be distributed between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Rates

  • Annual commercial distribution: $250
  • Occasional commercial distribution for a maximum of 2 weeks: $50
  • Non-commercial distribution: free (permit required)

Validity of the permit

The permit is valid from January 1 to December 31 and is renewable each year.

Make a request

In person

By appointment
55 Avenue Dupras
Montréal, QC H8R 4A8

If you already have a valid commercial and professional activity permit, issued by Ville de Montréal, you may distribute advertising items at no additional cost.

Otherwise, you must obtain a permit from the borough’s Accès Montréal office.

This permit is issued for a maximum period of 7 days per distribution. 

Fees

$130 

Conditions of Distribution

Advertising items may be distributed in the borough between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Distribution is prohibited in public places.

It is also forbidden to leave any paper on a motor vehicle parked on public property. Only parking tickets and courtesy notices from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal are authorized.

Distributors from outside Montréal

We suggest you contact the borough for more information.

Communication channels

In person

Bureau Accès Montréal – Le Plateau-Mont-Royal

201 Avenue Laurier Est
Suite 120
Montréal, QC H2T 3E6

You may distribute advertising materials at no extra cost if you hold a valid commercial and professional activity permit issued by Ville de Montréal.

Conditions of Distribution

Advertising items may be distributed between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.. 

Distributors from outside Montréal

We suggest you contact the borough’s Accès Montréal office for more information.

Communication channels

In person

Bureau Accès Montréal – Ahuntsic-Cartierville

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

This service is not offered in this borough.

You may distribute advertising materials at no extra cost if you hold a valid commercial and professional activity permit, issued by Ville de Montréal.

Conditions of Distribution

Advertising items may be distributed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. 

If the resident has affixed the prescribed sticker, you are allowed to place advertising items:

  • In a mailbox or mail slot or other receptacle provided for that purpose
  • On a newspaper holder
  • Hanging from the handle of an exterior door giving access to a single dwelling
  • In the vestibule of a residential building where access is permitted
  • On a shelf or in a container provided for the purpose, providing it does not obstruct an escape route.

It is forbidden to leave any paper on a motor vehicle parked on public property. 

Distributors from outside Montréal

We suggest you contact the borough’s Accès Montréal office for more information.

Communication channels

In person

Bureau Accès Montréal – Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve

6854 Rue Sherbrooke Est
Montréal, QC H1N 1E1

This service is not offered in this borough.

No permit is needed to distribute advertising items on public property or to private residences.

Conditions of Distribution

Distribution of flyers is prohibited between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on weekdays, and on Sundays and holidays.

Learn more

By phone

Sécurité publique – Outremont

514-495-6241

Legislation

You may distribute advertising materials at no extra cost if you hold a valid commercial and professional activity permit issued by Ville de Montréal.

Communication channels

In person

Comptoir des permis – Pierrefonds-Roxboro

13665 Boulevard de Pierrefonds
Montréal, QC H9A 2Z4

You may distribute advertising materials at no extra cost if you hold a valid commercial activity occupation certificate, issued by Ville de Montréal.

Conditions of Distribution

If the resident has affixed the prescribed sticker, you are allowed to place advertising items:

  • In a mailbox or mail slot or other receptacle provided for that purpose
  • On a newspaper holder
  • Hanging from the handle of an exterior door giving access to a single dwelling
  • In the vestibule of a residential building where access is permitted
  • On a shelf or in a container provided for the purpose, providing it does not obstruct an escape route.

It is forbidden to leave any paper on a motor vehicle parked on public property other than parking tickets.

Communication channels

In person

Comptoir des permis – Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles

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

Conditions of Distribution

Advertising items may be distributed in the borough between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

It is forbidden to leave any paper on a motor vehicle parked on public property. Only parking tickets from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal are authorized. 

Distributors from outside Montréal

We suggest you contact the borough’s Accès Montréal office for more information.

Communication channels

In person

Bureau Accès Montréal – Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie

5650 Rue D'Iberville
2nd floor
Montréal, QC H2G 2B3

Conditions of Distribution

You may leave advertising items on private property:

  • In a mail box
  • In a container provided for the purpose
  • In or hung on a newspaper holder
  • By hanging it from an outside door handle giving access to a single dwelling, where none of the aforementioned objects are present on that property
  • In the vestibule of a residential building where access is permitted, on a shelf or in a container provided for the purpose, providing it does not obstruct an escape route.

If an item is inserted into a letter slot, the flap of the slot must be completely lowered after insertion.

Public domain

It is prohibited to place flyers or any printed matter on a motor vehicle parked on public property or in the parking lot of a shopping centre. It is also prohibited to leave them on the ground.

Communication channels

In person

Bureau Accès Montréal – Saint-Laurent

777 Boulevard Marcel-Laurin
Montréal, QC H4M 2M7

This service is not offered in this borough.

You must obtain a permit from the borough’s Accès Montréal office.

At the office, you will need to:

  • Fill out the request form
  • Attach the required documents
  • Attach a copy of the advertising item to be distributed
  • Pay the permit fees.

Fees

  • Commercial prospectus:

$72 per distribution for a maximum period of seven days
$2,079 for an annual permit

  • Non-commercial flyers: free of charge
  • Ruling: $186

Conditions of Distribution

It is prohibited to distribute advertising items on cars or at any location left abandoned, vacant or unoccupied.

On private property, distribution is prohibited on porches, balconies, verandas or on the grounds of houses. 

Leaving advertising materials on private property is prohibited unless the owner or occupant has placed a sticker on the door or mailbox authorizing it.

You may leave advertising items on private property:

  • In a mail box
  • In a container provided for the purpose
  • In or hung on a newspaper holder
  • By hanging it from an outside door handle giving access to a single dwelling, where none of the aforementioned objects are present on that property
  • In the vestibule of a residential building where access is permitted, on a shelf or in a container provided for the purpose, providing it does not obstruct an escape route.

You may also hand advertising items to a person living in the property on a temporary or indefinite basis.

Finally, you may place a flyer in a manner that protects it from rain, snow, hail or wind in any public or private place, including the place where the flyer was distributed.

Communication channels

In person

Bureau Accès Montréal – Verdun

4555 Rue de Verdun
Montréal, QC H4G 1M4

You may distribute advertising materials at no extra cost if you hold a valid commercial and professional activity permit issued by Ville de Montréal.

Communication channels

In person

Bureau Accès Montréal – Ville-Marie

800 Boulevard De Maisonneuve Est
Ground floor
Montréal, QC H2L 4L8

You may distribute advertising materials at no extra cost if you hold a valid commercial and professional activity permit issued by Ville de Montréal.

Communication channels

In person

Comptoir des permis – Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc Extension

405 Avenue Ogilvy
Suite 111
Montréal, QC H3N 1M3