The borough council determines the limits of a commercial zone, within which companies become members of the commercial development corporation.

A commercial development corporation consists of all the businesses within its commercial zone, such as companies, professional offices or service companies. 

There are more than 25 commercial development corporations within city limits.

Member contribution

Montréal supports commercial development corporations. In particular, the city bills, collects and distributes annual contributions. SDC accounts are sent to member businesses occupying the premises on the first day of the fiscal year, which is January 1.

Member contributions are determined according to every SDC’s annual budget, which is approved by the borough council.

Each SDC also determines the basis used to calculate its contribution according to one or more of the following factors:

• floor area of the premises
• non-residential assessed value of the premises
• location of the premises
• flat-rate amount.

The amount of the contribution may vary from one year to the next due to:

• a change to the SDC’s annual budget
• a change to the parameters used to calculate the contribution
• a change in the non-residential assessed value of the premises, when the SDC’s contribution is based on this criterion.

To have voting rights at corporation meetings, members must have paid their annual contribution.