Permits and certificates

Documents required to apply for a permit or certificate

Any request for a building permit or authorization certificate must be accompanied by the information and documents required. The inspector judges the relevance of the documents submitted and is entitled to request any detail and information they deem necessary for a proper understanding of the application, and ensure project compliance with zoning, construction and development regulations.

The following non-exhaustive list details the information and documents required for the consideration of an application for a permit or certificate:

Construction and expansion of a main building:

  • Layout and construction plan (including the landscaping plan, and the location of parking);
  • Interior layout plan;
  • Elevation plan;
  • Wall partitioning plan;
  • Foundation plan.

Construction work attached to building (solarium, deck, patio, stairs):

  • Site plan (can be a survey or certificate of location).

Interior renovation:

  • Interior design plan (except for the changing of door(s), window(s) and flooring that do not require documentation).

Exterior renovation (solarium, deck, patio, stairs):

  • Site plan (can be a survey or certificate of location);
  • Plan for construction or renovation (if dimensional change);
  • Construction details.

Exterior:

  • No document.

Accessory structure:

  • Site plan (can be a survey or certificate of location);
  • Elevation plan;
  • Wall partitioning plan;
  • Interior design plan.

Fencing:

  • Site plan (can be a survey or certificate of location);
  • Model and height.

Swimming pool:

  • Site plan (can be a survey or certificate of location);
  • Details of security element.

Signage:

  • Site plan (for a sign on a post / can be a survey or certificate of location);
  • Location plan (for a sign on a building);
  • Sketch of the sign.

Occupancy of a commercial establishment, industrial or public (other than municipal):

  • Copy of lease (if applicable);
  • Start date of occupation.

Domestic occupation:

  • Copy of lease (if applicable);
  • Start date of occupation;
  • Interior design plan (identifying the total area of the floor, including the basement if any, and the area of the space allocated for domestic use);
  • Outdoor Management Plan (indicating the location of customer parking if applicable);
  • Sketch of sign (if any).

Occupancy of impound for road vehicles:

  • Implementation plan (including the landscaping plan which must include identified location of parking and / or outdoor storage area and / or inner road vehicles, and any other required development / can be a survey or certificate of location);
  • Date of commencement of operations.

Relocation of any building:

  • Itinerary with indication of the current and projected locations, and the time required for transportation;
  • Proof of public liability insurance;
  • Proof of notification to companies providing electric utilities, telephone, cable or other services that may be affected by the relocation work, that the service should be discontinued as of the date scheduled for the relocation.

Demolition of main building:

  • Proof of public liability insurance;
  • Proof of notification to companies providing electric utilities, telephone, cable or other services that may be affected by the relocation work, that the service should be discontinued as of the date of commencement of demolition;
  • Identification equipment supplier.

Felling of trees:

  • Plan to scale identifying the location of trees to be cut (can be a survey or certificate of location);
  • Evaluation signed by a forest engineer or an expert in a related field in arboriculture (attestation and description of the size and species of tree and reason for felling).

Sitework / excavation / backfill:

  • Plan to scale identifying the type of furnishings, materials, shape, size and surface area of the areas concerned, the direction of flow of surface water, the soil and subsoil, when it applies (perhaps drawn on a certificate of location);
  • Lot Cups locating the high and low points of the slope before and after the proposed work.

Work including riverbanks, and coastal flood plains:

  • Plan to scale identifying the high-water mark, the flood plain (where applicable) and location of the work to be performed;
  • Photographs showing the state of the bank before the work;
  • Explanatory sketch, cross-sections and elevations describing the projected development, materials, shape, size and surface area of the areas concerned, the slopes, the soil and the subsoil if any (can be a survey or certificate of location);
  • Reasons for such work;
  • Proof of provincial approval (if applicable).

Plans

Plans to accompany the application for a building permit must be submitted in two copies. For the construction or expansion of multiple dwellings, commercial buildings, industrial or institutional, three copies are required. These plans must be drawn to scale.

Under the Architects Act (RSQ chapter A-21), construction, expansion, reconstruction, renovation or alteration of any of the buildings mentioned below must be signed by a member of the Order of Architects of Quebec:

  • A multi-family dwelling of 5 units or more;
  • A commercial establishment, business, industrial, or a combination of these establishments, more than 2 floors and over 300 m² total gross floor area excluding the basement.

Excluded from this obligation are the modifications or renovations of the interior of building design that does not affect the use or the structural integrity, walls or fire separations, exits and access to them, and the modification or renovation of the exterior envelope.