Citizens - Town Planning and Permits

Town Planning Master Plan | By-laws | PIIA | Permits and Certificates
Urbanism Committee (CCU) | Environment Committee (CCE)

By-laws

Various by-laws arise from the Master Plan.  The key elements of a few of these are presented here.  This information is nevertheless presented for information purposes only.  Town Planning by-laws in force take precedence. 

Before developing a project or starting the work,
it is recommended that you contact the Town Planning department.

Depending on the sectors and by-laws in force, construction by-laws for a house, commercial building or any other main building may vary.  You must take an appointment with the Town Planning department right at the start of the development of any project.

Only one main building may be erected on a lot.

Minimum ground surface area:
The minimum ground surface area for a house is 37 square metres (35 square metres for a duplex or townhouses).  The floor-land ratio is 40%.

Minimum width and height, and orientation:
The width of the facade must be 7 metres minimum. 
The height must be between 2.3 and 10 metres.  No main building may have more than two stories.
The orientation of the main facade, including the main entrance, must be toward the street or a body of water.

Clearances:
Clearances are 6 metres in front, 3 metres on the sides and 9 metres in the rear.  On an angled or transversal lot, front and rear clearances are both 6 metres.
The front clearance for lots fronting onto Route 117, Prédéal-Trudeau and Faubert is 10 metres.
Minimum clearances for lots fronting onto de l’Église are 2 metres in front, 9 metres in the rear and 1 metre on the sides.

Waterside lots:
Waterside lots must respect a clearance of 10 to 15 metres, depending on the slope of the land, calculated from the high water mark (littoral zone).

By-law relating to the construction of a secondary building (Règlement de zonage 509 – Chapitre VII)
Permit required ($25)

Secondary buildings may not be installed unless they accompany a main building already existing on the same lot.

Maximum surface area:
Less than 30 metres from the house: 50% of the house surface area.
More than 30 metres from the house: 150 m².

Maximum dimensions:
Width: 50% of the width of the main building
Height: may not exceed the height of the main building (maximum 5 metres).

Location:
Only on the sides or rear of the lot.
Clearance: 1 metre.
Spacing: 1 metre from any other secondary building; 3 metres from the main building.

Exception for waterside lots:
Installation of a secondary building on a waterside lot is permitted with a minimum distance of 15 metres from the natural high water mark.  If the rear of the lot gives onto a lake, installation of a secondary building will be permitted exceptionally in the left-hand or right-hand sections of the front of the lot, while respecting the clearances applicable to a main building.

By-law relating to sanitary installations and water catchment (Loi sur la qualité de l’environnement – Règlement sur l’évacuation et le traitement des eaux usées des résidences isolées - Q-2 r.8)
Certificate required ($100)

With respect to sanitary installations and water catchment, provincial law applies. 

A model drilling report is supplied by the ministère du Développement durable, Environnement et Parcs (in French only) and is required by the Municipality within 30 days following the completion of work.  You can download it from www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca.

By-law relating to retaining walls and embankments (Règlement de zonage 509 – Article 12.2.3)
Certificate required ($20)

Retaining walls may not exceed 1 metre in the front of a lot and 2 metres on the sides and rear.

No retaining wall may be erected less than 1 metre from the front line of a lot or 2 metres from a fire hydrant.

All retaining walls must be built of decorative blocks, concrete blocks covered with parging or stucco, wooden beams squared on all 4 faces, stones or bricks.

Any retaining wall, or part of such a wall, which becomes twisted, upset, collapses or subsides must be repaired, replaced or dismantled.

No embankment may exceed a height of 3 metres nor create an angle of more than 45 degrees.

By-law relating to housing developments (Règlement de lotissement numéro 510)
Permit required ($25)

This by-law outlines regulations and conditions for construction and transfer of streets to the Municipality, for orientation of lots, their surface area and minimum dimensions in relation to the usage permitted.

In addition, a contribution for park creation must be paid to the Municipality, in conformity with the by-law relating to permits and certificates (Règlement sur les permis et les certificats numéro 508).  At Council’s discretion, the proprietor must cede a portion of the land, representing 5% of the planned site to be surveyed, freely to the Municipality. Alternatively, a sum equivalent to the value entered on the evaluation role may be paid, or a combination of both.

By-law relating to fences and hedges (Règlement de zonage 509 - Article 12.2.2)
Permit required ($20)

A height of 3 metres is permitted surrounding storage areas for businesses or industries.

In the case of land with an angle, a triangle of visibility must be respected.  The space defined by this triangle must be left free of any object of a height exceeding 60 centimetres.

Wood or fibre panels, plain metal sheeting, chain-link, barbed wire, chicken wire, Frost™-type fencing, stones and concrete blocks are prohibited.  At the front of a lot, certain other restrictions may apply.

By-law relating to signs and advertising (Règlement de zonage 509 - Article 8.3)
Certificate required ($20)

The production and installation of a sign and advertising is subject to regulation and all such projects must be submitted to the CCU (Urbanism Committee) by virtue of the by-law relating to Architectural Implementation and Integration Plan (Règlement sur les plans d’implantation et d’intégration architecture - PIIA).

Applications for certificates must therefore be preceded by an architectural implementation and integration plan.

In-ground or above-ground pools may not be installed unless they accompany an existing main building on the same lot.

Location:
Only on the sides and rear of the lot.
A minimum space of 1 metre must be left free around any and all accessories, and a minimum space of 3 metres must be kept free between the pool and any main building and any secondary building.

Protection and safety:
An in-ground pool must be surrounded by a fence or wall with a minimum height of 1.2 metres from ground level, built in wood, metal, concrete or other recognized materials.

In the case of an above-ground pool, the walls of the pool may be considered as an integral part of this fence.

The fence or wall surrounding the pool must be equipped with a locking mechanism.

Pools must not be located under electricity lines or wires.

By-law relating to minor variance application
(Règlement sur les dérogations mineures numéro 513) 

(A partial refund of fees paid in advance may be allowable if case is refused – These fees do not cover the fees payable for the eventual issue of a permit or certificate - $500).

At the time of a transfer of a property, if the buildings or other constructions already implanted fail to respect the standards outlined in the current Town Planning by-laws, the seller will be required to present a minor variance application and obtain a resolution from Council approving that fact.

All minor variance applications will be submitted to the CCU for an opinion.

By-law relating to tree felling (Règlement de zonage 509 - Article 9.1)
Certificate required ($20)

Tree felling within a residential zone is only authorized in the following circumstances: 

• the tree is dead;
• the tree is afflicted with an incurable disease;
• the tree is dangerous for the safety of people;
• the tree is hindering the growth and health of nearby trees;
• the tree is likely to cause damage to private or public property;
• the tree has to be removed in order to construct a building or otherwise develop the land.

By-Law relating to domestic burn-off (Règlement numéro 355 concernant le brûlage)
Certificate required (no fee)

A certificate authorizing domestic burn-off will be issued upon request, unless there is a prohibition on burning off issued by the ministère de la Sécurité publique.  The list of certificates issued to this end is transmitted to the Fire Safety department, which ensures any necessary follow-up.

By-law relating to garage sales  (Règlement de zonage 509 - Article 11.5)
Certificate required in certain cases* ($50)

Garage sales are permitted, without the need for a certificate, during the weekends coinciding with the Journée nationale des Patriotes (May) and the Fête du travail (September) only.

* However, following the sale of a house, the seller may exercise the right to hold a garage sale on the condition that a certificate is obtained to this end.

No garage sale may last for more than three (3) consecutive days. 

Reminder:  displaying signs on public utility poles is prohibited.

By-law relating to Tempos™ and snow fences (Règlement de zonage 509 - Article 11.2)

Tempos and snow fences are permitted in all zones from October 1 to the following May 1. 

Tempos must be located on parking areas or driveways leading to them; be built on a metal frame covered in a uniform manner by canvas or woven polyethylene.  It must be located at a minimum distance of 1 metre from the sidewalk or edge of the road.

By-law relating to nuisances (Règlement numéro 477 sur les nuisances)

Règlement 477 sur les nuisances is mainly intended to cover unhealthy or noxious substances, respect for public property, and the peace and quiet that citizens have a right to expect.

With respect to:

Snow removal (article 4.2)
It is forbidden to deposit, accumulate or throw snow or ice on any roadway or public lands, less than 3 metres from a fire hydrant, into any water or waterway or to create a snow dump.

Noise in general (chapitre 6)
It is forbidden to disturb the peace between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and more precisely, to make any noise the sound level of which exceeds 40 decibels at the limit of the land from which it is coming.  The level permitted between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. is 60 decibels.

Noxious weeds (article 3.6)
It is forbidden to allow ragweed (Ambrosia SPP) and poison ivy (Rhus radicans) to grow.

By-law relating to alarm systems (Règlement numéro 474 sur les systèmes d’alarme)
Permit required ($30)

The installation of any type of alarm system, panic button or other device designed to warn of the presence of an intruder, a break-in or a fire, requires a permit.

When applying, the applicant must supply certain information including the names and contact details of three persons who may be contacted in case an alarm goes off, and who are authorized to enter the premises for the purpose of stopping the alarm.  In the case where it is impossible to contact the proprietor, this precaution helps to avoid damage being caused by an officer who has been called to the site, and who is obliged to break in. Any such damage is charged to the proprietor.

By-law relating to the use of drinking water for ground watering (Règlement numéro 587 sur l’utilisation de l’eau potable en provenance de l’aqueduc municipal ayant pour objet d’abroger le règlement sur l’arrosage et l’utilisation de l’eau à l’intérieur des réseaux d’aqueduc numéro 264)
Certificate required in certain cases* (no fee)

From May 1 to September 1, it is permitted to water flowers and shrubs by hand every day, but watering of lawns, gardens, trees and other landscaped features is only permitted between 8 and 10 p.m., on certain days only, depending on the sector.

Watering schedules by sector

Sector 1 – Sunday and Wednesday
South of de l’Église and west of the Rivière du Nord (Route 117, Ermitage, 10e Rang…)

Sector 2 – Tuesday and Friday
South of de l’Église and east of the Rivière du Nord (Lac Doré, Chemin du Condor…)

Sector 3 – Monday and Thursday
North of de l’Église and east of the Rivière du Nord (village centre, Air pur, Domaine Saint-Louis…)

Sector 4 – Wednesday and Sunday
North of de l’Église and west of the Rivière du Nord (Chanteclair, Mont-Vert, Riverside, Route 117)

Sector 5 – Tuesday and Friday
East of de l’Église (1er Rang Doncaster, Montée du 2e Rang, Montée Gagnon, Versants du Mont-Plante…)

Except on Saturdays, washing of road vehicles and boats is permitted according to the hours prescribed, on the condition that an automatically-closing nozzle is used and that only the amount of water required is used and none wasted.

To download the sector map, please click here (PDF format 262k).

* A certificate is required and will be issued under certain conditions for fundraising car washes, cleaning of certain surfaces (parking lots, sidewalks, patios, walls), watering of new lawns and newly-seeded grass, and filling of swimming pools.

Of course, in an emergency situation (a period of drought or major breakdown) a total or partial prohibition on outside water use may be decreed by municipal authorities.

By-law relating to the control of pesticides and fertilizers and protection of the littoral zone (Règlement numéro 590 visant à combattre l’eutrophisation prématurée des lacs et des cours d’eau)

In order to avoid destruction of flora and fauna in our lakes and waterways caused by toxic products and the import of nutrients that promote the growth of undesirable plants and algae, it is now forbidden to spread on any vegetation, including any lawn surface, any nitrogenous, phosphatic, potash, organic or complex fertilizer, in solid, liquid or gaseous forms, whether by mechanical or hand spreading, by liquid pulverization or by any other procedure.

However, the by-law does permit, outside the littoral zone, the occasional use of fertilizer on the condition that it is dug into the earth manually around the foot of flowers, shrubs or trees, or in a flower bed or vegetable garden.

Within the littoral zone, which is 10 metres from the natural high-water mark if the slope of the land does not exceed 30% or 15 metres in other cases (Règlement de zonage numéro 509), it is also forbidden to cut, mow, prune or otherwise alter any herbaceous vegetation in any way whatsoever, including grass or lawn. 

Except when authorized by the Municipality, deforestation and tree felling is also forbidden within the littoral zone.  It is however permitted to cut vegetation as required within a 2-meter band around any non-conforming building located within the littoral zone.

By-law relating to smoke detection systems (Règlement numéro 582 relatif aux appareils de détection incendie)
See Public Safety/Fire Safety section

By-law relating to chimney cleaning (Règlement numéro 588 relatif au ramonage de cheminées
See Public Safety/Fire Safety section

By-law relating to Architectural Implementation and Integration Plan: see PIIA section.