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Design-build services
Permit & Planning Coordination in Greater Montréal
Permits are where projects stall — and in Montréal the reasons are specific: which borough you're in, whether your project triggers site-planning or heritage review, and whether your first submission is complete. We prepare the drawings and documents each borough requires and manage the application through to approval, so the permit isn't the thing holding up your build.
What a permit actually costs in Montréal
The City of Montréal charges building-permit fees on the declared value of the work. As of 2026, for building construction and renovation the rate is $9.80 per $1,000 of estimated work value, subject to a minimum:
- Minimum $167.40 for a strictly residential building.
- Minimum $491.70 for a commercial, industrial, institutional, or mixed-use building.
- Residential projects under $17,081.60 of work pay the $167.40 minimum; non-residential projects under $50,173.50 pay the $491.70 minimum.
The fine print that moves the number
The fee is non-refundable if the application is cancelled or refused. The tariff also has multiple categories — the $9.80 / $1,000 rate applies to building construction and renovation, while detached accessory structures such as fences and decks are charged on a different rate.
Fees current as of 2026; the City sets its tariff annually — confirm before budgeting.
What adds cost and time
Two things reliably add both fees and delay. A PIIA requirement — site-planning and architectural-integration review — applies in many boroughs and adds a review step before the permit is issued. And heritage value or special architectural standards, where they apply, can add fees and conditions of their own. We identify both early so they're in the budget and the timeline from the start. Some projects also need plans whose design is directed by an architect; our guide to architects and designers in Quebec explains when.
How long it takes
Timelines vary substantially by borough and by complexity — a simple interior permit is not the same file as a change-of-use or a heritage review. The single biggest lever you control is a complete first submission: missing drawings, an out-of-date certificate of location, or an unanswered zoning question is what turns weeks into months. We assemble the package to the borough's checklist so the file keeps moving. Our guide to commercial permits in Montréal covers PIIA review, the occupancy certificate and the notice-of-motion freeze in more depth.
One platform, one submission
Montréal has centralised permit applications on the Allégo platform (permis.montreal.ca). We prepare and submit through it, respond to the city's comments, and push the application to approval.
What's included
- Building-permit application preparation
- Permit-ready drawing packages
- Code and zoning compliance review
- Liaison with the borough building department
- Coordination of required approvals (PIIA, heritage where applicable)
- Inspection scheduling during construction
Where we do this work
We coordinate permits across Greater Montréal. Fees and review steps differ between Montréal's boroughs and the municipalities off the island; each area page covers the local process.
The in-house difference
Drawings prepared for the borough that will review them
Because the same team designs and submits, the drawings are prepared knowing what your borough will actually ask for — we've submitted there before. The permit set answers the reviewer's questions the first time instead of discovering them in a comment letter, which is where the real delay lives.
Frequently asked
Permits & Planning — your questions, answered.
Do I need a permit to renovate in Montreal?
Usually yes. In Montréal a permit is required for work affecting walls, foundations or structure, or that changes a room's dimensions, division or use, plus most exterior work — siding, roof structure, windows and doors — and additions. Purely cosmetic maintenance like painting or replacing cabinets without touching plumbing generally doesn't. Requirements vary by borough and municipality, so confirm before starting.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Montreal?
It varies substantially by borough and by the complexity of the project. A simple interior permit can move quickly; a change-of-use, structural, or heritage file takes longer, and a project that needs site-planning (PIIA) review adds a step. The biggest lever you control is a complete first submission — missing drawings or an out-of-date certificate of location is the most common cause of weeks-long delays.
How much does a renovation permit cost in Montreal?
In the City of Montréal, building construction and renovation permits are charged at $9.80 per $1,000 of estimated work value, subject to a minimum of $167.40 for a strictly residential building and $491.70 for a commercial, industrial, institutional, or mixed-use building. Residential projects under $17,081.60 of work pay the residential minimum; non-residential projects under $50,173.50 pay the higher one. The fee is non-refundable if the application is cancelled or refused, and detached accessory structures like fences and decks run on a different rate. Fees are current as of 2026 — the City sets its tariff annually, so confirm before budgeting.
Do I need a separate permit for a sign?
Usually, yes. In Montréal, installing or changing a sign generally requires its own authorization from the borough, and in some boroughs signage can also trigger a design review (PIIA). The rules differ by borough, so confirm with yours before ordering the sign.
Can work start before the permit is issued?
No. Work that requires a permit can't start until the permit is issued. Starting early can lead to a stop-work order or penalties, and can complicate the approval itself. Some preparation that doesn't require a permit can proceed; confirm with the borough what that covers.
What happens if the borough asks for changes to the plans?
The reviewer sends comments or a request for more information. The drawings are revised and resubmitted, and the review continues from there. A complete, well-coordinated first submission reduces the chance of this back-and-forth, a common cause of permit delays.
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Direct
(514) 697-1742info@indesignconstruction.caService area
- Montréal
- South Shore / Rive-Sud
- North Shore / Rive-Nord
- Laval
- Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- West Island