No permit, but not no rules
According to the City procedure for Anjou, you need no permit to repair, maintain, renovate or replace a flat or low-slope roof. The sloped roof procedure says the same. Sealing a leak, redoing flashing, replacing torn shingles or changing a section of membrane requires no application.
This exemption does not hold everywhere. For roofing in Montreal, rules vary by borough, type of building and type of work. What follows applies to Anjou and to Anjou only.
No permit does not mean no rule. On a flat roof, the borough limits the choice of covering. With no permit application, no file is reviewed before the work. The material is checked before signing. Ask us for the product data sheet and compare it with the borough's list.
The buildings you find in Anjou
Anjou mixes residential streets and business areas. It has single-family houses and semi-detached homes, often topped with a sloped roof covered in asphalt shingles. It also has plexes and apartment buildings, often with flat roofs, as well as commercial and industrial buildings whose flat roofs cover large surfaces.
The City handles these two roof shapes in two separate procedures. A roof with a slope under 2:12, or 16.7%, is considered a flat or low-slope roof. From 2:12 up, it is a sloped roof.
If you do not know which side your roof falls on, we measure the slope during the visit. Do not go up to check yourself.
What the borough requires on a flat roof
For Anjou, the City gives a short list, presented as the only roofing materials allowed on flat roofs.
- a material that is white, painted white, or covered with a reflective coating or white gravel
- a material with a solar reflectance index (SRI) of at least 78, confirmed by the manufacturer's specifications
- a green roof, meaning a vegetated roof
For a sloped roof, the City page gives no list of materials for Anjou. The procedure only says no permit is required.
What the City pages leave out
Both procedures consulted are brief for Anjou. They publish no permit fee for roofing and no list of documents to provide.
Both procedures are also silent on several questions an owner may have.
- work that touches the insulation or the roof structure
- buildings or areas with heritage value
- the difference between a residential and a commercial building
- what happens if a flat roof gets a material that is not on the list
On each of these questions, the answer belongs to the borough's permit counter.
The Anjou permit counter
The Anjou permit counter is at 7171, rue Bombardier, 2nd floor, Montréal (Québec) H1J 2E9. In person, the counter receives by appointment only.
The City also offers an online service for renovation permit applications. For Anjou, the service covers the building interior, doors and windows, exterior cladding, and projecting elements such as stairs, balconies and decks. Roofing is not in that list. The service requires an account, and payment is by credit card.
The four topics covered for Anjou
The flat roof. The page details the three families of coverings allowed in Anjou, what the SRI threshold of 78 means, and the proof to ask us for to show a product meets it.
The shingle roof. It deals with the sloped roof. It explains what having no permit changes for you and what it does not, including the Régie du bâtiment du Québec licence to check before signing.
Commercial roofing. It is for the owner or manager of a commercial, industrial or mixed-use building. It says plainly where the City data stops and what to ask the counter.
Roof replacement. It follows a full roof replacement step by step, along with the other work on the same job, where the permit question goes to the counter.
Before our visit
You can prepare for the visit without taking any risk. Look at the roof from the ground or a window, photograph the ceiling stains and note the date of the leak. In the attic, look from the hatch with a flashlight, without going in.
Anything done at height is our job. You can ask us for a quote for a roof located in Anjou.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit to repair a roof in Anjou?
No, according to the City procedures read on October 3, 2026, no permit is required to repair, maintain, renovate or replace a flat or sloped roof in Anjou.
Can you put any covering on a flat roof in Anjou?
No, on a flat roof in Anjou, the City allows only a material that is white, painted white or covered with a reflective coating or white gravel, a material with an SRI of at least 78, or a green roof. Ask us to write the chosen product into the quote.
How do you reach the Anjou permit counter?
The Anjou permit counter is at 7171, rue Bombardier, on the 2nd floor. It receives in person by appointment only. The City page consulted does not say how to book that appointment.
Official sources, consulted October 3, 2026: