Permit to Redo a Flat Roof in Montreal

When a permit is required

The City separates the work into two categories.

Minor repairs and maintenance are generally done without a permit. Adding tar, putting gravel back or sealing a crack fall into this category.

Major work generally requires a permit. That is the case when roofing is installed or replaced, and almost always when the insulation or the structure is touched.

The line between the two is not the same everywhere. Some boroughs do not require a permit to replace the membrane, others require one even for a repair. The permit is also how the borough checks that the new roofing meets its white roof rule.

What the permit costs

The review fee varies with the estimated cost of the work. In most boroughs, the City publishes the following rates:

• $9.80 per $1,000 of work
• a minimum of $167.40 for a strictly residential building
• a minimum of $491.70 for a commercial, industrial, institutional or mixed-use building

The rate can differ from one borough to another. Montréal-Nord, for example, lists $11 per $1,000. The estimate must include all costs related to the work, taxes included, such as plans, labour and equipment.

Extra fees can apply if the building or its area has heritage value. Fees are not refundable.

Documents to provide

The City generally asks for:

• the quote or a cost estimate grid for the work, taxes included
• the certificate of location
• the materials data sheet, with the solar reflectance index (SRI), the flashing and the colour
• any other document useful for the review

In a condominium, you also need an authorization letter from each co-owner or a resolution of the syndicate. If someone applies on your behalf, that person needs a power of attorney.

Ask us for a detailed quote. The document you use to compare prices also serves for the permit application.

Who applies

The application is made in the owner's name, or by a representative with a power of attorney. Many roofers handle the application for their clients, with a power of attorney. Tell us if you want us to file the permit application. Before signing, get it in writing who files the application, who pays the fees, and at what stage.

One tip the City gives itself in one borough is to wait until the permit is issued before buying materials. If the chosen product does not meet the bylaw, it is better to learn that before delivery.

Heritage buildings

Some buildings and areas are subject to specific standards to preserve their historic or architectural value. Requirements, fees and documents are more numerous there. The permit counter confirms whether your building is affected.

Frequently asked questions