Zoning Reports & Verification Letters in Montreal, Quebec
How to request a zoning verification letter in Montreal, Quebec, what it costs and who to contact, plus ALTA zoning reports for any Montreal, Quebec property.
Scott Friedman
Have a property in Montreal, Quebec, a rush order or a portfolio? Scott can scope the right report and get a certified planner started right away.
How to get a zoning verification letter in Montreal, Quebec
- Find the property's borough with the city's borough lookup tool on montreal.ca.
- Check the borough's urban planning by-law, which holds its zoning rules.
- Contact that borough's permit counter to request a letter or certificate of conformity, and check the borough's fee by-law for the current charge.
- Document
- Borough letter or certificate of conformity; varies by borough
- Office
- Permit counter of the borough where the property is located
- How
- Contact the borough permit counter
- Fee
- Set by each borough. Example: Lachine's 2026 fee by-law (RCA26-19001) charges CA$55.00 for a certificate of zoning conformity for tourist accommodation or liquor permits, and CA$550.00 for a letter confirming a building's conformity with urban planning rules that requires acquired-rights research
- Typical time
- Not published
- Official info
- City of Montreal: Occupancy permits (commercial, industrial or professional activity)
Zoning in Montreal, Quebec
Each Montreal borough has its own urban planning (zoning) by-law, which must respect the city-wide urban plan. For a single property, boroughs often point owners to a specific project approval (PPCMOI) or a minor variance rather than a zoning amendment, which can take 4 to 10 months.
Did you know?
Since Montreal's first urban plan in 1992, no building may exceed the altitude of Mount Royal, 232.5 m above sea level, which works out to about 200 m downtown.
Canada zoning history: Toronto still checks some lots against zoning by-laws of cities that no longer exist.
City letter or ZoningWorx report?
A local zoning letter is often enough for a quick check. Lenders, title companies and counsel usually need more.
- Confirms the zoning district
- Issued on the government's timeline
- Format and detail vary
- Requested and followed up by you
- Delivered in as little as 24–48 hours
- Zoning, permitted uses, setbacks, height, parking
- Nonconforming status and right to rebuild
- ALTA 3.0 & 3.1 compliant; Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac accepted
- Certified to your lender, title company and counsel
More Canada city guides
Montreal, Quebec zoning questions
How do I get a zoning verification letter in Montreal, Quebec?
Find the property's borough with the city's borough lookup tool on montreal.ca. Check the borough's urban planning by-law, which holds its zoning rules. Contact that borough's permit counter to request a letter or certificate of conformity, and check the borough's fee by-law for the current charge.
How much does a zoning letter cost in Montreal, Quebec?
Set by each borough. Example: Lachine's 2026 fee by-law (RCA26-19001) charges CA$55.00 for a certificate of zoning conformity for tourist accommodation or liquor permits, and CA$550.00 for a letter confirming a building's conformity with urban planning rules that requires acquired-rights research.
How long does it take to get a zoning letter in Montreal, Quebec?
Montreal, Quebec does not publish a turnaround time. ZoningWorx planners are available 24/7 and start on your order right away.
What type of zoning does Montreal, Quebec use?
Each Montreal borough has its own urban planning (zoning) by-law, which must respect the city-wide urban plan. For a single property, boroughs often point owners to a specific project approval (PPCMOI) or a minor variance rather than a zoning amendment, which can take 4 to 10 months.
Sources
- City of Montreal: Occupancy permits (commercial, industrial or professional activity)
- City of Montreal: Requesting an amendment to the urban planning by-law
- Lachine Borough: 2026 fee by-law (RCA26-19001)
- List of tallest buildings in Montreal (Wikipedia)