Permit and Certificate Request

• the construction of a new building
• the transformation or renovations of an existing building
• the expansion of an existing building
• the addition to a building
• the construction of a garage, carport, shed, or any other ancillary building
• the construction of an open gallery (patio), a balcony, an annexed solarium
• an interior redesign

The above list is not exhaustive.

• building a fence, a retaining wall, or a wall 
• moving an ancillary or main building
• tearing down a building
• installing a winter car shelter
• putting up or modifying a sign
• installing a terrace adjacent to a restaurant
• holding a garage sale
• connecting pipes
• holding an itinerant selling on streets or in public places, or a door-to-door charitable fund-raising activity
• installing a parabolic antenna of a diameter greater than 50 cm
• installing a commercial tent
• holding a temporary public auction
• installing an in-ground, semi in-ground, or above-ground pool
• installing a spa or a sauna
• any works on the shoreline
• pruning a tree

The above list is not exhaustive.

Online permit requests

The online service allows you to submit a permit application, pay fees and track the progress of a pending application without having to go anywhere. Once you have completed the steps, you will receive your permit by email.

Please note that only applications for permit requests related to pesticide application and tree felling or pruning cannot be submitted via our online platform. They should be sent by email to info.tp@ville.dorval.qc.ca or by phone at 514 633-4046. We will contact you once the permit or certificate is ready.

Steps to follow

1. Visit the citizen portal.
   
   Permit request
2. Select “Permit” and then select the type of permit or certificate of authorization corresponding to your request.
3. Follow the proposed steps.
4. Add the required documents to your request, such as plans, sketches, and location certificates.
5. Certain permits or certificates of authorization will require you to pay the fees before the permit is issued. Payment can be made online by credit card.

Rates

Consult the by-law concerning applicable rates for permits (Appendix A)

Timeframe for issuing a building permit or certificate of authorization

By-law RCM-60F-2016

• Building permit: Starting from the time all the information and technical documentation required is submitted and found to be in conformity, not including errors, and the required fees have been paid, the competent authority shall have 30 business days in which to issue (or, as the case may be, refuse to issue) a building permit.
• Certificate of authorization: Starting from the time all the information and technical documentation required is submitted and found to be in conformity, not including errors, the competent authority has 30 business days in which to issue (or, as the case may be, refuse to issue) a certificate of authorization.

To apply for a minor exemption or conditional use, complete the application form (along with the other required documents listed on the form) and send it to the Urban Planning Department by email to permis@ville.dorval.qc.ca.

To apply for a subdivision permit, complete the application form (along with the other required documents listed on the form) and send it to the Urban Planning Department by email to permis@ville.dorval.qc.ca.

Before issuing out a permit, a SPAIP (Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program) procedure, which requires the approval of the Council, is needed for the following work:

• The construction or expansion of any residence
• The construction or expansion of any building located on Lakeshore Drive
• The transformation of any heritage building
• The installation of a commercial sign on certain roads

What is an accessory building?

Building other than the main building, built on the same lot as the latter and serving exclusively to house one or more accessory uses to those of the main building. Car shelters, garages (adjoining or integrated), and garden sheds are considered accessory buildings.

Obtain a permit

The City has various regulatory tools designed to protect Dorval’s heritage.

First, a by-law concerning the demolition of buildings is the main bastion against all projects to demolish, without a valid reason, a residential, commercial, or institutional building. If such a situation occurs, the owner will have to prove that it is in the best interest of the public to demolish the building in question. A procedure is then put into place to allow any opposing person to be heard by the municipal authorities such as the Demolition Committee and the Council. In light of this by-law, the demolition of an heritage building would be unlikely.

Obtain a permit

Also, in accordance with the Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program (S.P.A.I.P.), any heritage building, as well as any building located along Lakeshore Drive, is subject to an exterior design control, which focuses on the respect of the fundamental characteristics of the environment, or on the building itself in case of an expansion or a new construction. Anyone wishing to build a new housing unit (for single or multi family dwelling, a duplex, a triplex) or extend an existing one, must first submit preliminary sketches and plans to the Urban Planning Department, and later on to the Demolition Committee.

Transformations (new siding, ledges, balconies, etc.) of heritage buildings are also guided by several objectives and criteria specific to this type of building.

Demolition Committee

The committee receives and studies applications for the demolition of a building, and issues the certificate of authorization if the demolition is deemed appropriate. The committee may also revoke a certificate under certain conditions.

Demolition Committee

The City of Dorval authorizes the enlargement of a building by means of a permit. Prepare your documents and submit your application to the Department of Urban Planning. Make sure you have your permit in your possession before you start work.

Obtain a permit

For more information, you can consult the integral version of the Zoning By-law.

Consult the Zoning By-law

A certificate of authorization is required to hold a garage sale on a property. The following conditions must also be respected:

• only goods belonging to the owner of the property may be sold
• the sale must last no longer than two (2) days, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• only one (1) garage sale per year is permitted
• only one (1) sign, with a maximum area of 3 square metres, is authorized

There is no cost to obtain a certificate of authorization for a garage sale.

Apply for the permit at least three days before your garage sale through our online platform or send your request to amenagementurbain@ville.dorval.qc.ca with the following information:

• Name
• Complete address
• Telephone number
• Date of the garage sale (no longer than two consecutive days)

We will send your certificate of authorization by email when it is ready.

Obtain a permit

A certificate of authorization is required to erect a fence, a retaining wall, or a wall. A number of other standards must also be respected:

Authorized location

• Anywhere on a lot
• Prohibited within the roadway setback
• Fences are not authorized in the front setback of a multi-family dwelling of 4 units or more

Maximum height

• 1,20 meter in the front setback, except inside a distance of 2,75 meters measured from the building facade, where the maximum height is 1,80 meter
• 1,80 meter anywhere else on a lot
• There is no limit to the height of hedges in the back yard and in the lateral yard of a residence

Cases where a fence must be erected

• Outside storage area (industrial and commercial sectors)
• Around an in-ground or above ground pool
• Around a property or an excavation which may pose a danger to public safety.

Materials prohibited

• Barbed wire
• Chicken wire
• Tin
• Non treated or rough wood

Common fences

You and your neighbour can agree to build a common fence on the property line and to share the construction and maintenance costs. You must then decide jointly of the type of fence to be erected, its height, color, materials, and accessories.

A fence which has been erected on the common property line is deemed to be a common fence which belongs to both neighbours unless the original owner can prove that he alone erected said fence without thereafter agreeing to sharing the fence.

The maintenance, repairs, and reconstruction of any common work is shared by its owners.

Obtain a certificate of authorization

Landscaping

Drainage

The lay out of each property must provide for the drainage of rain, melting snow, or run-off into the public system, and not on adjacent properties. This rule is based on the Quebec Civil Code regulations.

Land embankment

Before filling a lot or raising the level of the land, it is necessary to ensure that drainage from the raised level will not hinder the drainage of adjacent properties. This rule is based on the Quebec Civil Code regulations.

Multi-family or commercial parking

Several standards must be respected when creating a multi-family or commercial parking lot. These relate to the number of stall, dimensions, distances, etc.

Driveway entrances

The City can, at the property owner’s expense, cut a new entrance depression along a curb or sidewalk, or widen the existing depression.

Consult the Zoning By-law

Construction of a main building is authorized by the City of Dorval, with a permit. Prepare your documents and submit your application to the Urban Planning Department. Make sure you have your permit in your possession before you start the work.

Obtain a permit

With some exceptions, regulations prohibit the use of pesticides outside buildings. In cases of infestation, such as to control vermin or prevent the proliferation of spiders or ants, the right to apply pesticides is conditional on obtaining a permit.

It costs $10 for an individual and $25 for a corporation to purchase a permit from the municipality. Such a permit is valid for a maximum of 10 days from the date of issue and comes with a number of strict conditions.

Any person who contravenes this by-law is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine.

Learn more Obtain a permit

A strip of natural vegetation bordering a watercourse. It constitutes a transition zone between the aquatic and the terrestrial environments.

In general, any construction work in the protective shoreline strip is prohibited. However, some types of work may be authorized under certain conditions. Before starting any work, you will need to obtain a permit or a certificate of authorization.

Obtain a certificate of authorization

The construction of a shed, garage, permanent carport, etc., requires a building permit and must comply with very specific standards and guidelines.

Obtain a permit

Dimensions of a garage or carport

• Maximum height: 4.5 metres
• Minimum length: 6 metres
• Minimum width: 3.3 metres
• Maximum surface area : 56 square metres

Dimensions of a garden shed

• Maximum height: 3.7 metres (1 storey)
• Maximum surface area: 19 square metres

The total area of ancillary buildings (detached garage, carport, sheds, greenhouse, gazebo, pool cover) must not exceed 10% of the total area of the land. Furthermore, only one of each type of such buildings is permitted per property.

Obtain a permit

Businesses wishing to post a sign must first obtain a certificate of authorization from the Urban Planning Department.

The zoning by-law states the numerous details that must be respected in terms of commercial signs in Dorval.

Please keep in mind that attaching, gluing or otherwise installing or maintaining posters, notices, banners, streamers, flags, signs, placards or other similar objects on or in sidewalks, streets, parks, properties, buildings, light standards, poles or any other municipal equipment is prohibited.

Signs shall not be installed on roofs, fences or in front of windows or doors, nor block, mask, imitate or hide galleries, balconies, fire escapes or fences. 

Signs shall not be mounted on trees or on structures which have not been erected for the express purpose thereof.

Obtain a certificate of authorization

Authorization is required for any itinerant selling on streets or in public places as well as for door-to-door charitable fund-raising activities.

Any construction project or building expansion of an industrial, commercial, institutional, or residential lot must conceive a plan that controls the storm water on private property by using the method mentioned in the by-law RCM-60G-2016. The same regulations will apply to future parking projects as well as modifications to existing parking lots/establishments.

Lots whose impervious surface is less than one thousand square metres (1,000 m²) are exempted from this by-law. The area refers to the surfaces composed of concrete and asphalt, roofs of buildings, and surfaces where such facilities are provided. Each construction project, when finished, must be subjected to a frequency of rain rate at one in 50 years, and must not add to the water into the sewer network or drainage ditch of the City over the natural maximum flow permitted, which is 10 litres per second per hectare.

The volume required for the retention of stormwater on private property is calculated by using the City designated form.

Consult the form (French only)

The design of rainwater impoundment works shall be done by an engineer who is a member in good standing of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec. The detailed drawing thus prepared must bear the seal and signature of the engineer.

The drawings and the duly completed form prescribed by the City must be submitted along with the building application. The drawings must contain all of the elements noted in Article 42 of the by-law RCM-60F-2016.

Permits and Certificates By-law Building By-law Obtain a permit

A certificate of authorization is required for the installation of an in-ground or above-ground pool. A plan showing the location of the pool and fence on a lot must accompany the request. A pool can be installed in the back or side yard. Furthermore, the following standards must be met for any pool installation.

Fence surrounding an above-ground or in-ground pool

• Minimum height: 1.20 metre
• Maximum height: 1.80 metre

The fences must not have openings of more than 5 centimetres to discourage climbing.

For an above pool, a mini fence installed on the wall could replace a fence at certain conditions.

Pool water

Property owners are responsible for filling their own pool. Because of watering restrictions in Dorval, filling of pools is prohibited between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. throughout the year. However, it is permitted to use water from the drinking water distribution network when a new pool is assembled to maintain the shape of the structure.

Obtain a permit

For information on the requirements for paddling pools, spas, and saunas, please refer to the pamphlet below.

Règlement sur l’administration des réseaux d’eau potable et d’égouts By-law concerning the use of drinking water

The installation of one (1) vertical antenna and one (1) parabolic antenna (dish) of 50 cm in diameter or less is allowed on a property. These antennas must be erected on appropriate supports and located in the backyard or the rear section of the roof. According to the municipal by-law, it is possible to install an antenna on a wall, parapet, balcony, etc., as long as no part of the antenna is visible from the front yard or the side yard adjacent to a street.

The installation of a parabolic antenna larger than 50 cm in diameter on a residential property may be permitted under specific conditions. 

Obtain a certificate of authorization

• Terraces are authorized for restaurants only, from April 1 to October 30, from 8 a.m. to midnight.
• Terraces must be used for meal service only. It is forbidden to prepare food or drinks on a terrace.
• No noise, including music, must carry beyond the property on which the terrace is located.

The work must also be undertaken by a recognized arborist who is registered and approved by the City of Dorval.

List of tree care and felling companies registered with the City

Before felling a tree, you must obtain a certificate of authorization to that effect. Make a request by email at info.tp@ville.dorval.qc.ca or by phone at 514 633-4046.

Security deposit associated with a tree felling request

Aside from ash trees, a $500 refundable deposit is required for any tree-felling request in order to ensure that the cut-down trees are being correctly replaced. This deposit will be refunded once the inspector validates the presence of a new wide-spread tree.

To request a reimbursement of your deposit, you must send an email to greenline@ville.dorval.qc.ca and include the following information:

• Your name and address
• Receipts supporting the purchase of the new tree(s) - The diameter must be greater than 3.5 cm for a deciduous tree and the height greater than 1.75 m for a conifer
• A picture of the tree(s) that has/have been planted

Note that your reimbursement request may be rejected if the replacement tree does not meet the criteria stated in the permit.

Tree pruning on private property requires an authorization certificate and must be carried out by a recognized arborist registered with the City of Dorval.

List of tree care and felling companies registered with the City

Before pruning a tree, you must obtain a certificate of authorization to that effect. Make a request by email at info.tp@ville.dorval.qc.ca or by phone at 514 633-4046.

The City of Dorval requests the cooperation of its citizens to conserve water throughout the year. In that sense, watering restrictions are in effect from June 1 to September 1 of each year, as follows:

By sprinklers or soaker hoses

Watering is permitted from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. (if it does not rain), as follows:

• Even-numbered civic address: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Odd-numbered civic address: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday

By automatic sprinkler systems

• Must be equipped, among others, with an automatic humidity sensor
• Must be programmed between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., as follows:
  • Even-numbered civic address: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
  • Odd-numbered civic address: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday

Exceptions et restrictions

• Manuel watering of gardens, flowers, trees, and shrubs, using a hose fitted with a self-closing nozzle, is permitted at all times.
• The watering of a newly installed lawn, of a new tree, or of new landscaping is permitted daily during the 15 days following installation, planting, or landscaping, after obtaining a permit, free of charge, from the Urban Planning Department. It is possible to apply through the City's Online Requests portal. Once you have completed the steps, you will receive your permit by email.  

Those who contravene these restrictions could receive a fine of up to $1,000 in a residential area and a fine of up to $2,000 in a commercial area.

The rest of the year, common sense and respect for water, a precious resource, must dictate your actions. In Dorval, like everywhere else, much water is wasted on excessive watering and evaporation. Lawns and gardens need water, but less than one would think. Generally, they need 2 to 3 centimetres of water per week in order to develop deep roots.

It is also wise to use a broom to clean the driveway or the sidewalk rather than spraying it down with water. This saves hundreds of litres of water each time.

Obtain a certificate of authorization

Consult the integral version of the by-law concerning potable water use

Temporary snow shelters are permitted between November 1 and April 15.

An annual certificate of authorization must first be obtained at a cost of $20.

Here are different ways to proceed:

1. Online services: Access the Online Requests portal which allows you to submit an application, pay the fees online and follow the progress of a pending application, without having to go anywhere. Once you have completed the required steps, you will receive your certificate by email.
   
   Permit request
   
   
2. By email: Send the completed application form to permis@ville.dorval.qc.ca. Payment may be made by credit card by calling 514 633-4040 or in person at the reception desk at City Hall (60 Martin Avenue) using one of the following methods: cheque, credit, debit, or cash.
   
   Application form
   
   
3. In person: Bring the completed application form to the Urban Planning offices on the first floor of City Hall (60 Martin Avenue). Payment may be made directly at the main reception desk at City Hall using one of the following methods: cheque, credit, debit or cash.
   
   Application form

As a general rule, the shelter must comply with a set of standards, the most important of which are as follows:

• Serve a residence with one or two housing units only
• Be installed in the main driveway
• Be no less than 3 m from the edge of the asphalt in the case of a sidewalk or curb. However, in the case of a curb, this distance may be reduced to 1.50 m if the shelter has a transparent plastic sheet on the sides closest to the street, in order to ensure that the vehicle can safely back out
• Be at least 1.5 metre from the ditch
• Be located at least 9 metres from an intersection
• Be at least 0.60 metre from a lateral property line
• Be made of tubular steel covered with translucent white fireproof plastic of recognized industrial quality
• Not exceed the height of the building’s first storey

Only one shelter per property is permitted, and its door must be attached at all times.