Applying for a permit

Whether you’re an individual looking to carry out residential construction work, or a company looking to operate a business, we’re here to help!

While many questions can be answered with the help of the guides, sample letters and forms in our legal toolkit, an independent jurist affiliated with PSP Legal will always be happy to help you by answering any questions you may have.

• Online

• By phone

• In person

Of course, if you prefer to have an experienced practitioner take charge of your situation and intervene directly and quickly on your behalf, you can also request that one of the independent jurists affiliated with PSP Legal represent you by clicking here.

Information on current standards

First of all, under sections 119 to 122 of the Act respecting land use planning and development, each municipality has the power to determine, by by-law, the terms and conditions under which certain activities may be carried out, including conditions related to the issuance of permits.

Before undertaking any project, it’s essential to find out whether a permit is required, based on current standards. These standards may differ from one municipality to another. Quebec City, for example, offers a number of useful tools to help you determine whether a permit is required.

• The Permit Assistant is an information and support tool that provides information on the need for a permit. By entering a few details, such as address, type of permit, nature of work, etc., the tool tells you whether you need a permit or a certificate of authorization.
• The PerLe service is also an interesting tool, especially for businesses, as it provides a directory of all the permits and licenses required by the Quebec, federal and municipal governments to operate a business.
• It may also be useful to consult the directory of files, with its documents and technical sheets containing information on the standards to be met, depending on the type of project envisaged.

Finally, before going ahead with a project, it may be a good idea to find out about specific situations that may require additional regulations. For example, if you wish to carry out work on land bordering a river or watercourse, you will be subject to the Interim Control By-law. Another example of such special regulations is when a business or property is located in Old Quebec or another historic district. Permits for projects in such areas are subject to approval by the Commission d’urbanisme et de conservation de Québec, whose mission is to ensure the architectural appearance and symmetry of buildings in these historic sectors of Quebec City.

Preparing your request

If, as a result of your research, a permit is required for the type of project you wish to undertake, it is important to prepare your permit application before submitting it to the municipality. If your project is located in Quebec City, for example, you can consult the Permits and Certificates of Authorization section of its website. On this page, you’ll find all the forms you may need to fill out. The documents that must accompany a permit application will be listed in the card index. It’s important to gather all the necessary documents before submitting a permit application to the municipality.

Here is an example of the documents to be submitted when applying for a building permit from Quebec City:

• Construction plans;

• Specifications, including materials used;

• Projected site plan;

• As well as other documents listed in the file directory.

Submitting and processing the permit application

Once you’ve completed the permit application form and gathered all the required documents, you can submit your permit application to the municipality. There are generally two ways to do this:

• Online application: In most municipalities, you can submit the form and required documents online. For example, Quebec City allows citizens to apply for a permit, submit new documents or request a change to an existing permit directly on its website, via its online filing site.
• In-person application: You can also visit one of the municipality’s borough offices. The location of borough offices can usually be found on the municipality’s website. When applying in person, it’s best to provide the permit application form and accompanying documents in digital format, on a USB key for example.

Once your application has been submitted to the municipality, one of its employees will take charge of your file and contact you, in particular to confirm that your permit application is complete or to tell you what you need to do to finalize your file. You will be asked to pay certain administrative fees. Generally speaking, if the project meets the conditions set out in the regulations, the permit will be issued a few days after the application is submitted.

How we can help

Our legal toolkit includes a variety of online resources and links to templates and guides to help you better understand your obligations.

However, should the Legal Toolkit prove insufficient in your situation, you can obtain additional assistance by speaking with one of PSP Legal’s affiliated jurists:

• Online

• On the phone

• In person

Of course, if you prefer to have an experienced practitioner handle your situation, you can always request that one of the independent jurists affiliated with PSP Legal intervene on your behalf by clicking here. He or she will then be able to intervene directly and rapidly on your behalf by:

• Preparing, negotiating and drafting applications, procedures or any other legal documents related to your situation;
• Assisting and advising you on your legal rights and obligations;
• Representing you before the courts when legal action is taken;
• Guiding you through the choices available to you, leading to a fair and satisfactory solution.

PSP Legal, because you deserve expert advice!