General Information

The guidelines entitled “Building and Renovating in Westmount” form an integral part of the by-law on Site Planning and Architectural Integration Programmes. These guidelines are applied by the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) when reviewing any projects where the proposed work affects the exterior of a building or for construction of all new buildings. 

The PAC plays an important role in preserving Westmount’s heritage, and bases their recommendation to City Council on the guidelines. The property owner and their professional should first establish what is the architectural and heritage significance of a building by consulting Guideline 1 in order to determine the type of interventions acceptable based on its category.

0. Obtaining a Building Permit

1. Introduction to Guidelines

2. Exterior Walls

3. Roofs

4. Windows and Doors

5. New Buildings, Major Modifications and Additions

6. Landscape Design

7. Storefront and Signage

8. Glen Yards

9. Large sites of institutional character and places of worship of heritage interest

Category 1* Properties

The following documents apply to Category 1* Properties:

• Heritage Character Defining Elements: Category 1* Buildings, City of Westmount
• Conservation Strategy: Requirements when intervening on Category 1* Properties

The Urban Planning Department frequently receives calls from residents concerned about construction work being carried out at their neighbour's property. The City is also sometimes asked to intervene in civil disputes involving contractors, construction teams, property owners, and their neighbours. These disputes can lead to delays in the work, additional costs, or even notices of violation, fines, or stop-work orders. We are aware that construction projects can cause temporary inconveniences. Therefore, we encourage you to be courteous and cooperate with your neighbours to minimize disruptions.

Being a good neighbour when carrying out work can save you time and money.

• Inform your neighbours ahead of time about your upcoming project. Your thoughtfulness will go a long way in creating goodwill and making everyone’s work easier.
• Take all measures to prevent damage to your neighbour’s property and to mitigate dust.
• Inform the owners of adjacent properties before excavating near property lines, especially if a neighbour’s tree, its overhanging limbs, tree roots, fencing or any other vegetation or structures are nearby.
• Let all your neighbours on the street know ahead of time when the road will be blocked by excavation equipment, concrete trucks, delivery trucks or other construction equipment.

Sometimes the branches or roots of a tree on your land can extend onto a neighbour’s property, causing major problems. In this case, the neighbour may ask you to cut back the branches or roots. If one of your trees seems likely to fall onto the neighbour’s property, the neighbour may ask you to cut the tree down or shore it up.

When planting trees on your property, make sure they are at a good distance from the dividing line between two properties. You must also avoid placing

them where they may damage electrical or telephone lines or underground cables or pipes once they are fully grown.

Excerpt from the “Being a good neighbour” publication produced by the Ministère de la Justice du Québec

You must allow neighbours access to your property to carry out construction, repair or maintenance work on their own property. However, they must give you spoken or written notice, and must repair any damage caused in order to restore your property to its original condition.

Excerpt from the “Being a good neighbour” publication produced by the Ministère de la Justice du Québec

Construction materials and storage of debris

Construction materials and storage of debris should not encroach on the neighbour’s property and if possible, not be visible from the public way. The general contractor’s safety program should be posted and subcontractors made aware of its requirements.

Portable toilets

Portable toilets should be placed at the side or back of the property, if possible, not be visible from the public way and should be used.

Parking regulations

Parking regulations must be respected by workers. Construction vehicles should not be parked on the lawn. Permission must be obtained from owners to park on adjacent properties or driveways.

Worksite cleanliness

Ensure the worksite is left neat and tidy at the end of each work day hosing down any dust or mud that may have accumulated.

Refuse bins and dumpsters

Refuse bins and dumpsters should be emptied and removed in a timely fashion. Light and loose material should be weighted down. Construction materials must not be stored on the sidewalk or street.

Occupation of public domain

An authorisation certificate issued by the City's Engineering Department is required to occupy a City street or any other municipal property with construction equipment. This restriction includes debris containers, cranes, and any other similar type of equipment.

Dangerous material

Any potentially dangerous material must be disposed through a chute into a refuse bin and should also not be left lying on the site.

Construction hours

City by-laws that restrict construction hours must be respected.

Construction equipment

Construction equipment is not to be parked overnight on the street unless special permission is obtained from the Public Security Department.

Clearing sidewalks of snow in winter

During winter, snow must be removed from sidewalks adjacent to the construction site.

The following works do not require a permit or certificate. However, the standards written in the regulations still apply.

• Exterior and interior painting
• Repointing masonry
• Re-surfacing asphalt on a flat roof (white roofs are not required)

Generally speaking, if your project affects the exterior of the property, it is subject to the Site Planning and Architectural Integration Programme (SPAIP) by-law and must be approved by City Council. However, restoration work on the original architectural components and identical replacement work are excluded. Article 3.1.3 of SPAIP By-law 1305.

Process of an application subject to the SPAIP by-law

• Site inspections will be carried out by inspectors from the Urban Planning Department to ensure that the regulations in force are respected and that the work undertaken does not deviate from the approved plans. 
• Following the final inspection, the permit or certificate file will be closed.
• If modifications need to be made to the work authorised by City Council, they must be submitted for review to authorize the revisions.

Generally, the law does not require an architect (Architects Act, Chapter A-21) for the construction, expansion, reconstruction, renovation, or transformation of the following buildings :

• A detached single-family dwelling unit having, after the work is completed, no more than one basement storey, a building height not exceeding two storeys and a gross area of less than 600 m2;
• A single-family semi-detached or attached building, or a multi-family building (4 units maximum) that has a maximum height of 2 storeys and a maximum gross area of 300 m² (areas above ground, from exterior face of walls).

An architect is not required for the alteration and renovation of the interior layout if the occupancy remains unchanged and no modifications are made to the structure, the fire separations or the exterior cladding (envelope) or exits or access to the building’s exits.

Note: The number of basements and the use may have some impact on the above requirements.

Before 1980

Many homes built before 1980 contain asbestos: in old floor tiles, ceiling tiles, roof shingles and flashing, siding, insulation (around boilers, ducts, pipes, sheeting, fireplaces), pipe cement, and joint compound used on seams between pieces of sheet rock.

After 1980

For the purposes of this subdivision, gypsum boards and joint compounds manufactured after 1 January 1980 are deemed not to contain asbestos.

Learn more about asbestos