Permits and certificates

Additional intergenerational apartments are permitted in all zones according to specific provisions in the zoning by-law. An application for a renovation permit is required.

Only one additional dwelling is authorized per residence and may not exceed 80% of the area of the floor on which it is located without exceeding 150 square meters. It may also be spread over several floors. The separate entrance must be located on the side or rear of the building and a door or interior common area must communicate permanently with the main dwelling unit.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

Additional bachelor units are permitted in all zones according to specific provisions in the zoning by-law. An application for a renovation permit is required.

Only one additional dwelling is authorized per residence and must be located in the basement. It may not exceed 80% of the floor area of the building, but may not exceed 65 square meters and have only one bedroom. The separate entrance must be located on the side or rear of the building and no interior door must communicate with the main dwelling unit.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

The construction of an attached garage must comply with the provisions of the zone in which the building will be located. An application for an accessory building permit of 15 m² or more is required for this type of construction.

The width and height of the building cannot exceed that of the residence. The regulatory provisions applicable to the attached garage are in the zoning by-law and in the Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program (SPAIP) by-law.

For specific details and applicable exceptions, you can consult the Attached Garage brochure (french only).

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

To proceed with the installation of a permanent attached or detached carport, you must complete and sign an application for an accessory building permit of 15 m² or more.

Note that permanent carports are permitted in accordance with the following provisions:

• Attached: authorized in all yards with a possible encroachment of five (5) meters in the lateral and rear margins;
• Detached: authorized in all yards, at a minimum distance of five (5) meters from the property lines.

A single carport is authorized per property, with a maximum area of 60 m². No entrance door shall close off the building, unless authorized between October 1 and May 1 or before.

• It is prohibited to have an attached permanent carport if the residence already has an attached garage;
• It is prohibited to have a permanent carport attached to an accessory building, other than a detached garage.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

Backfill / excavation work requires an application for a certificate of authorization. Any work that will modify the natural topography of the ground must first be inspected by the Urban Planning and Environment Department. The building inspector will visit your property to validate the conformity of the work you wish to do.

Additional specific provisions are applicable, it is preferable to consult the brochure (French only) before completing and signing an application for a certificate of authorization backfill / excavation.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Isabelle Bouchard, Environment Inspector
ibouchard@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2613

To change or modify the use of your property, fill out the application for a certificate of authorization for change or addition of use. Be sure to attach all relevant documents.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

In addition, if construction work is required, an application for a construction and accessory permit must also be submitted.

Obtaining a certificate of authorization for permanent or temporary occupancy is necessary in order to validate the conformity of the use you make of a building, in relation to the zoning plan and regulations. A non-conformity can lead to a modification of your operations and even the relocation of your business.

For any information or to transmit a request, contact:

David Roy, Planning and Environment Advisor 
droy@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2607

Important
Please note that the application for a construction accessory permit will only be processed once all the required documents have been submitted in accordance with the urban planning regulations.

Do not begin work before obtaining a permit (which must be visibly displayed on your property) or the Municipality will issue a statement of offence.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

A declaration of work is provided when it is not mandatory to obtain a permit, but the Municipality must still be notified.

Notably, minor interior renovations that do not modify the structure and exterior appearance, renovation of the roof when the materials used are identical, replacement of doors and windows, repair of a dock or repair of a balcony, as long as there is no change in dimensions.

For information regarding a declaration of work or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

*as of May 1, 2023, the declarations of work will be free

It is mandatory to obtain a certificate of authorization for the complete or partial demolition of a building. In order to ensure that you have your certificate in hand on the date you plan to start your work, we recommend that you complete and submit the application for a certificate of authorization for demolition as soon as possible.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

The construction of an detached garage must comply with the provisions of the zone in which the building will be located. An application for an accessory building permit of 15 m² or more is required for this type of construction.

The regulatory provisions applicable to the detached garage are in the zoning by-law and in the Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program (SPAIP) by-law.

For specific details and applicable exceptions, you can consult the detached garage brochure (french only).

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

Docks on stilts, piles or made of floating platforms must meet the following conditions:

• Only one dock is authorized per property;
• Any construction must be located at a minimum distance of five (5) metres from the lateral lot lines;
• The authorized surface area is limited to 20 square metres and includes removable and fixed parts;
• The part attached to the shoreline must not exceed two (2) metres in width over a distance of two (2) metres towards the center of the water;
• Limitingly, the following materials may be used for the construction:
  • Natural wood
  • Plastic
  • Polystyrene, but only if the material is protected by a resistant envelope
• The use of metal barrels or materials that can degrade, such as white polystyrene, is prohibited as floats;
• No products containing chromated copper arsenate, creosote or pentaclorophenol are permitted;
• The use of preservatives approved by Health Canada (except treated wood) is permitted, but must be treated in a location away from the water body;
• No construction may be erected on a dock with the exception of the structure necessary for the construction of a boat shelter with a maximum surface area of 25 square metres. Garden furniture may be placed there.

You must complete and sign an application for a certificate of authorization work in a wetland and aquatic environment. This certificate of authorization is issued by the Urban Planning and Environment Department.

To submit a request or for any information concerning the installation of a dock, a landing stage or a boat shelter, contact:

Isabelle Bouchard, Environment Inspector
ibouchard@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2613

Before undertaking any addition to your home, it is very important to complete and sign an application for an extension permit if the work you are planning requires it. Work done without a permit can result in significant costs and unfortunate consequences.

For information regarding extension work or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

To proceed with tree cutting, you must complete and sign an application for a certificate of authorization to felling of tree(s). This application is free of charge and is intended to assure the Municipality that the regulations are respected.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of reasons for tree felling:

• The tree to be felled is dead, sick or suffering from an incurable disease;
• The tree to be felled is dangerous to the safety or health of persons or constitutes a danger to public or private property;
• It is a gardening or sanitation cut;
• The tree is a nuisance to the growth or well-being of neighbouring trees;
• The tree must be felled in the course of public works or for soil testing;
• The tree must be felled for construction work authorized by the municipality;
• The tree to be felled is located less than ten (10) meters from a main building, less than two (2) meters from an accessory building or a sanitary installation.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Isabelle Bouchard, Environment Inspector
ibouchard@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2613

No permit is required. However, specific provisions set out in the zoning by-law are applicable to the installation of fences and walls.

The installation of fences and low walls must respect the following provisions:

• In the front yard: at a minimum distance of 60 cm from the roads right-of-way and a maximum height of 1.2 m;
• In the side and back yard: allowed at a maximum height of 2 meters.

The prohibited materials for fences are barbed wire, chicken spindle, sheet metal and chain.

If the site is located at an intersection, if the wall has an additional height of 1.5 m, or for specific details and exceptions, contact the Town Planning and Environment Service.

The firewood being used for a dwelling must be stacked at all times, with a maximum height of 1.8 m.

The firewood shelter may have a surface area of 22 m² and its height is limited to three (3) metres. This structure is not considered a shed unless it is enclosed on all four sides.

To proceed with the installation of a firewood shelter, you must complete and sign an application for an accessory building permit of 15 m² or more.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

Anyone wishing to have a garage sale must first obtain an authorization issued free of charge by the Urban Planning Department. Please note that garage sales are permitted twice a year over a period of four consecutive days each, namely:

• National Patriots’ Day weekend;
• Labour Day weekend.

For any information concerning garage sales or to submit an certificate of authorization for permanent or temporary occupancy, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

A certificate of authorization is required for any work related to a groundwater withdrawal installation.

For information or to submit an application for a certificate of authorization for a groundwater withdrawal installation, contact:

Isabelle Bouchard, Environment Inspector
ibouchard@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2613

The minor derogation is an exceptional procedure to authorize or regularize work that does not comply with the regulations in force.

All requests for minor derogations are first analyzed by the Urban Planning and Environement Councilor, who will verify their admissibility and make a preliminary analysis, before submitting them to the Planning Advisory Committee (PCA). In turn, the PAC will make a detailed analysis at its monthly meeting and make a recommendation to the Municipal Council.

The Municipal Council will consider the recommendations of the PAC, issue a public notice, and then pass a resolution to approve or deny the application.

For more information or to submit a request for a minor derogation, contact:

David Roy, Planning and Environment Advisor 
droy@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2607

For any new construction, we ask you to fill out the application for a habitation permit, to read the municipal regulations in force, to attach the requested documents, and to submit the whole to the Urban Planning and Environment Department.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

David Roy, Planning and Environment Advisor 
droy@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2607

We wish to advise the population that it is forbidden for anyone to peddle on the territory of the Municipality of Mille-Isles unless they obtain an authorization issued by the Urban Planning Department.

For information regarding peddling or to submit an application for a certificate of authorization for permanent or temporary occupancy, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

If you believe you are a victim of a scam and the peddler does not have a certificate of authorization, it is important to inform the Sûreté du Québec at 450-562-2442.

It is your responsibility to complete the work within the time period specified in the authorization. If you have exceeded the validity period and the work has not been completed, the permit or certificate of authorization in question will be cancelled and you will automatically be in violation.

However, it is possible to renew your old application by completing a renewal application.

Contact the Urban Planning and Environment Department for specific details and applicable exceptions.

A application for a renovation permit is necessary when the work modifies the structure, the exterior appearance of the building and also if it concerns an element subject to the National Building Code.

It should be noted that the standards prescribed in the 2005 National Building Code apply to work done as part of a renovation.

For any information concerning a renovation permit or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

A permit or certificate must always be requested by the owner. If you are not the owner, complete the proxy form and have it signed by the latter.

It is mandatory to obtain a certificate of authorization to relocate a building. In order to ensure that you have your certificate in hand by the due date, we recommend that you complete and submit the application for a certificate of authorization to relocate a building as soon as possible.

For more information or to submit an application, please contact

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

It should be noted that any construction of a new sanitary installation or modification of an existing installation requires an authorization issued by the Municipality. To do so, you must fill out the application for a certificate of authorization for a septic system and send it to the Urban Planning and Environment Department.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Isabelle Bouchard, Environment Inspector
ibouchard@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2613

* For an advanced secondary treatment system (Bionest, Ecoflo, Ecobox, Enviro-Septic®), you must provide a copy of the maintenance contract, as the owner must be bound at all times by contract with the system manufacturer, his representative or a qualified third party to service the system.

Important information

Setbacks are the minimum distance from any property line or road right-of-way. These setbacks can be found in the specification grids applicable to the area in question. Unless otherwise specified in the Zoning By-law, no construction or development is permitted within the setbacks.

A permit must be obtained from the Planning and Environment Department for the construction or installation of a shed. Specific provisions apply, so it is preferable to consult the zoning by-law (french only) and the Shed brochure (french only) before submitting a request.

For more information or to submit an application for an accessory building permit of 15 m² or more, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

It is necessary to apply for and obtain an application for a certificate of authorization work in a wetland and aquatic environment before proceeding with any work.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Isabelle Bouchard, Environment Inspector
ibouchard@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2613

All signage is governed by the zoning by-law and the Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program (SPAIP) by-law. Special provisions for this type of construction are applicable.

To proceed with the installation or modification of a sign, you must complete and sign an application for a certificate of authorization for a sign.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

David Roy, Planning and Environment Advisor 
droy@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2607

Special provisions are applicable for in-ground or above-ground pools and are included in the zoning by-law. An application for a certificate of authorization for the installation of a pool or hot tub is mandatory.

Swimming pools are authorized in side and rear yards, at a minimum distance of five (5) metres from property lines, fifteen (15) metres from the riparian protection strip of a lake, watercourse or wetland. They are however prohibited under an electrical wire or on a sanitary system. In addition, the pool and accessories must not exceed 33.3% of the surface area of the property.

An in-ground pool must be protected by a safety enclosure (a hedge cannot replace an enclosure) of a minimum height of 1.2 m. The enclosure must not be openworked to allow climbing.

An above-ground pool must also be protected by a safety enclosure (a hedge is not a substitute for an enclosure) where the enclosure is less than 1.2 m high. If the pool is accessible from a porch attached to the house or deck, the pool access must be protected by a compliant enclosure.

Additional special provisions apply and it is best to consult the Swimming Pool brochure (French only) or contact the Planning and Environment Department.

Click here (in French only) for a summary of the standards of the Quebec government’s residential pool safety regulation.

For more information or to submit an application, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

The provisions for tourist home rentals are found in the zoning by-law. A certificate of authorization is required for this use. To know if the use is authorized or prohibited, you must refer to the specifications grid of the zone where the property is located.

This is a repeated short-term rental of 4 months or less. The number of bedrooms is limited to 6 and the number of parking spaces is limited to 4. The lot must have a minimum area of 15,000 square meters. A 15 meters wide buffer green space from the property lines must be maintained.
A visit to the property and the interior of the residence will be mandatory for the permit to be issued.

For more information or to submit an application for a certificate of authorization for change or addition of use, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

The provisions relating to verandas and solariums are found in the Zoning By-law. They must be part of the building and the maximum area of the building is 30 square meters.

When used for 3 seasons, they can rest on piles, on a gallery or a balcony. In this case, the exterior cladding of the residence must be kept on the exterior wall of the building, a door must separate the interior of the residence to the veranda or solarium and this construction must not be insulated. An application for an accessory building permit of 15 m² or more must be completed and signed.

When used for 4 seasons, the veranda or solarium must rest on a foundation connected to that of the residence and be insulated. In this case, the exterior siding of the residence must be removed and the building will be considered within the area of the residence. A certificate of location will be required, as this is an extension of the residence. An application for an extension permit must be completed and signed.

For more information or to submit a request, contact:

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608

Important information

A visibility triangle is a space located on a corner lot at the intersection of two paths. It makes it possible to secure an intersection by limiting the use that can be made of it. The visibility triangle is six (6) meters wide, along the two paths, then connected by an imaginary line.

Inside this triangle are prohibited:

• A construction more than one (1) meter high, with the exception of a sign with a ground clearance of more than two (2) meters;
• A parking space;
• Plants more than 60 cm high.

A maximum of two winter carports is permitted from October 1 to May 1 of the following year.

Please also note that a minimum distance of two (2) metres must be maintained between the shelter and any lot line. The structure must also not be located in the road right-of-way, but must be erected on a parking space. In addition, the structure shall be constructed of industrially manufactured tubular metal framing and covered with no more than two (2) non-rigid materials.

No permit required.

To establish a professional office or business center at home, several conditions must be met.
Please note that the additional permitted uses are indicated in the specification grids of the zone where the property is located. For residential uses, only one additional use is permitted, other than “additional dwelling unit” or “farmhouse and agricultural”. There are other exceptions.

However, you must obtain a certificate of authorization for change or addition of use to your home before you can set up a professional office or business center in your home.

Additional special provisions apply and it is advisable to contact the Building Inspector prior to submitting the permit application.

Marcel Germain, Building Inspector
mgermain@mille-isles.ca
450-438-2958, Ext. 2608