A neighbourhood of low houses
The portrait comes from the City's land use plan, which also notes multi-family buildings along boulevard Dagenais Ouest. In its Politique de l'habitation (housing policy), the City refers to the bungalows of Fabreville.
These documents describe houses, without saying what roofs they have or how much snow those roofs get. The permit rules are explained on the page roofing in Fabreville. As for snow, the caution required here is the same as for the whole City of Laval.
A low roof is not a safe roof
The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ, Quebec's building authority) describes roof snow removal as a risky operation, both for those on the roof and for those moving around it. Height is only part of the problem. Three dangers do not depend on the number of storeys.
Slipping. According to the CNESST (Quebec's workplace health and safety board), grip is not guaranteed on a snowy or icy surface. A foot set on the slope can send a slab of snow sliding. The person falls, or ends up buried.
Power lines. Besides falls, the Régie asks that the nearness of electrical installations be considered. Hydro-Québec sets the distance: no person, no tool, no material within three metres of medium-voltage lines.
What the snow covers. After a snowfall, a skylight or a damaged part of the roof can no longer be seen. That is why the CNESST, in its method for flat roofs, asks snow removal workers to take an inventory of them before the winter season.
What you do, feet on the ground
The Régie considers only one case where owners handle it themselves, and that is from the ground. In the same passage, it lists the risks, including falls and electrical installations, and sees each of them as a reason to call on specialists.
Your part is limited to observing. Walk around the house and look at the roof edge. Take photos. Inside, check whether a door has started to rub or a crack has appeared.
How the work is done
The CNESST distinguishes three ways of working: from the ground, from a lifting device fitted with guardrails, or directly on the roof. On a sloped roof, it makes the third one a last resort.
If your house has a sloped roof, expect the work to be done from below first. A little snow will also remain: the Régie recommends leaving a thin layer so as not to damage the covering.
Your quote request
Your request reaches us through the site's form. Write down what you saw from the ground, the number of storeys and whether there are power lines near the roof. Keep your photos for our visit.
Frequently asked questions
My house has only one storey. Can I go up a ladder?
No. The dangers that the CNESST and the Régie describe, namely slipping, power lines and what the snow hides, exist at any height. Stay on the ground and leave the work to a company.
At what depth should I worry?
None of the sources on this page gives a depth limit. The Régie relies on signs indoors: cracks, doors that stick, unusual creaking, a ceiling that deforms. If these signs are numerous, the Régie asks that the building be evacuated and the snow removed.
I hear the frame creaking. Do I call a roofer?
Not first. If the creaking keeps coming back or the ceiling sags, leave the building with all occupants and call 911. A structural engineer then assesses the frame. The snow removal is planned afterward, with the quote.
Official sources, consulted on October 8, 2026: