Commercial roofing in Sainte-Rose

A mix the City describes itself

In its land use plan, the City writes that in Sainte-Rose, plexes stand alongside traditional Canadian houses as well as apartment towers. Its Politique de l'habitation (housing policy) places the area among the older neighbourhoods where plexes and mixed-use buildings are found in a higher share.

Along boulevard Sainte-Rose, the City lists nearly 200 buildings of interest.

The village of Sainte-Rose is also a territory of heritage interest under the Code de l'urbanisme (Laval's urban planning code). A project for roofing in Sainte-Rose does not follow the same path from one address to the next.

In the heritage territory

The PIIA rule refers to the principal building. In a territory of heritage interest, changing the roofing materials of a principal building may require a PIIA (site planning and architectural integration program). The Code exempts replacement with the same material of a similar colour, replacement with a material that preserves or restores the original or traditional characteristics, and renovation work on a flat roof.

The City decides. The City's Info-règlements tool shows whether special provisions apply to the address.

The flat roof of a business

Article 380 of the Code covers principal and accessory buildings with a flat roof. It requires a green or white covering, or one with a solar reflectance index of at least 78. The Code does not say what applies to an existing roof redone identically, and the question deserves a written answer from the City before the call for quotes.

Buildings over three storeys

Under article 141 of the Code, when a building has more than three storeys, more than 250 m² of roof and a flat roof, the roof structure must be designed to carry an extensive green roof. The article includes exceptions.

Article 141 deals with the design of the structure, not the covering. For an existing building of this size where only the covering is redone, ask the City.

What the City publishes, and what it does not

The rule of same material, no permit comes from the City's page on residential renovation. Nothing allows it to be extended to a business.

For commercial buildings, the City has a page on renovating and fitting out a commercial space. There, the City requires a construction-improvement permit before altering or fitting out a unit, and lists fees of $172 for the first $5,000 of work, plus $6.10 per $1,000 or part of $1,000. This page does not mention roofing.

Before roof work on a commercial building, ask the Service de l'urbanisme (urban planning department) whether a permit applies and at what rate.

Getting quotes on the same basis

Without going up on the roof, gather for the roofers:

• the year of the last replacement, if you know it
• repair invoices and inspection reports
• the list of reported leaks, with the unit affected
• the City's answer on the PIIA and on the permit

Frequently asked questions