Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted an orientation on the decision titled Adopter la partie de l'inventaire des immeubles patrimoniaux construits avant 1940 de l'agglomération de Montréal visant le territoire de l'arrondissement de Verdun (Adopt the part of Montréal’s pre-1940 heritage-building inventory covering Verdun). It supports adopting an inventory of 4,026 buildings in Verdun under Quebec’s Cultural Heritage Act; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. The stated goal is to meet the legal requirement to inventory heritage-value buildings built before 1940.
- This is one part of a larger agglomeration-wide inventory, which city staff say is being adopted in stages.
- If adopted, the listed buildings would be considered heritage properties under Quebec’s land-use planning law.
- Listed buildings may be subject to special rules under municipal bylaws on demolition and on the occupancy and upkeep of buildings.
What it means for you#
- Owners of the 4,026 listed buildings: The inventory could bring your building within the scope of special rules under the municipal bylaws described above. The decision does not itself set out what those rules require or prohibit.
- Other Verdun property owners and residents: The decision covers the listed buildings, not every building built before 1940.
- People interested in the inventory: City staff say detailed building information is on the City’s heritage division platform and is planned for publication as open data.
Money#
The Verdun inventory was funded through an agreement with Quebec’s Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCC), but the cost of this part alone is not stated.
- The agreement provides for up to $5,000,000 in MCC funding and an equal contribution from the City for the agglomeration-wide inventory.
- The materials do not give the amount spent on Verdun’s inventory or any further cost to owners.
What is unclear#
- The materials do not explain which specific protections or requirements would apply to each listed building.
- They do not describe an owner-notification, review, objection, or appeal process.
- The materials do not say when the detailed building information will be published as open data.
Case for#
- City staff say the inventory is required by law, with a deadline of April 1, 2026.
- Staff estimate that about 90,000 buildings across the agglomeration may be in scope. Adopting the inventory in parts allows completed areas, including Verdun, to be dealt with separately.
- An inventory may help identify heritage buildings for the purpose of applying existing municipal rules.
Case against#
- A listed building may face special demolition or building-occupancy and maintenance rules, but the materials do not explain exactly how those rules would affect owners.
- The inventory identifies buildings as heritage properties, but the materials do not explain how owners can question a listing or correct building information.
- The full inventory is being completed in stages; until it is complete, the materials do not show which other buildings across the agglomeration may be included.