Summary#
Montréal city council unanimously adopted a position in favour of adopting the Plateau-Mont-Royal part of the Montréal agglomeration’s inventory of heritage buildings built before 1940, under the Loi sur le patrimoine culturel (Cultural Heritage Act). This decision sets Montréal’s position; the agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting. City staff say the inventory is intended to meet a legal requirement and is being adopted in parts because of its size.
- The proposed inventory part covers 12,260 buildings in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough that were selected for heritage value.
- If adopted, those buildings would be treated as heritage buildings under the Loi sur l’aménagement et l’urbanisme and subject to special provisions in the borough’s demolition bylaw and the city’s building occupancy and maintenance bylaw.
- The city coordinates the inventory for the whole agglomeration. Staff say further parts will be brought forward as they are completed.
What it means for you#
- Property owners in Plateau-Mont-Royal: This city council decision alone does not add buildings to the inventory. If the agglomeration adopts this part, buildings on its list would be subject to the special bylaw provisions staff identify. The materials do not set out the specific requirements for owners.
- Residents and taxpayers: The decision does not create a new service, fee, tax, or grant for residents.
- City government: The city is coordinating the wider inventory, which staff say must be completed by April 1, 2026.
Money#
The inventory work was funded through an agreement between the Québec government and the City of Montréal; no separate cost for this part is given.
- The agreement provides for up to $5,000,000 in Québec funding and an equal city contribution. The materials do not say how much has been spent on the Plateau-Mont-Royal part.
What is unclear#
- The property-by-property list is described as attached to the decision file, but it is not included in the supplied materials.
- The materials do not explain what the special demolition and building-occupancy rules require for an individual listed property.
- Staff say inventory details are expected to be published as open data, but give no publication date.
Case for#
- City staff say the law requires an inventory of heritage-value buildings built before 1940 by April 1, 2026.
- Staff estimate there are about 100,000 such buildings across the agglomeration. Dividing the inventory into parts allows completed areas to be considered separately.
- The inventory is intended to identify heritage-value buildings and make detailed information about them available.
Case against#
- If adopted, the inventory would bring 12,260 buildings under special bylaw provisions, but the materials do not explain the specific effects on owners.
- The property list is not included here, so readers cannot tell which buildings are covered from the supplied materials.