Heritage Inventory Rules for Pre-1940 Buildings

Summary#

Under the official title Adopter la partie de l'inventaire des immeubles patrimoniaux construits avant 1940 de l'agglomération de Montréal visant le territoire de l'arrondissement d'Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Montréal city council unanimously approved the city’s position that the agglomeration council adopt an inventory of 1,513 buildings in Ahuntsic-Cartierville. This is an orientation on an inventory under Quebec’s Cultural Heritage Act; it does not itself add the buildings to the inventory. The stated goal is to meet the Act’s requirement to inventory qualifying buildings built before 1940.

  • The agglomeration council makes the final decision at a later meeting.
  • If adopted, the listed buildings would be treated as heritage buildings under the Act respecting land use planning and development.
  • City staff say those buildings would then be subject to special provisions in Ahuntsic-Cartierville’s demolition bylaw and Montréal’s bylaw on building occupancy and maintenance.

What it means for you#

  • Owners of listed buildings: If the inventory is adopted, special rules under the two bylaws would apply. The material does not explain the specific requirements or how they would affect particular properties.
  • Other residents: This decision does not itself change ownership or set out a new tax, fee, or front-line service.

Money#

The inventory work is funded under an existing agreement between Montréal and Quebec’s Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCC); no cost for this Ahuntsic-Cartierville portion is given.

  • The agreement provides for up to $5,000,000 from the MCC and an equal contribution from the City for the agglomeration-wide inventory.
  • The materials do not say how much has been spent or what share was used for these 1,513 buildings.

What is unclear#

  • The property list is referred to as attached to the decision file, but it is not included in the materials provided.
  • The materials do not describe how each building was selected or the specific rules that would apply to its owner.
  • The inventory covers buildings built before 1940 with heritage value, but the materials do not explain how heritage value was assessed for these properties.

Case for#

  • City staff say the Act requires the agglomeration to inventory qualifying pre-1940 buildings by April 1, 2026.
  • Staff say the agglomeration has about 100,000 pre-1940 buildings to consider, so adopting the inventory in parts is allowed under the Act and lets completed areas be handled separately.

Case against#

  • If adopted, the listing would trigger special provisions under demolition and building occupancy and maintenance bylaws, but the materials do not spell out their practical effects for owners.
  • The property list is not included here, so readers cannot assess which buildings would be covered or check the proposed selections.