Is a permit needed to install a dumpster in Montréal?
No on private property, yes on the public right-of-way. In your driveway or your parking space, no municipal permit is required by the boroughs that publish their rule — in Outremont, though, work covered by a valid permit has to be under way. The moment the dumpster touches the street, the sidewalk or the alley, the temporary public domain occupancy permit becomes mandatory.
How much does the public domain occupancy permit cost in Montréal?
It depends on the borough: there are 19 fee schedules, not one. As of August 14, 2026, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie charged $59 to issue, $116 to review and $73 per day for up to 49 m² of street, taxes included; Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, $26.25 and $26.25, then $71.75 per day on the street and $80.75 in an alley, taxes not included. Parking meter charges are added on top, and the invoice arrives by mail about two weeks after the occupancy.
Can the dumpster go in the alley behind the plex?
Yes, but only with the permit. The alley is part of the public right-of-way just as the street, the sidewalks and the bike paths are: occupying it requires the temporary occupancy permit, even if the dumpster stays tight against your fence. In Le Plateau-Mont-Royal the alley actually costs more than the street: $80.75 per day against $71.75. Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie will also count 152 green alleys by the end of summer 2026, and Le Plateau has 120 — call us before you book and we'll check the access with you.
Is there an ecocentre in Montréal?
Yes, seven: Acadie, Côte-des-Neiges, La Petite-Patrie, LaSalle, Rivière-des-Prairies, Saint-Laurent and Saint-Michel. Residents of the agglomeration drop off up to 12 m³ of construction debris per year free of charge, then $31 per cubic metre, with a maximum of 15 visits — unlimited at LaSalle and Saint-Laurent. Twelve cubic metres is about 15.7 yards: a single 20-yard dumpster uses up a full year's quota.
Can a contractor use the ecocentre in Montréal?
Yes, but access is paid and conditional: $31 per cubic metre of construction debris, and the company must be domiciled on the island — occupancy certificate in hand — or come accompanied by the resident whose work was carried out, with their proof of residence. Metals and yard waste stay free. Municipal curbside collection, for its part, is closed to businesses: they have to deal with a private company.
Can a dumpster stay outside over the winter in Montréal?
Yes on private property, far trickier on the street. Montréal gets 190 cm of snow on average and runs five loading operations per winter; hauling away 15 cm takes at least four days and four nights. On narrow streets, parking flips from one side to the other as soon as a 15 cm snowfall is forecast, and an unpaved alley is not cleared by the city. From November to April, the private driveway stays the simplest spot.
What dumpster size for a renovation in a plex?
The 20-yard covers most plex renovations: it takes up about the size of a Dodge Caravan, so if a minivan fits in the space you have in mind, so does the dumpster. The 10-yard is a 20-yard filled halfway — same footprint, less height: it frees up no room in a short driveway. The 40-yard is for job sites with clear approach room for the truck.
