⚡ Quick Summary
The Question: Do you need a permit to park a moving truck on a Montreal street? In most boroughs, yes, if you want a reserved, legal spot.
The Cost: There’s no single city-wide price. Boroughs typically start around $40 to $45 as a minimum charge, with the final amount depending on the space, signage, and number of days. Some boroughs can run $100 or more.
The Process: You apply through your borough’s Accès Montréal office, and signage is usually required a couple of days before your move so other drivers know to avoid the spot.
The Move: Book your moving crew early and ask us to help you plan around your permit window.
Table of Contents
Do You Really Need a Permit to Park a Moving Truck in Montreal?
Here’s the honest answer: it depends on where you’re moving, but in almost every dense borough, the answer is yes. If you’re moving out of a triplex on a narrow street in the Plateau, Rosemont, or Ville-Marie, you can’t just tell your friends to “save a spot” with a couple of folding chairs. The City of Montreal treats on-street parking as public space, and reserving it for private use, like a moving truck, requires a temporary occupancy permit.
This surprises a lot of people, especially if you’ve moved in a smaller town before. In Montreal, curb space in the busiest boroughs is genuinely scarce, so the city wants a paper trail: who’s reserving it, for how long, and where exactly. It also protects you. Once your permit and signs are up, other cars are legally required to avoid the spot, and if someone parks there anyway, the borough can have them towed.
If you’re moving into a house with a private driveway in the suburbs, like Laval or the West Island, you often don’t need one at all. The permit requirement is really a downtown and dense-borough issue, not a universal Montreal rule.
How Much Does a Moving Permit Actually Cost?
We wish we could give you one clean number, but the City of Montreal doesn’t set a flat, city-wide fee. Each borough runs its own permit desk, and the price depends on how much curb space you need, how many signs have to go up, and how many days you’re reserving it for.
As a general guide, most boroughs charge a minimum fee in the $40 to $45 range for a basic reservation, and the total can climb toward $100 or more if you need a longer stretch of curb, extra signage, or several days of coverage. Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, for example, has its own minimum charge that’s separate from what you’d pay in a borough like Rosemont or Ahuntsic-Cartierville.
Because these rates change and vary so much by address, the only way to get an exact number is to contact your borough’s Accès Montréal office directly, or use the city’s online moving-permit tool. Don’t rely on a number you read somewhere online, including this article, as gospel. Confirm it for your specific street before moving day.
How and Where to Apply
The City of Montreal has a dedicated online page for reserving moving-truck parking, and most boroughs also let you apply in person or by phone through Accès Montréal. You’ll typically need your moving date, the exact address, and how much space and time you need.
Once it’s approved, the borough or a contractor installs temporary “no parking” signs on the street ahead of your move, so drivers know the spot is reserved. Keep your confirmation and permit number handy on moving day, in case a bylaw officer or tow truck operator needs to see it.
How Far in Advance Should You Apply?
Give yourself more runway than you think you need, especially in late June. Most boroughs ask for a notice period before your move so they have time to install signage, and this window tends to get tighter the closer you get to July 1st, when a huge share of Quebec leases turn over on the same day.
Our general advice: apply as soon as you know your moving date, ideally several weeks out, and always confirm the exact notice period with your borough rather than assuming a fixed number of days applies everywhere.
What Happens If You Skip the Permit?
Without a permit and signage, you’re relying on luck. There’s no guarantee a legal parking spot will be open in front of your building when the truck arrives, especially on a busy street. If your crew has to park half a block away, everything takes longer: more steps per box, more time, and on an hourly rate, more money.
It’s a small upfront cost that protects your timeline. We’d rather see you spend $40 to $100 on a permit than lose an extra hour of labor because the truck is stuck double-parked around the corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need a permit to move in the suburbs, like Laval or the West Island?
Usually not, if you have a private driveway. The permit requirement is mainly about reserving public, on-street parking in dense boroughs, not private property.
2. How much does a Montreal moving permit cost?
There’s no single city-wide price. Expect a minimum in the $40 to $45 range, with the total depending on space, signage, and duration. Always confirm the exact cost with your borough.
3. Where do I apply for a moving permit?
Through the City of Montreal’s online parking tool or your local borough’s Accès Montréal office. Each borough handles its own permits.
4. How early should I apply before moving day?
As early as possible, ideally several weeks ahead, especially if you’re moving near July 1st. Confirm the exact notice period with your borough.
5. Does my moving company handle the permit for me?
Some do, some don’t. Ask us when you book, we’re happy to walk you through the process for your specific address.
6. What happens if someone parks in my reserved spot anyway?
Once the official signs are up, the borough can have the vehicle towed, since it’s occupying a legally reserved space.
7. Is the permit fee taxable?
It varies by borough. Some list their minimum fee as non-taxable, others add applicable taxes. Confirm this when you apply.
8. Can I put out my own homemade signs instead?
No. Only official city signage has legal weight. Homemade signs or chairs don’t reserve the space and won’t hold up if someone parks there or if a bylaw officer gets involved.
9. Does the permit cover both loading and unloading addresses?
You may need a separate permit for each address if both are in boroughs that require one. Check with each borough involved in your move.
10. What if I’m moving on July 1st specifically?
Apply as early as you can. Demand for permits and signage spikes hard around Quebec’s traditional moving day, and boroughs get backed up.
Sources
- Ville de Montréal: Official page for reserving moving-van and moving-truck parking (montreal.ca).
- Accès Montréal: Borough-specific permit offices and fee information.
