Bylaw 122 and Facade Inspections in Montreal

Bylaw 122 in brief

Montreal's Bylaw 122 requires an in-depth facade inspection every 5 years, plus an annual visual inspection, for buildings covered by the bylaw. The goal is straightforward: catch deterioration before it becomes a hazard for people on public property below.

This bylaw applies specifically to Montreal and grew directly out of incidents involving falling masonry over the past few decades. Other municipalities in Greater Montreal are studying similar measures, but as of now, Montreal remains the only one with this specific framework in place.

The bylaw sits alongside broader provincial building safety rules, but it goes further for taller buildings precisely because facade elements failing at height pose a direct risk to pedestrians and traffic on the street below — a risk that doesn't exist in the same way for a low-rise building.

Who it applies to

The bylaw covers buildings five storeys and taller with at least one facade visible from public property. Our article on facade inspections and which buildings are covered breaks down the criteria and the edge cases that come up often, especially for buildings with additions or changes of use.

Owners of residential towers, commercial buildings, and institutional buildings in Montreal should confirm their status, since non-compliance fines can add up quickly if the deadline is missed.

The schedule by building age

Bylaw 122 staggers its first deadlines by the building's year of construction, spreading the workload across qualified professionals and owners over time. The oldest buildings generally fell under the first inspection waves, with newer construction following on a later schedule. It's essential to confirm the exact deadline that applies to your building with the City or a qualified professional, rather than relying on a generic date.

Your concrete obligations

The bylaw imposes a specific set of obligations on covered owners, spread across the full five-year cycle.

What happens if you're not compliant

An owner who fails to file the required report on time is exposed to infraction notices and fines that can keep accumulating until the situation is resolved. In some cases, the City can also order temporary safety measures, like a protective fence or a canopy installed in front of the affected facade.

Beyond the cost, these measures hurt the building's image and can complicate leasing or selling units. It's far better to plan the inspection well ahead of the deadline than to wait for a non-compliance notice.

Combining the inspection with other checks

Many owners take advantage of the inspection team's visit to add a thermographic scan of the envelope, which detects thermal bridges and water infiltration zones that accelerate masonry deterioration at the same time. Buildings under this bylaw often also carry parking garage safety requirements, since underground structures deteriorate through similar mechanisms.

For condo corporations, this planning usually involves the board and may require a vote on the budget allocated to the corrections recommended in the report.

Questions about the deadline that applies to your building, or what to prepare before the visit? Contact our team to schedule an inspection that meets the bylaw's requirements.