Montreal unveils tighter rules, heftier fines for derelict buildings

In an effort to crack down on people who let buildings fall into disrepair, the city of Montreal is proposing new rules for building maintenance — with an emphasis on vacant and heritage buildings— and stricter fines for those who don't follow those rules.

The new bylaw would force owners to maintain the exterior, the plumbing and structural elements of their buildings.

There would be norms, such as the minimum temperature inside a building (10 C), the installation of outdoor lighting for a building's access points as well as rules for the materials that can be used to barricade a building and how long it can be boarded up.

The new rules would apply to any building — residential or commercial — within city limits.

Owners would also be forced to pay an annual fee to register vacant properties, allowing the city to better keep track of those buildings. While registering, they would need to describe the overall state of the building. They'd also have to display their proof of registration on their vacant property.

Fines for neglectful owners will be tougher. Penalties for letting heritage buildings run down will range from $2,000 to $250,000. For structures that are not considered heritage buildings, fines will range from $1,000 to $10,000 for first infractions and up to $40,000 for repeat offenders.

Too often, buildings are left in disrepair for long periods, eventually leading to their demolition, said Robert Beaudry, a member of the city's executive committee who is in charge of urban planning.

The city estimates that about 800 buildings on its territory are abandoned. About 150 of those are heritage properties.

"We have to give ourselves the means to act better and with more teeth," said Beaudry.

WATCH | Take a look at why Montreal is doing something about derelict buildings: 

See some of the vacant buildings the city is pushing owners to take better care of

2 years ago

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The city of Montreal estimates that about 800 buildings on its territory are abandoned, and about 150 of those are heritage properties.

Timeline for change

The city is scheduled to hold consultations on the new rules next month. The bylaw could take effect as early as the end of this year.

The cost of registering a vacant building has not been determined yet, but Beaudry said the city doesn't want the figure to be prohibitive.

The new bylaw beefs up municipal rules on building maintenance that have not been updated since 2007.

Dinu Bumbaru, the policy director for Heritage Montreal, said the new rules are a step in the right direction and a long time coming. He also points out that it's one thing for the city to have stricter rules, it's another to make sure Montrealers are aware of them.

"Oftentimes, municipal regulations are a big mystery so we have to find a way to provide tools that make them understandable for the general population, not just property owners," he said, explaining knowing the rules increases the chances of residents flagging issues to the city.

'Will the city fine itself?'

Aref Salem, the interim leader of Ensemble Montréal, says the current bylaw is difficult to enforce due to a lack of inspectors, and the changes announced on Thursday don't make that task any easier.

He also said the new bylaw does not address concerns Montrealers have about the deadly fire in Old Montreal that killed seven people in mid-March.

"We experienced a tragedy," said Salem. "We did not see, in the rules announced today, a response to that tragedy."

Salem also criticized the city for not doing a better job of taking care of its own affordable housing properties.

"Will the city fine itself?" Salem asked. "We are still left with a lot more questions than answers with this new bylaw."

Last month, the Quebec government ordered a public inquiry into the fire.