Do you have an inground swimming pool on your property and wish to demolish or remove all its components? The law regulates inground swimming pool demolitions in Quebec, so it’s best to get informed before an in-ground pool demolition.
The experts at Excavation Chanthier, a pool demolition company in Montreal, answer all your questions on this topic today.
INGROUND SWIMMING POOL DEMOLITION: IS A PERMIT REQUIRED?
In Montreal, a permit to demolish an in-ground pool is not always required. This depends on your residence borough.
If a permit is necessary in your borough, head directly to the borough’s service point with your documents to submit your request.
For other municipalities in Quebec, it is recommended to contact the relevant authorities to learn about the necessary conditions for demolishing your in-ground pool.
LEGISLATION VARIES BY BOROUGH IN MONTREAL
Once you’ve learned how to demolish a swimming pool, it’s important to understand the specifics of the boroughs regarding swimming pool demolition in Greater Montreal.
Permit requirements for residential in-ground pool demolition vary significantly depending on the borough of residence in the greater Montreal area. Eleven boroughs require no permit, while nine others have specific permit requirements with costs ranging from $70.50 to $450.
BOROUGHS WITH NO PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
Ten boroughs allow property owners to demolish their in-ground pool without obtaining a municipal permit:
Anjou, Lachine, Plateau-Mont-Royal, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Verdun, and Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension require no permit for residential in-ground pool demolition.
Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Sud-Ouest do not require permits but impose important heritage restrictions. If the pool is located within the Mont-Royal heritage site or concerns a building of heritage interest, additional procedures are necessary and property owners must contact the borough directly.
Even when no permit is required, all property owners must comply with environmental guidelines from the Ministry of Environment regarding the management of concrete debris and other demolition materials.
BOROUGHS REQUIRING PERMITS AND THEIR COSTS
Eight boroughs require obtaining a permit with specific costs and documentation requirements:
AHUNTSIC-CARTIERVILLE
You need a permit to demolish your inground pool, costing $9.80 per $1,000 of work, with a minimum of $152. Two documents are required to obtain this permit:
- The location certificate that corresponds to the pool’s placement.
- The yard layout plan.
LASALLE
You need a permit to demolish your inground pool, costing $9.80 per $1,000 of work, with a minimum of $149, including taxes. Only the location certificate is required to obtain this permit.
ÎLE-BIZARD-SAINTE-GENEVIÈVE
You need a permit to demolish your in-ground pool, with a minimum cost of $116.60, including taxes. Three documents are required to obtain this permit:
- The contractor’s estimate.
- The location certificate.
- The details of the planned demolition method, including waste management after the demolition.
MONTREAL-NORTH
You need a permit to demolish your in-ground swimming pool, costing $10.50 per $1,000 of work, with a minimum of $70.50. Four documents are required to obtain this permit:
- The contractor’s estimate.
- The location certificate.
- The demolition method or debris disposal method details.
- The project plan and timeline.
OUTREMONT
You need a permit to demolish your inground swimming pool, costing $9.80 per $1,000 of work, with a minimum of $160.45. If your pool is located in the Mont-Royal heritage site, additional steps are required. Four documents are required to obtain this permit:
- The location certificate.
- The contractor’s estimate.
- The demolition plan.
- The soil reuse plan that indicates the percentage of vegetative surfaces before and after the work.
If you are representing the swimming pool owner, you will need a power of attorney.
VILLE-MARIE
You need a permit to demolish your in-ground pool if you reside north of Sherbrooke Street, costing $9.80 per $1,000 with a minimum of $152. Two documents are required:
- Landscaping details for replacing the pool and the fill used.
- The location certificate.
BOROUGHS WITH FIXED RATES
Two boroughs apply fixed rates rather than costs based on work value:
SAINT-LAURENT
The borough of Saint-Laurent requires an authorization certificate with specific documentation requirements. To get the exact rate for 2025, you need to contact the borough office directly.
SAINT-LÉONARD
You need a permit to demolish your in-ground pool. The borough of Saint-Léonard requires an authorization certificate with specific documentation requirements. To get the exact rate for 2025, you need to contact the borough office directly. You must remove all the pool’s components (concrete, structure, plumbing, walls, etc.). Three documents are required:
- The work estimate and cost description.
- The landscaping plan, if necessary.
- The location certificate.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HERITAGE CONSIDERATIONS
When the lifespan of an in-ground pool ends, and you decide to demolish the swimming pool, the Quebec government offers several recommendations in its guidelines on managing concrete, brick, and asphalt from construction and demolition projects. It is recommended to crush and refill the inground concrete pool structure and break the bottom and sides to allow groundwater drainage.
Heritage properties receive special attention in several boroughs, particularly those located within the Mont-Royal heritage site, where additional procedures are systematically required.
Property owners are strongly encouraged to verify directly with their borough before undertaking any demolition project, particularly to confirm exact costs and specific documentation requirements. This verification is especially important for properties located in heritage sectors or with particular characteristics.
EXCAVATION CHANTHIER, THE SPECIALIST IN INGROUND SWIMMING POOL DEMOLITION
Once you have completed all the prerequisites for demolishing your inground swimming pool, several options are available for initiating the work.
If you want to do it yourself, learn about the different types of excavators and buckets and see if renting an excavator is a good idea for your project. Alternatively, you can hire a swimming pool demolition specialist like Excavation Chanthier.
At Excavation Chanthier, our specialists are available to demolish your inground swimming pool, ensuring compliance with Quebec’s new regulations for private pools. Contact us today to discuss your project.