Service and emergencies · calls accepted from 7 AM to 11 PM
R.B.Q. 5840-4443-01 · CMMTQ Member · 514 917-5525
Service and emergencies · calls accepted from 7 AM to 11 PM
R.B.Q. 5840-4443-01 · CMMTQ Member · 514 917-5525
Boisbriand regulates the installation of heat pumps and air conditioners more strictly than most neighboring cities. The City summarizes this on its Construction or Accessory Equipment for a Dwelling fact sheet: backyard only. Before choosing a unit, you must know if the backyard can accommodate it, and where.
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Authorized Yards | Backyard only |
| Distance from Side Lot Lines | Minimum 2 m |
| Distance from Main Building | Maximum 2 m |
| Permit or Certificate | None |
The third rule is often forgotten: the unit must remain within two meters of the building. Therefore, it’s impossible to exile it to the back of the property to distance noise from neighbors. With the two meters to respect on each side, the usable strip often shrinks to just a few meters along the back wall.
When the location is imposed, the unit must adapt. Two practical consequences.
First, the length of the refrigerant line: with the outdoor unit close to the building, the distance to the indoor head is short, which is good for efficiency. Second, noise: you can’t rely on distance, you must rely on the unit itself. We then look at the advertised sound level of the outdoor unit before selecting a model, not after. The Gree lines we install all show this data on their technical specifications.
A corner lot changes things even more, because the backyard there is often the narrowest on the lot.
Quality of Life Bylaw RV-1355-2 does not impose a single ceiling. It limits the difference between the noise measured with the unit and the background noise of the neighborhood, at the property line, according to the cumulative duration of the noise.
| Cumulative Duration | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 5 minutes | 14 dB(A) | 12 dB(A) |
| 5 to 30 minutes | 9 dB(A) | 7 dB(A) |
| More than 30 minutes | 5 dB(A) | 3 dB(A) |
A heat pump running at night obviously falls into the last category: three decibels above background noise. The bylaw adds a catch-up rule: if the residual ambient noise is below 50 dB(A), the unit must not exceed 50 dB(A) at the complainant’s property line. Heat pumps, air conditioners, and pool filters are specifically targeted. Source: Nuisances and Quality of Life, City of Boisbriand.
The City does not require a permit to install a heat pump. This does not exempt you from anything: distances remain mandatory, and a neighborhood complaint can lead to a violation notice. A poorly installed unit will be moved at your expense, which costs more than installing it correctly the first time.
We take measurements during the survey, before the quote, and we tell you if the desired location complies. If the backyard cannot accommodate the unit, we also tell you.
No. The City’s fact sheet indicates that these units are only allowed in the backyard. Side yards and front yards are excluded.
At least 2 m from the side lot lines. It must also remain 2 m or less from the main building.
No, installation does not require a permit according to the City’s fact sheet. However, installation and noise standards still apply.
There is no single threshold. Bylaw RV-1355-2 limits the difference from background noise, specifically 3 dB(A) at night for noise lasting more than 30 minutes, and imposes a maximum of 50 dB(A) at the property line when background noise is below 50 dB(A).
Yes, the entire territory, including the Grande-Côte and Faubourg Boisbriand sectors. Our other city pages cover the rest of the North Shore.
We’ll come to you, take measurements, and explain what works best and why. Then, you decide.
