How to Get a Parking Permit for Moving Day in Montreal

Why You Need a Parking Permit for Moving Day

Picture this: your movers arrive at 8 a.m. with a 24-foot truck, and there's nowhere to park within three blocks of your apartment. They're double-parked on a busy Plateau street, hazard lights flashing, while someone honks behind them and a parking enforcement officer rounds the corner. This is the nightmare scenario that a moving day parking permit is designed to prevent.

In Montreal, most residential streets have strict on-street parking regulations. Without a permit, your moving truck has no legal right to occupy curb space for the hours it takes to load or unload a household. Borough bylaws across the city require that you obtain a temporary occupation permit — commonly called a "permis de stationnement pour déménagement" — to reserve curb space on your moving day.

The consequences of skipping this step are real. Depending on the borough, fines for occupying street space without a permit range from $50 to $150. Worse, if your truck is blocking traffic or a bike lane, the fine can climb higher, and in some cases your vehicle can be towed by the SPVM. Beyond the fines, the practical problem is significant: without reserved space, your movers waste time circling the block, shuttling items from farther away, and the entire move takes longer — which costs you more in hourly labour.

A parking permit gives you a designated zone directly in front of (or as close as possible to) your building entrance, typically marked with temporary "No Parking" signs that the city installs 24 to 48 hours before your move. It's a small investment that prevents major headaches.

How to Apply for a Moving Day Parking Permit

Montreal has made the application process reasonably straightforward, though the exact steps vary by borough. Here are the two main channels:

Option 1: Online via montreal.ca or 311

Most boroughs now accept online applications through the Ville de Montréal website. Go to montreal.ca and search for "permis d'occupation temporaire" or "permis de stationnement déménagement." You can also call 311 (Montreal's municipal information line) to start the process over the phone. The 311 agents can tell you exactly which form to fill out for your specific borough and walk you through the requirements.

Option 2: In Person at Your Borough Office

If you prefer to handle things face-to-face, visit the borough office (bureau d'arrondissement) for the area where you're moving from or to. You'll need to apply for a permit at the borough where you need the curb space reserved. If you're moving from Le Plateau-Mont-Royal to Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension, you may need two separate permits — one for each borough.

What You'll Need to Provide

• Your full name and contact information
• The exact address where curb space is needed
• The date and approximate time window for the move
• The size of the moving truck (length in feet or metres)
• Proof of address (lease, utility bill, or purchase agreement)
• Payment (credit card, debit, or in some boroughs, cash or cheque at the office)

Cost by Borough

Parking permit fees vary across Montreal's 19 boroughs, but most fall in the $50 to $100 range. Here's a general breakdown as of 2026:

• Le Plateau-Mont-Royal: $75 – $100 depending on the number of spaces and duration
• Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension: $50 – $75
• Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie: $60 – $85
• Le Sud-Ouest (Griffintown, Saint-Henri, Verdun area): $50 – $80
• Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce: $60 – $90
• Ville-Marie (Downtown): $75 – $100
• Westmount (separate city): $75 – $100, with specific rules about sign placement
• Outremont: $60 – $80

These fees typically cover a single day of reserved curb space for one truck-length zone (roughly 8 to 10 metres). If you need space for two trucks or multiple days, expect to pay more. Some boroughs charge a flat fee; others charge per metre of curb space reserved. Always confirm the current rate when you apply — fees can change from one fiscal year to the next.

Timeline: When to Apply

This is where many people get caught off guard. You can't just apply the day before and expect everything to be ready.

• Minimum lead time: Most boroughs require 48 to 72 hours of advance notice before your moving date. This gives the city time to process your application and install the temporary "No Parking" signs.
• Some boroughs require more: Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Ville-Marie, and Westmount often require 5 business days or more, especially during peak moving season (June–August).
• July 1st moves: If you're moving on or around July 1st — Quebec's traditional moving day — apply as early as possible, ideally 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Borough offices are flooded with permit requests during this period, and processing times slow down significantly.

The golden rule: apply as soon as you have a confirmed moving date. There's no penalty for applying early, but applying late can mean your signs aren't installed in time — or worse, your application gets rejected because the curb space is already reserved by someone else on the same day.

What You Get with a Parking Permit

When your permit is approved, the borough arranges for temporary "No Parking / Stationnement interdit" signs to be posted along the curb space reserved for your move. Here's what to expect:

• Temporary signs: Bright orange or yellow signs are installed on temporary posts along the reserved zone, usually 24 to 48 hours before your move date. They indicate the date and time window during which no other vehicles may park in the zone.
• Reserved space: Typically enough room for one full-size moving truck (20 to 26 feet), which translates to about 8 to 10 metres of curb space.
• Legal authority: If a vehicle is parked in your reserved zone after the signs are posted and the restricted period begins, you have the right to call 311 (or the SPVM non-emergency line) to request towing.

The signs are the key. Without them physically posted on the street, the reservation isn't enforceable — even if your permit has been approved on paper. Always verify that the signs are actually installed when you check the street the day before your move.

Borough-Specific Rules You Should Know

Montreal's boroughs operate with significant autonomy when it comes to parking regulations. Here are some notable differences:

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal

The Plateau is one of the densest neighbourhoods in Canada, and parking is perpetually scarce. The borough is strict about permit applications and requires a full 5 business days of lead time. During peak season, expect longer processing. Narrow one-way streets like Drolet, Boyer, and De Bullion make truck positioning critical — specify the exact side of the street when you apply.

Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension

Generally more flexible than the Plateau, with 48 to 72 hours of lead time. Fees tend to be on the lower end. The borough office on Jarry Street is the main point of contact. Streets near Jean-Talon Market can be tricky on weekends due to market traffic.

Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie

Similar to Villeray in terms of processing time and cost. However, Rosemont has expanded its bike lane network significantly in recent years, and some streets have restricted truck access during certain hours. Confirm with 311 that your reserved zone doesn't conflict with cycling infrastructure.

Westmount

Westmount is an independent municipality with its own rules. Permits must be obtained through Westmount City Hall, not the Ville de Montréal system. The process is well-organized but formal — expect to provide detailed information about the truck size, the company performing the move, and the exact time window. Fees are in the $75–$100 range.

Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN-NDG)

CDN-NDG is a large borough with a mix of dense apartment streets near the university campuses and quieter residential areas in NDG. Processing time is typically 3 to 5 business days. Streets near Université de Montréal and the MUHC Glen site can have additional parking restrictions that affect where your reserved zone can be placed.

What Happens If Someone Parks in Your Reserved Spot

This is one of the most common — and most frustrating — moving day problems. You've done everything right: applied for the permit, paid the fee, verified the signs were installed. But on moving morning, someone's Civic is sitting right in the middle of your reserved zone.

Here's what to do:

1. Verify the signs: Make sure the "No Parking" signs are clearly posted and that the restricted time period has officially started. If the signs say "No Parking from 7:00 a.m." and it's 6:45, the vehicle isn't technically in violation yet.
2. Call 311: Montreal's 311 line is the first point of contact. Explain that you have a valid parking permit, signs are posted, and a vehicle is in violation. They will dispatch a parking enforcement officer.
3. Request towing via SPVM: If the vehicle needs to be towed, 311 will coordinate with the SPVM (Service de police de la Ville de Montréal) to have the vehicle removed. This process can take 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on demand and the time of day.
4. Don't move the vehicle yourself: Under no circumstances should you attempt to push, tow, or otherwise move someone else's vehicle. This can result in liability issues or even criminal charges.
5. Have a backup plan: While waiting for enforcement, your movers can start loading items that don't require the truck to be directly at the curb, or they can begin working from the other end of your move if applicable.

Pro tip: check the reserved zone the evening before your move. If a car is already there, call 311 that night. The overnight parking enforcement team may be able to tag or tow it before your movers arrive in the morning.

Tips for Buildings with Loading Docks

If you're moving into or out of a condo building, apartment complex, or commercial-residential building that has a dedicated loading dock or underground parking garage, you may not need a street parking permit at all. Here's what to consider:

• Check with building management: Most buildings with loading docks require you to book a time slot through the property manager or condo board. This is typically free or included in your move-in/move-out process, but you need to reserve well in advance — especially in large buildings where multiple tenants may be moving on the same day.
• Elevator reservation: Buildings with loading docks usually also require an elevator reservation. Many buildings have a dedicated service elevator for moves. Book this at the same time as the loading dock.
• Truck height clearance: Underground loading docks have height restrictions, typically 3 to 4 metres. A standard 24-foot moving truck is about 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) tall. Confirm the clearance before moving day to avoid a very unpleasant surprise.
• Skip the street permit: If the building's loading dock can accommodate your truck, you don't need to pay for a city parking permit. This saves $50–$100 and eliminates the risk of someone parking in your reserved spot.

At Up & Out, our team is familiar with the loading dock procedures for most major apartment and condo buildings across Montreal. We'll confirm truck access and elevator bookings as part of our pre-move planning.

Winter Considerations

Moving in Montreal between November and March introduces an extra layer of complexity: snow removal. The city's snow removal schedule can directly conflict with your reserved parking zone.

• Snow removal priority: When the city declares a snow removal operation, temporary "No Parking" signs for snow plowing take precedence over your moving permit signs. If snow removal is scheduled on your moving day, your reserved zone may be cancelled or relocated.
• Monitor the schedule: Check the Info-Neige app or the Ville de Montréal snow removal portal to see if operations are planned for your street on your moving date. You can also call 311 for real-time updates.
• Ice and salt: Even without active snow removal, winter streets in Montreal are often icy or covered in salt and slush. Your movers will need extra time for careful footing, and the pathway from the truck to the building entrance should be salted and cleared before loading begins.
• Shorter daylight: In December and January, you lose daylight by 4:30 p.m. Plan your move to maximize daylight hours — starting at 8 a.m. gives you a solid 8 hours before it gets dark.
• Street narrowing: Snow banks can reduce the effective width of residential streets, making it harder to position a large truck. On narrow streets in the Plateau or Mile End, this can mean the truck has to park farther from your building entrance.

If your move is scheduled during a major snowstorm or extreme cold warning (below -25°C), consider rescheduling. Most professional moving companies, including Up & Out, will work with you to reschedule at no extra cost when weather conditions are genuinely dangerous.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a moving day parking permit cost in Montreal?

Most boroughs charge between $50 and $100 for a single-day moving permit. The exact fee depends on your borough, the amount of curb space reserved, and the duration. Westmount and Le Plateau-Mont-Royal tend to be at the higher end, while Villeray and Le Sud-Ouest are typically more affordable. Call 311 or check your borough's website for the current fee schedule.

How far in advance should I apply for a parking permit?

At minimum, apply 48 to 72 hours before your moving date. However, boroughs like Le Plateau-Mont-Royal and Ville-Marie require 5 or more business days. If you're moving near July 1st, apply 2 to 3 weeks ahead. The safest approach is to apply as soon as you've confirmed your moving date and booked your movers.

Do I need a permit for both my old address and my new address?

Yes, if both addresses are on streets that require a permit. You'll need to apply separately at each borough office if the addresses are in different boroughs. For example, if you're moving from Rosemont to the Plateau, that's two separate applications and two separate fees. If one of your addresses has a loading dock or private driveway, you may only need a permit for the other address.

Can I get a refund if I cancel or reschedule my move?

Refund policies vary by borough. Some boroughs offer a full refund if you cancel at least 48 hours before the permit date. Others offer partial refunds or no refunds at all. If you're rescheduling, some boroughs will transfer the permit to a new date at no extra charge — but only if the signs haven't been installed yet. Always ask about the cancellation policy when you apply.

What if the "No Parking" signs aren't installed before my move?

Call 311 immediately. If the signs aren't posted, your reserved zone isn't enforceable, and other vehicles may park there legally. The borough should be able to send someone to install the signs on an expedited basis, but this depends on availability. This is why checking the street the day before your move is so important.

Can my movers apply for the permit on my behalf?

Some moving companies, including Up & Out, can handle the parking permit application as part of their full-service offering. However, the permit is technically issued to the resident (you), so you may need to provide your personal information and sign the application. Ask your movers during the quoting process whether they offer this service — it can save you a trip to the borough office.

What if I'm moving on a street with a bike lane?

Streets with protected bike lanes (like those on Saint-Denis, de Maisonneuve, or Brébeuf) have additional restrictions. In some cases, the reserved parking zone cannot overlap with the bike lane, which means the truck must park farther from your building. Discuss this with the borough when applying so they can identify the best location for your reserved space. Your movers may need to use a dolly or hand truck to bridge the extra distance.

Let Up & Out Handle the Details

Parking permits are just one piece of the moving day puzzle. At Up & Out, we help our clients navigate the entire process — from permit applications to elevator bookings to loading dock coordination. Our team knows the rules in every Montreal borough, and we'll make sure your truck has a clear, legal spot right where it needs to be.

Call 438-900-9990 today for a free quote, or visit our contact page to request one online. We handle residential moves across Montreal and beyond — and we'll make sure parking is the last thing you have to worry about on moving day.