No, the South Shore Does Not Have One Set of Rules for Excavation and French Drains
Foundation repair, French drain, excavation
Marco comes to you in person for every estimate. Reachable 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No, the South Shore Does Not Have One Set of Rules for Excavation and French Drains
Foundation repair, French drain, excavation
Marco comes to you in person for every estimate. Reachable 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Get your free estimateThree cities, three centuries of building: foundations that are not the same age
What changes from one South Shore city to the next
- Brossard. A French drain must surround every building with a basement, downspouts must discharge water at least 900 mm from the wall, and pump water may not go onto the driveway or straight to the street (bylaw REG-485). The City’s permit form covers rebuilding a foundation and a French drain, and asks in particular for a detailed quote and the contractor’s RBQ or NEQ number.
- Longueuil. Once the permit is issued, you must contact the inspector: no exterior backfill or interior slab pour without the inspector’s visit. The French drain discharges into a retention pit with a pump, and backwater valves are required and inspected every year (bylaw CO-2021-1141).
- Boucherville and Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville. These two cities of the agglomeration are not on Marco’s South Shore list. For a project outside his zones, contact him: he will assess whether he can make the trip.
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The Process
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The South Shore: where we work
Questions about excavation and French drains on the South Shore
Are the drainage rules the same in every South Shore city?
No. Each City has its own bylaws. In Brossard, bylaw REG-485 requires a French drain around every building with a basement and governs downspouts and pump water. In Longueuil, bylaw CO-2021-1141 requires a retention pit with a pump, backwater valves and an inspection before backfill. Always confirm your city’s rules before excavating.
Do I need a permit to rebuild a foundation or a French drain in Brossard or Longueuil?
In Brossard, the City has a foundation repair permit application form (no. 30) that covers, among other things, French drain rebuilding, stabilization work and cracked houses, and asks for a detailed quote. In Longueuil, the City’s technical sheet provides for a permit, then an inspector’s visit before backfill. For your address, confirm with the City.
Does Marco serve Boucherville or Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville?
On the South Shore, Marco serves Longueuil, Brossard and Saint-Lambert. For a project outside his zones, contact him directly: he will assess whether he can make the trip.
Why assess the soil and the water before excavating on the South Shore?
Because the South Shore sits in the St. Lawrence Lowland, where the Champlain Sea left clays behind. According to Espace pour la vie, a dry summer can dry out the clay under a footing and cause settlement. An inspection tells you whether the problem comes from the drain, a crack or the soil before anyone digs.
My Saint-Lambert drain is over 40 years old: when should I worry?
CAA-Québec gives about 40 years as a drain’s normal lifespan. Beyond that, it is time to have it inspected by camera: you then decide between hydro-jet unclogging, repair of one section or full replacement.
Who assesses my foundation on the South Shore, and how do I book?
Marco comes himself for the free estimate. Fill out the form on this page or call (438) 763-0737 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Sunday. His company holds RBQ license No. 5775-3246-01.
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