West Island Excavation and French Drains, Between the Lake and the River
Excavation, French drain, waterproofing
Free on-site quote, every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
West Island Excavation and French Drains, Between the Lake and the River
Excavation, French drain, waterproofing
Free on-site quote, every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FreeQuote
Book your free quoteEleven communities, rules to check before you dig
The Process
Interior
Crack repair
Exterior
Crack repair
Before you dig in the West Island: three checkpoints
- Pointe-Claire. A French drain requires a building permit; other private services require a certificate of authorization ($65 fee in 2025). The request is sent by email, as a PDF, and includes in particular the certificate of location, the location of the sump pump and where it discharges, and the contractor’s detailed invoice or estimate. No work may start before the certificate is issued.
- Pierrefonds-Roxboro and L’Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève (City of Montréal). For an excavation on private land, the permit depends on depth and distance from public property: under 2 m deep, if it is within 2 m of public property; from 2 m, if the distance is less than twice the depth (a 3 m excavation needs a permit within 6 m). Requirements vary by borough.
- Near the water. Before planning an excavation, check whether your lot is in a flood zone (Government of Québec map, referred to on the Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough page). A lot flooded by the river, the water table or the basement in 2017 or 2019 should be treated as a flood zone.
The West Island: where we work
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Questions about excavation and French drains in the West Island
Are the rules for digging the same in every West Island city?
No. The reconstituted municipalities (Pointe-Claire, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Kirkland, Beaconsfield and the others) manage their own permits, while Pierrefonds-Roxboro and L’Île-Bizard-Sainte-Geneviève follow the City of Montréal. In Pointe-Claire, for example, a French drain requires a building permit. Always confirm your City’s rules before excavating.
What documents does Pointe-Claire ask for on French drain or private service work?
For private services (certificate of authorization, $65 fee in 2025), the City asks for the signed form, the certificate of location, the location of the sump pump and where it discharges, the location of trees to protect or remove, and the contractor’s detailed invoice or estimate. A French drain falls under a building permit: confirm the list with Pointe-Claire’s planning department.
My lot is near the lake or the river: what should I check before excavating in the West Island?
First, whether the lot is in a flood zone. The Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough reminds residents that homes affected in 2017 and 2019 by the Rivière des Prairies, the water table or the basement should consider themselves in a flood zone, and advises submersible pumps and backwater valves. An inspection then tells you whether the water comes from the drain, a crack or the water table before anyone digs.
Do I need a permit to excavate near the street in Pierrefonds-Roxboro or L’Île-Bizard?
According to the City of Montréal’s page, the permit depends on depth and distance from public property: under 2 m deep, you need a permit if the excavation is within 2 m of public property; from 2 m, if the distance is less than twice the depth. Requirements vary by borough: confirm yours.
Does Marco come to my West Island municipality, and how do I book?
Marco works across the West Island of Montréal. Enter your address in the form on this page or call (438) 763-0737 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Sunday: he confirms with you that he can come to your home and does the free quote himself.
How long does the City of Pointe-Claire take to approve a private services request?
If the request is compliant, the City approves it within 30 days of the file being complete, or longer if the project falls under the PIIA bylaw. The certificate is void if work does not start within six months of approval or is not finished within a year of the certificate being issued.
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