Montréal’s municipal government has implemented a range of housing initiatives under the Loger + framework and related strategic plans. Goals included accelerating the delivery of new housing and bolstering support for renters.
Over the past year, a combination of regulatory reforms, service‐standard harmonization and targeted investments has begun to yield tangible gains in construction activity, permitting efficiency and tenant protections. On the tenant support side, Montréal has announced $1.5 million will be allocated over three years to reinforce tenant advocacy and housing‐stability services.
Accelerated Construction
Despite a broader slowdown in Canada’s housing market in 2023 and 2024, Montréal’s preliminary data shows over 44,000 housing starts in the past five years, for an average of 8,852 units per year, surpassing the long‐term annual average of approximately 7,400 units since 2002. Last year alone, 11,000 units were delivered, marking a historic annual high for the city’s recent housing output.
Early 2025 data shows further momentum:
- 1,431 housing starts in Q1 2025, representing a 58% increase over the first quarter of 2024.
- Nearly 4,000 units authorized by building permits to date in 2025, with 77% of these consents granted for projects of 50 or more units.
- Over 3,000 units remain under review, 87% earmarked for larger developments (50+ units).
These trends suggest a rebound in construction activity, particularly at the mid‐ to high‐rise scale, which supports greater density and can help meet escalating demand.
Harmonization of Permit Processes
To streamline approvals and reduce uncertainty, the City of Montréal has standardized permit service levels across all boroughs. As of January 1, 2025, every district adheres to a 120‐business‐day maximum turnaround for “as‐of‐right” residential applications, a timeline first piloted in six boroughs starting November 1, 2024 (LaSalle, Le Sud‐Ouest, Le Plateau‐Mont‐Royal, Rosemont–La Petite‐Patrie, Verdun, and Ville‐Marie).
By year‐end, comparative data on processing times across each borough will become available, enabling stakeholders to gauge localized performance and identify remaining bottlenecks. This uniform standard enhances predictability for large mixed‐use and multi‐unit residential proposals.
Impact of Projet de loi 31 (Bill 31)
Section 93 of Bill 31 came into effect in February 2024, enabling the City of Montréal to expedite projects, including non‐conforming proposals. This has helped accelerate ten projects, accounting for over 2,400 units. An additional ten projects are under review, collectively representing 4,000+ units, in the municipal approval pipeline.
This legislative tool covers social, affordable and mixed‐income developments of three or more dwellings. By bypassing certain procedural constraints, Section 93 has facilitated a range of projects that might otherwise have encountered delays, and broadened the range of housing types moving toward shovel‐ready status.
Tenant Support and Market Resilience
Complementing supply‐side measures, the city has allocated $1.5 million over three years to reinforce tenant advocacy and housing‐stability services. Recognizing that 63% of Montréalers are renters, this funding channels $22,725 per organization annually to 22 community committees and tenant associations, strengthening frontline support to prevent evictions and homelessness.
By fortifying tenant services, the City aims to maintain occupancy rates and reduce turnover‐related vacancies, two factors that impact stable rental cash flows. This will also help lower management risks for multi‐unit properties.
Together, these measures position Montréal for a balanced housing expansion, marrying accelerated delivery with community-centred protections. Pilot‐phase results will be quantified later in 2025.
