Côte Saint-Luc City Council held a public consultation on September 11 to discuss a proposed amendment to add new provisions to the Construction By-Law no. 2953 regarding solid fuel burning,
renovictions, and noise from mechanical equipment.
The purposes of this amendment are:
• To diminish our city’s impact on the air quality by reducing the number of people who burn solid
fuels to heat their homes, and to transition towards more modern and efficient heating equipment by
regulating their installation and replacement.
• To ensure tenants are protected from renovictions, namely by requiring that landlords provide a
written proof that tenants affected by construction or repair work have agreed to temporarily
relocate or vacate their dwelling.
• To reduce nuisances related to noise generated by mechanical equipment installed outside of a
building, such as power generators, pool equipment, heating, ventilation, and cooling units, etc.
• To clarify the wording of the original by-law and correct any inconsistencies that were
identified since its adoption.
Provisions
Regarding solid fuel burning:
• The by-law sets a limit of 2.5g/hr for all new and replaced residential solid fuel-burning
equipment.
• Under the new by-law, it will also be prohibited to use a non-certified system after 2025, except
for an EPA or CSA certified pellet device that is installed before this by-law comes into effect.
• The burning of any fuel other than those for which a device is certified will also be forbidden,
as well as the burning of noxious fuels such as treated or painted wood, plastics, Styrofoam, etc.
• The use of any solid-fuel-burning devices during a smog warning issued by Environment Canada
affecting any part of the Montreal Region will be forbidden, except in the event of a power outage
lasting over three hours.
Regarding renovictions:
• Under this by-law, landlords who are carrying out work that requires evacuation of a dwelling
must provide written documentation demonstrating that affected tenants have agreed to either
temporarily relocate or voluntarily vacate their dwellings during the renovation work.
• Tenants who have agreed to temporarily relocate must have been presented with a clear expected
timeline for their return. The contact information of each affected tenant must also be provided.
I have a number of apartment buildings in my district.
Regarding noise from mechanical equipment installed outside of a building:
• Generators must not produce noise levels that exceed the following: 65 dBA outside, measured within a 25 ft. radius of the noise source; 45 dBA inside a residential building or a healthcare facility; 48 dBA inside an office building
Other mechanical equipment installed outside or on the roof of a building, including heat pumps,
pool pumps, air conditioning or ventilation units, must not produce noise levels that exceed the
following: 60 dBA outside, measured within a 25 ft. radius of the noise source; 45 dBA inside a residential building or a healthcare facility; or 48 dBA inside an office building.
It should be noted that these noise limits are for the daytime (7 am to 11 pm) and that the by-law
also includes noise limits for the nighttime.
I am certainly glad to see us doing something about noisy generators. Two in particular in my district have caused serious problems for people living next door to buildings where the noise pollution is emanating from.
For the present by-law to come into effect, its adoption and approval process must follow the
different steps prescribed by provincial laws, which means it will be a few more months since this is regulated.
