Condo, plex or rental: who decides on your heat pump?

Do I need a permit to install a heat pump in Montréal?

It depends on the borough. According to montreal.ca (updated August 3, 2026), 8 of the 19 boroughs require a permit or certificate, including Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Ville-Marie, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, Verdun and Outremont. Elsewhere no permit is needed, but the location and distances are still regulated.

Can my condo syndicate say no?

Yes, if the declaration of co-ownership or the building by-laws regulate or forbid it. Exterior walls and balconies are presumed to be common portions (art. 1044 C.C.Q.). Send your request in writing to the board of directors, with the location and the spec sheet.

What vote is needed at the co-owners’ meeting?

Work that transforms or improves the common portions is decided by 3/4 of the votes of the co-owners present or represented (art. 1097 C.C.Q., in force since January 10, 2020). Changing the building by-laws takes a simple majority (art. 1096). At an adjourned meeting, an art. 1097 decision also needs a majority of the votes of all co-owners (art. 1089).

I’m a tenant: can I have a wall heat pump installed?

Yes, with the owner’s written consent. During the lease, a tenant cannot change the form of the dwelling (art. 1856 C.C.Q.), and drilling a wall is a serious alteration. At the end of the lease you must remove what you installed; if that damages the dwelling, the owner may keep the unit and pay its value, or require the dwelling to be restored (art. 1891).

Can a tenant get LogisVert for a heat pump?

No. According to the LogisVert participant guide (v1.10, September 15, 2026), a tenant is eligible only for an induction range or a heat pump dryer. The heat pump grant goes to the owner. The free stream for low-income households has closed its 2026-2027 registrations.

What is the multi-unit bonus?

Hydro-Québec adds $100 per 1,000 BTU/h at -8 °C to LogisVert’s $120, for $220 in total, for an ENERGY STAR cold-climate wall unit installed since June 15, 2026. The building needs 2 or more units (not a condo), must be built in 1995 or earlier, in an energy-poverty zone, with a value per unit below the regional median, electric heating and one meter per dwelling.

Can my rent go up after the installation?

Yes, under the TAL rules. Since 2026, the owner adds 5% of the cost of the work, once, and only for the tenants who benefit. The grant received (LogisVert, bonus) is deducted before the calculation.

Does the owner have to warn me before the work?

For a major improvement, yes: written notice 10 days before, or 3 months before if you must leave the dwelling for more than a week (art. 1922-1923). You have 10 days to reply; if you don’t, you’re deemed to refuse to vacate (art. 1925).

Can I put the outdoor unit on my front balcony?

Rarely without conditions. It’s banned in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie and Ville-Marie, and in the Plateau if visible from the street. Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Côte-des-Neiges–NDG allow it from 4 units, Verdun from 13. In Longueuil, it’s possible behind the railing in some buildings with 4 or more units.

Is there a noise limit?

In some boroughs and cities: 50 dB at the lot lines in LaSalle, Montréal-Nord and Saint-Léonard; 55 dB by day and 52 dB at night in Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve; 53 dB(A) in Longueuil. Others require a screen or an acoustic study. Each unit’s sound level is on its spec sheet.

Who is allowed to install a heat pump?

Handling refrigerant requires an environmental qualification certificate (Regulation respecting halocarbons, s. 43-44). The electrical hookup is done by an electrical contractor (RBQ licence, subclass 16). AirGreen holds RBQ licence 5645-9605-01 (subclasses 15.8, 15.10 and 16).

In a plex, do I need one LogisVert application per dwelling?

The guide calls for one form per eligible dwelling and refers to the complete system in each unit, but doesn’t say clearly how a multiplex is counted. Confirm with LogisVert at 1 877 348-6999 before you apply.