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Provisional regulations – Sectors A, B and P

In recent years, Brossard has enjoyed unprecedented economic vitality. Numerous densification projects, including several in Sector A, have been submitted to the city.

What is densification?

Densification means squeezing more people into the same space. For example, an area is densified by replacing an individual dwelling (single-family home) with a collective dwelling (multi-apartment building).

Faced with this craze, and knowing that sector A is one of Brossard’s oldest sectors, the city did its homework to determine whether its underground infrastructures, built mostly in the 1960s, were still adequate to maintain the service levels required to meet the needs of the growing population. In fact, independent technical advice has demonstrated the wear and tear of the sanitary sewer systems in Sector A and part of Sectors B and P.

In light of this advice, the municipal council adopted an Interim Control By-law in 2020, which prohibited densification in the areas in question. The City had acted in this way because any densification project would have precipitated wear and tear on the sanitary sewer system and could have increased the risk of backups.

New provisional regulations (REG486)

The Interim Control By-law enacted by REG-435 for sectors A, B and P is now lifted and replaced by the Interim By-law (REG486). By-law 486 concerns the issuance of permits or certificates (for work, interventions or use of a building likely to increase discharges to the sanitary sewer system), which will provide a framework for development or redevelopment projects in parallel with infrastructure work.

Useful documents

Infiltration and capture: the sinews of war!

Most of the problem in sector A and part of sectors B and P comes from infiltration and catchment. These phenomena can occur when a network is outdated.

Infiltration occurs when water enters the sewer system through joints between pipe sections, at pipe connections and branches, and through cracks in these pipes.

Catchment, on the other hand, is caused by the connection of pipes to the sanitary network, whereas these pipes should be connected to the rainwater network. At the time Sector A was developed, the use of storm sewers was not common practice. So, in the absence of a storm sewer, the older properties in Sector A use the sanitary network for rainwater, which is no longer the norm.

Frequently asked questions

  • Increased risk of sewer backup in homes and other buildings;
  • Accelerated deterioration of networks;
  • Non-compliance with overflow requirements and regulations.

The application of an interim control by-law for sectors A, B and P was necessary because the sanitary network reached its maximum hydraulic capacity during heavy rains, snowmelt and dry weather in certain areas, creating a significant risk of sewer backups in residences located in these sectors. In order to maintain an adequate level of service for citizens, the implementation of this by-law was the solution to avoid exacerbating the problem while awaiting the City’s major infrastructure projects.

The interim control by-law (REG-435) is replaced by the interim by-law (REG486) concerning the issuance of permits or certificates for work, interventions or use of a building likely to increase discharges to the sanitary sewer system. These regulations were adopted by the municipal council on July 2, 2024.

The area covered by the by-law (REG486) has been revised in line with the studies carried out and the development vision for the Brossard of tomorrow adopted by the municipal council in June 2024.

In the conditional sectors, it will be possible to grant a building permit or certificate of authorization only in the following cases:

  • Activities or work for which an engineer’s report submitted by the applicant demonstrates that the flow discharged by the project into the sanitary sewer system is less than or equal to the flow generated by the former use of the site;
  • Activities or works for which the applicant has implemented or has undertaken to implement compensatory measures on private property to limit the sanitary discharge generated by the project (e.g. disconnection of flat roofs).

In a nutshell, the provisional regulations at :

  • Under certain specific conditions, development projects can be carried out in parallel with the gradual completion of infrastructure work to enable the complete lifting of REG486;
  • Permit certain redevelopment and reuse projects if it has been demonstrated that the wastewater discharges generated to the network do not exceed those of the previous use of the building or site;
  • Prohibit any application or project likely to generate an increase in discharges into the local sanitary system.

The City has carried out a master plan study to target priority interventions to increase the hydraulic capacity of the sanitary sewer system in the area. These interventions would enable control measures to be lifted gradually as work progresses.

As part of this study, a flow measurement campaign was completed in the area to confirm data from the sanitary sewer hydraulic model. Televised inspections were also carried out on sanitary and storm sewer pipes on streets where priority work had been identified.

The design, plans and specifications for the work in the A sector have been completed. Preliminary studies are currently underway for further work in the near future.

Since the coming into force of the Interim Control By-law (RCI Original), several studies and analyses have been carried out by the Technical Services Department to identify and plan work to upgrade the sanitary network in sectors A, B and P, as well as in the future downtown area. These major projects are as follows:

  • Rehabilitation of the A sector, with complete reconstruction of municipal infrastructure on Audette, Agnès, Alfred and Albanie streets (construction horizon: 2024-2025). In 2024, upgrading work was completed on rue Audette (between Baillargeon and Anthony), rue Alfred (between Agnès and d’Avignon) and rue Albanie (between Athènes and 6194 Albanie). Work was also completed on adding lighting to the Alfred and Albanie footpaths. Work will be completed in 2025 if all goes according to plan.
  • Construction of a collector to be partly installed on boulevard Provencher up to boulevard Taschereau in the A sector (construction horizon: 2026 to 2029, subject to city council approval).

In parallel with this work, a campaign to disconnect flat roofs will be implemented as a priority in the sectors covered by the provisional by-law, in order to increase the hydraulic capacity of the networks and thus enable development projects to be approved more quickly. The search for non-compliant connections began this year in the sectors most affected by the provisional bylaw. This work will enable the gradual lifting of the provisional bylaw in sectors A, B and P as work progresses, until it is completely lifted at the end of work on the Provencher collector.

If your project does not result in an increase in discharges to the local sanitary system, you may be able to carry out your renovations. Here are the necessary steps:

  1. Complete the validation form, which best represents your situation:
  2. Send the form to [email protected] or in person at the Town Planning and Environment counter (located at Town Hall).
  3. Validate whether a permit is required by consulting the page Request for a permit or certificate – Ville de Brossard | Site officiel) or by contacting the Direction de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement directly.

Important: do not carry out any work without first obtaining authorization to proceed AND a permit.

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