Driveway estimator

Before digging, file a free request with Info-Excavation. The RBQ asks contractors to file it at least 4 business days before the work; it is valid until the stated end date, for at most 180 days. The construction safety code requires the employer to locate lines before digging. For an owner doing their own work, the request is strongly recommended even though that duty targets employers, and some municipalities, such as Magog, require it on their land.

Source: Régie du bâtiment du Québec, Travaux d'excavation · Gouvernement du Québec (LégisQuébec), Code de sécurité pour les travaux de construction, RLRQ c. S-2.1, r. 4 · Ville de Magog, Demande de localisation Info-Excavation

Per the RBQ licence guide, landscaping on private land, such as private driveways, low walls and paver landings resting on gravel that are not attached to the building, needs no licence. Owners may do this work at their own home, except electrical and gas work, which always goes to a qualified contractor. If you hire, check in the RBQ register that the contractor's subcategories cover the other parts of the contract, such as excavation or concrete. The RBQ's subcategory 2.7 includes paver parking lots; the line between a residential driveway and a parking lot is not defined, and our reading is that a single-family driveway stays exempt (interpretation to confirm with the RBQ).

Source: Régie du bâtiment du Québec, Guide pour déterminer le besoin d'une licence et la sous-catégorie pertinente : sous-catégorie 2.7, Entrepreneur en travaux d'emplacement · Régie du bâtiment du Québec, Travaux que vous pouvez faire vous-même · Régie du bâtiment du Québec, Vérifier la licence d'un entrepreneur

A permit is required to build, modify or remove a parking space or access. For the curb cut, the City lowers the sidewalk itself from May to October; an access is 2.4 to 7.5 m wide, all accesses take no more than 50% of the lot width and two accesses are at least 7.5 m apart. Some boroughs bill the actual cost plus 15% and prohibit cutting a tree for the access.

Source: Ville de Montréal, Obtenir un permis pour aménager ou modifier un espace de stationnement · Ville de Montréal, Obtenir un permis pour aménager une entrée charretière

Check with your municipality: rules differ from one city to the next.

A certificate is required to widen or narrow a sidewalk or curb. Only the City does that work and bills it after issuance. The file includes a sketch of the widths, a site plan and a surveyor's certificate. (Search summary of the official site, to re-check.)

Source: Ville de Laval, Entrée charretière

Check with your municipality: rules differ from one city to the next.

A certificate is required for every curb cut, filed with the parking area application and a certificate of location. Width equal to the driveway at the street line, at most two accesses per lot, at least 6 m apart and 7.5 m from the intersection. The applicant pays, and a City contractor does the work in about 8 weeks, sometimes the following year.

Source: Ville de Longueuil, Entrée charretière (fiche, juillet 2025)

Check with your municipality: rules differ from one city to the next.

The allowed driveway width depends on the lot frontage, measured at the street line: 2.5 to 5.5 m up to 11 m of frontage, 2.5 to 6 m from 11 to 20 m, 2.5 to 7.5 m beyond. (Search summary of the official site, to re-check.)

Source: Ville de Gatineau, Agrandissement d'une allée de stationnement

Check with your municipality: rules differ from one city to the next.

A permit is required to widen a curb cut or build a new asphalt yard; curb and sidewalk cutting and repair fees may apply. (Search summary of the official site, to re-check.)

Source: Ville de Sherbrooke, Construction, rénovation et travaux : foire aux questions

Check with your municipality: rules differ from one city to the next.

Act R-20 on the construction industry excludes landscaping, including asphalt or concrete driveways, done on a detached single-family house by an employer that is not a professional construction employer. For a semi-detached, row house, duplex or condo, or with a contractor whose main activity is construction, CCQ rules can apply, which changes the labour rates in a quote.

Source: Commission de la construction du Québec, Loi R-20 : exclusions

The Civil Code (art. 979) requires lower land to receive the natural flow from higher land, but forbids the owner of the higher land from making the neighbour's situation worse. A new paved surface that concentrates water toward the lot line can therefore make you liable.

Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Écoulement des eaux (rapports de voisinage)

If you hire, ask for a written contract. The RBQ recommends that it show the licence number where applicable, the NEQ, the GST and QST numbers, the exact legal name and an itemized price (labour, materials, transport, equipment rental, subcontractors), with the smallest possible deposit. The Office de la protection du consommateur also lists what to ask for.

Source: Régie du bâtiment du Québec, Signer un contrat de rénovation · Office de la protection du consommateur, Request a contract (before hiring a renovation contractor)