Braced
Menu

Snow clearance in Québec City

Snow removal firms and roofers.

20 pros in Québec City

Français

In Québec City, clearing your own snow is not as simple as pushing it to the curb. It is forbidden to put snow or ice from your property into the street or onto the sidewalk unless you hold a snow-removal permit, and breaking the rule can bring an infraction notice and a fine. The rule still applies when you hire a private contractor: if the snow is to go in the street, the property owner must obtain the permit. Under by-law R.V.Q. 1302, no permit can be issued if the area to be cleared is larger than 300 square metres, and depositing the snow in the street is prohibited in that case. So before you hire for driveway plowing, ask where the snow will go and who is responsible for the permit. For roof snow removal, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec says a contractor does not need an RBQ licence, so the licence will not tell you much. Ask instead about equipment and methods, since the RBQ notes that specialised companies know how to avoid damaging the waterproofing membrane.

Show

Not yet verified. We checked that each one’s own website offers this work, but we haven’t contacted them yet. How a business gets listed

Know a good one we’re missing? Suggest one

What to know in Québec City

  • In a February 2025 notice, the RBQ called roof snow removal a risky operation and said it is sensible to give the job to specialised companies. It said these companies have the right equipment and know the methods that avoid damaging the waterproofing membrane.

    Régie du bâtiment du Québec (source, opens in a new tab) (in French)

Before you hire

  1. Put it in a written contract: the work, price, deposit, start and finish dates, warranty, permits and clean-up. Paying cash to skip it leaves you no recourse.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Ask about liability insurance and workers’ compensation cover before anyone works on your roof or property.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

Questions about hiring in Québec City

Can my contractor push the snow into the street?

Only if the property owner has obtained a snow-removal permit. The City's rule on snow in the street also applies when a private contractor does the work. Ask the contractor before the season starts whether a permit is needed and who will apply for it. Ville de Québec (source, opens in a new tab)

Does my property's size affect whether I can get a permit?

Yes. Under by-law R.V.Q. 1302, no permit can be issued if the area to be cleared is larger than 300 square metres, and depositing the snow in the street is prohibited. If your lot is large, ask any contractor where they would take the snow. Ville de Québec (source, opens in a new tab)

Does a roof snow removal contractor need an RBQ licence?

No. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec says a contractor does not need an RBQ licence for roof snow removal work. Since a licence is not the test, ask about the company's equipment, its experience and its methods for protecting the roof. Régie du bâtiment du Québec (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a snow removal quote include?

Ask for a written soumission that states the work covered, such as driveway, walkway or roof, how often the contractor will come, where the snow will be put, and who handles any permit. Request the same details from each company so you can compare quotes fairly.

Other jobs and cities

Other jobs in Québec City

Snow clearance in other cities