Site Planning and Architectural Integration By-law No. 1317

The Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program – usually referred to by its French acronym, PIIA – gives the Town an additional tool for evaluating real estate projects. Beyond the technical standards established by the builidng and subdivision by-laws and based on esthetic criteria, the PIIA helps ensure the character of the Town’s built environments is maintained in keeping with the original architectural styles.

The basic goal of the PIIA is to preserve the special character of Mount Royal’s various neighbourhoods as the areas develop. All construction and renovation projects submitted to the Town are evaluated with an eye to their optimal integration into the surroundings, and the permits are issued accordingly.

The criteria set out in the PIIA cover not only the Town’s residential zones, for which the different architectural styles have been described in detail (faubourg-style house, Garden City house, English manor, cottage, etc.), but also the commercial and industrial zones, where the same quality of integration of buildings and their facilities into the landscape and the urban fabric is required.

It is in accordance with the criteria established by Site Planning and Architectural Integration By-law No. 1317 that the projects submitted for study by the Town’s Planning Advisory Committee are evaluated.

Unofficial consolidated version incorporating amendments up until By-law No. 1317-12 (September 2010).

View By-law No. 1317 [PDF 2.35MB] (French only)

Finding your way through Urban Planning By-Laws

Although they are all part of the Town’s urban planning framework, it is important not to confuse the zoning, subdivision, building and related by-laws. To help you understand the differences, we offer the following summary:

  • 1310 (Zoning)
    Permitted uses, setbacks, fence heights, content and location of commercial signs, private parking spaces, etc. Think of zoning in terms of regulating how space is used.
  • 1311 (Building)
    Materials, construction methods, construction safety, etc.
  • 1312 (Minor Variances)
    Procedure to follow to obtain a minor variance from the subdivision and zoning by-laws.
  • 1313 (Subdivision)
    Cadastre, property lines, servitudes, etc.
  • 1314 (CCU)
    Makeup and operation of the Planning Advisory Committee.
  • 1316 (Permits and Certificates)
    Procedure for obtaining a permit (subdivision, construction, demolition) or a certificate of authorization (transport and installation of a building, change of use, temporary use, landscaping, posting of signs, occupation), including the applicable fees.
  • 1317 (PIIA)
    Site Planning and Architectural Integration Program.
  • 1318 (PAE)
    Comprehensive Development Planning (large-scale projects).