In Montréal, replacing a private lead water service (entrée d'eau en plomb) is mandatory. The City replaces the public section from the main to the property line at no charge and, when it works on your street, also replaces the private lead section at the owner's expense. Its published average, from 2022–2025 data, is $1,200 to $1,400 per linear metre, payable at once or over 15 years on the tax account.
- Montréal's public section runs from the main to the property line; the private section runs from the property line to the indoor shut-off valve.
- Replacing a lead private section is mandatory, and the City can do it at the owner's expense when it replaces the public side on the street.
- The City's average cost, including administrative fees, is $1,200 to $1,400 per linear metre of private pipe replaced (2022–2025 data).
- The bill can be paid once without interest or spread over 15 years on the property tax account.
- Free home screening runs June to October for buildings of eight dwellings or fewer built before 1970.
01 /Where does the City's responsibility end in Montréal?
Montréal divides the entrée d'eau into two parts. The public section runs from the water main (aqueduc) to the property line. The private section runs from the property line to the interior shut-off valve (robinet d'arrêt intérieur). The City replaces the public section without charge to the owner; the private section belongs to the owner, and when it is lead, replacing it is now an obligation rather than a choice.
The City targets buildings of eight dwellings or fewer built before 1970 for screening, which is the clearest published guide to which buildings are likely to have lead. Larger and newer buildings are not in that screening group. The pipe itself is the proof, so identify what enters your basement before assuming either way.
02 /Is replacing a lead service really mandatory in Montréal?
Yes. The City states that replacing the private portion of a lead entrée d'eau is now mandatory. Since 2021, under By-law 20-030 (article 58), when the City replaces lead services on a street it replaces the private lead portion at the same time, at the owners' expense. Public-side work is usually tied to water main or road projects and takes place between April and November.
- Screening or notice
The City finds or suspects lead through screening, records or street work and notifies the owner.
- Owner's option to act first
An owner can hire a contractor to replace the private section before the City reaches the street; the City recommends getting three bids.
- Early public-side request
If the private section has already been replaced in copper, the owner can apply to have the public section replaced early.
- City street work
Otherwise the City replaces both sections when it works on the street, and bills the owner for the private length.
- Non-compliance
An owner who receives a notice of non-compliance must replace within 24 months; fines listed by the City run $500 to $2,000 for an individual and $1,000 to $4,000 for a corporation.
The mandatory rule solves the problem Health Canada describes with partial replacement: lead left on one side of a new joint can keep releasing particles for months. Montréal's approach is to remove both sides in one visit wherever possible.
03 /What will the City charge for the private section?
Montréal publishes an average: based on 2022 to 2025 data, the estimated cost is between $1,200 and $1,400 per linear metre replaced, including administrative fees. The length billed is measured from the foundation wall to the property line. A building set 6 metres back from the property line would therefore expect roughly $7,200 to $8,400 at that average; one set 12 metres back, roughly $14,400 to $16,800. Your actual bill depends on the work done at your address.
| Setback, foundation to property line | Low ($1,200/m) | High ($1,400/m) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 m | $4,800 | $5,600 |
| 6 m | $7,200 | $8,400 |
| 8 m | $9,600 | $11,200 |
| 12 m | $14,400 | $16,800 |
The bill arrives the year after the work. The owner can pay it once with no interest, or spread it over 15 years on the property tax account at an interest rate set at the City's own borrowing rate. The charge stays with the building if it is sold, which is worth knowing when buying a pre-1970 plex. Compare these figures with other cities on the cost page.
04 /Is there a grant for Montréal owners?
A City page dated June 2022 describes a $1,200 grant under the RénoPlex renovation program, which requires applying for at least $3,000 in total grants and caps the help at 50 percent of eligible costs, so it suits owners doing other renovations. That page was more than four years old when checked in September 2026, so confirm with the City that RénoPlex still offers it before counting on the money.
05 /How do I get a lead screening in Montréal?
The City offers free home screening (dépistage) between June and October for buildings of eight dwellings or fewer built before 1970. If the building tests positive, the City provides a free starter kit, a filter pitcher and filters, to every dwelling in it. Use the filter or bottled water for drinking and cooking until the whole service is replaced. The lead testing guide explains why a single low result does not clear a lead pipe.
- Request screening through the City's online form (demander le dépistage d'une entrée d'eau en plomb).
- Request the public replacement online once your private section is copper or another approved material.
- Get three bids for private work, each stating the length, method, entry point and restoration.
For a quick first read on your building, run the Lead Water Line Check; for contractor quotes on the private section, send the details.
FAQQuestions people ask
Do I have to replace my lead entrée d'eau in Montréal?
Yes. The City says replacing a private lead section is mandatory, and it can do the work at your expense when it replaces the public side on your street.
How much does Montréal charge per metre of lead service replaced?
Its published average from 2022–2025 data is $1,200 to $1,400 per linear metre, including administrative fees, measured from the foundation to the property line.
Can I pay Montréal's lead replacement bill over time?
Yes. You can pay once without interest or over 15 years on the property tax account at the City's borrowing rate.
Which Montréal buildings can get free lead screening?
Buildings of eight dwellings or fewer built before 1970, with screening offered from June to October.
