Montreal’s skyline is changing. New condo and apartment buildings are going up across the city at break-neck speed, and with them, the need for efficient heating and cooling systems is growing. As you might expect, most of these residential units come with balconies, and as soon as the question of air conditioning comes up, so does another, “do you need a permit to install a heat pump on a balcony in Montreal?”
The short answer? It depends on the borough.
But don’t worry, in this post we’ll discuss when permits are needed, what the rules are for heat pump installations on balconies, and how you can bypass the balcony headaches entirely with a smarter solution.
Permit or No Permit
In Montreal, air conditioning and heat pump regulations vary depending on your borough. Some boroughs allow the installation of units on balconies without a permit—as long as the installation meets a specific set of criteria. Others may require permits or restrict visible mechanical installations altogether.
In most cases, boroughs expect developers to meet technical and aesthetic standards related to noise, drainage, visibility, and structural safety. Skipping these requirements can lead to headaches down the line—from neighbour complaints to forced removals and fines.
Although you might not need to fill out a permit application in every case, keeping compliance in mind is key. Consult the official regulations and urban planning by laws of the borough in which you plan to build to avoid any issues.
Conditions for Installing Heat Pumps on Balconies
Let’s take Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce as an example. If the project has four or more units, here are some of the city of Montreal’s expectations when installing a heat pump on a balcony:
Only one split unit per dwelling is allowed.
Cords and hoses must be no longer than 0.5 m and must be concealed in metal piping that matches the siding.
The unit must be installed at least two metres away from any windows or balconies of neighboring buildings.
Maximum unit dimensions: 40 cm wide, 75 cm long, 100 cm high.
The unit must not exceed the height of the balcony railing or its visual screen.
The railing must be an opaque visual screen, built from rigid material and matching the building's design.
Noise, vibration, and drainage must not disturb neighboring units.
How These Conditions Impact Your Project
As reasonable as these requirements might be, they add extra steps and costs to your project:
Design Considerations: HVAC system placement must be accounted for from an architectural perspective to ensure the balcony can accommodate the unit without violating size or spacing rules.
Increased Costs: Custom concealment elements like matching metal piping and opaque balcony screening drive up both materials and labour costs.
Noise Compliance: Verifying sound pressure levels under real-world conditions adds complexity.
Risk of Non-Compliance: If an element of the installation is off-spec or non-compliant with the applicable borough’s rules, the project may be subject to re-inspections and enforcement penalties.
For multi-unit buildings, these small headaches multiply quickly. That’s why more and more firms are turning to an alternative that removes the balcony from the equation altogether.
A Simple Workaround to Wall Split Units: The Innova 2.0
The Innova 2.0 series is shaking up the market with its superior design. These systems feature a self-contained indoor unit that does both cooling and heating without an external component.
Instead, the unit connects to the outdoors through two holes, typically just 162mm (6 inches) in diameter, routed directly through the exterior wall. This setup handles both air intake and exhaust, eliminating the need for any equipment on balconies, rooftops, or building facades. Installations are quick and straightforward; the unit mounts directly on an interior wall—high or low—using a provided template and bracket system.
Even though the units are compact and streamlined, they deliver high-performance climate control with advanced inverter technology that adjusts output in real time for maximum efficiency. It’s ideal for modern buildings aiming to meet specific energy benchmarks.
And with their sleek profile, they blend effortlessly into contemporary interiors, matching the aesthetics of modern residential construction.
The Practical Benefits of Indoor-Only Heat Pumps for Builders
For builders, the benefits of these air conditioning solutions are clear:
Bypass Zoning Constraints: You don’t need to worry about maximum dimensions, railing enclosures, or proximity to neighboring structures.
Preserve Aesthetic Value: No visible exterior units means a cleaner facade, perfect for high-end or design-sensitive projects.
Streamlined Installations: The Innova units reduce installation complexity and shorten timelines. Wall holes are standardized and predictable..
Peace of Mind: With everything indoors, developers avoid potential issues regarding noise complaints and visual objections.
In short, these smart climate control systems save time, reduce risk, and simplify heat pump design across the board. No outdoor equipment. No balcony restrictions. No permit drama. The Innova 2.0 is a better way to deliver efficient, compliant, and design-forward HVAC systems.
Uni-Air Inc. – Montreal’s Provider of Innovative HVAC Systems
At Uni-Air Inc., we deliver HVAC systems that meet the challenges of modern building design. As the master distributor of Innova’s wall-mounted heat pumps in Canada, we offer a smart solution to the growing complexity of climate control regulations.
Interested in simplifying your HVAC planning? Contact us today to learn more about our offering and how we can help streamline your next project.
