Bill 122: Facade and Parking Structure Inspection
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Facades and parking · Bill 122
A facade of 5 or more storeys above ground, or a parking structure with a concrete slab that does not rest on the ground: in both cases, Quebec's Safety Code requires the owner to have the structure checked by a professional at set intervals. We carry out the inspection, write the required signed report and help you plan what comes next.
For condominium syndicates, owners of rental, commercial and institutional buildings, and property managers in Greater Montreal.
- FacadesReport by an engineer or architect, at least every 5 years
- ParkingA check every year, an engineer's report every 5 years
- ReportSigned by an engineer, member of the OIQ
Where the name “Bill 122” comes from
The name has stuck, but the obligations are set out in the Building chapter of the Safety Code (CQLR, c. B-1.1, r. 3), in force since March 18, 2013, and enforced by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). They apply to the owner, whether the building is a condominium, rental, commercial or institutional property. For a condominium, they come on top of the Bill 16 obligations.
I
Buildings covered
- Section 371
Facades of 5 or more storeys above ground
A single facade with 5 or more storeys above ground is enough. Each facade is counted separately, and a rooftop mechanical room does not count as a storey. The facade includes the cladding of the exterior walls and everything attached to it: balconies, canopies, cornices, chimneys, antennas, masts, signs.
- Section 385
Parking structures
Underground or above-ground parking structures with a concrete slab whose driving surface does not rest on the ground. A garage level that carries vehicles above another level falls within this definition. A slab poured directly on the ground does not.
What we often see in Montreal
- Sloping lotsIn several neighbourhoods, the rear facade has one more storey than the front facade. Since each facade is counted separately, it is sometimes the rear that brings the building under the regulation.
- Older masonryBrick buildings downtown and in the central neighbourhoods may carry cornices, parapets and ornaments. These elements are part of the facade.
- Freeze, thaw and saltDe-icing salts penetrate the concrete slabs of parking structures. Combined with freeze-thaw cycles, they are among the causes of deterioration an inspection must look for.
II
How often
Facades
- First reportNo later than the 10th anniversary of the building's construction.
- Following reportsWithin 5 years after the last report was produced.
- Inspection windowThe checks must be carried out within the 6 months before the report is produced.
For buildings that were more than 10 years old on March 18, 2013, the first report was due on a schedule based on their age. The 5-year cycle then took over.
Parking structures
- Every yearThe owner carries out a check, recorded on a form with dated photos. The form follows the model in Schedule II of the regulation, and the RBQ publishes a fillable version.
- New parking structureFirst in-depth inspection report after 12 months and before 18 months following the end of construction.
- AfterwardsAn in-depth inspection report by an engineer every 5 years.
Between two reports, an anomaly found during the annual check (spalled concrete, exposed rebar, water infiltration, a widening crack) is reason to call an engineer without waiting for the deadline. The RBQ recommends the same, and also advises thoroughly cleaning slabs and drains to remove de-icing salts.
III
Our inspection
- Document reviewPlans, previous reports, register, work carried out. The regulation requires the owner to provide access to the premises and to make these documents available.
- General inspectionA visual examination of each facade, or each parking level, to assess deterioration and identify the areas to examine closely.
- Close-up inspectionFor facades: a close-range examination, usually from an aerial lift, with sounding of materials and exploratory openings, as described in the RBQ guide. For parking: slabs, beams, columns, walls and joints, with the tests the engineer considers necessary. Loose, unstable or fractured pieces are removed safely.
- Classifying defectsEach defect is located, described and ranked by urgency, with its probable cause.
- Report and presentationWe write the report, then present it to the owner or the board, with the work priorities.
In Montreal: plan for access
If an aerial lift needs to occupy the sidewalk or street, a public domain occupancy permit from the borough may be required. We tell you what to plan for when scheduling the visit, along with the notice to occupants.
IV
The report and next steps
What the report contains
- The engineer's name, signature and business contact information.
- The mandate, the documents reviewed, the methods and the scope of the inspection.
- Identification of the building or parking structure, and the inspection dates.
- The location and description of defects, with their causes.
- The recommended corrective work and its schedule.
- A summary confirming that there is no dangerous condition or, where applicable, the recommendations sent to the owner.
- Appendices: photos, drawings and other useful information.
Inspection report · Facades and parking
- Mandate and methodsDocuments reviewed, scope of the inspection
- Located defectsDescription, causes, photos
- Work and scheduleRanked by urgency
- SummaryDangerous condition or not
The register
The report is filed in the building's register, kept on the premises and available to the RBQ. The register also records repair, alteration and maintenance work, including repeated repairs to the same problem, and, for parking, the annual inspection forms. If no dangerous condition is found, the report does not have to be sent to the RBQ.
If a dangerous condition is found
Under the regulation, a dangerous condition exists when an element may imminently come loose, fall or collapse and injure people. The professional informs the owner and the RBQ without delay. The owner must then:
- Without delayPut in place emergency measures that protect occupants and the public.
- Without delayNotify the RBQ.
- Within 30 daysSend the RBQ, for approval, a written description of the corrective work prepared by an engineer (or an architect, for facades), with a schedule.
- As scheduledHave the work carried out according to that description and schedule.
- End of workObtain an inspection report confirming that the structure is safe.
- End of workSend the RBQ a letter signed by the engineer confirming that the work is complete.
We can prepare the description of the work, the signed and sealed plans and specifications, and supervise the site.
V
Frequently asked questions
Our building has five storeys. Are we covered?
Yes, as soon as one facade has 5 or more storeys above ground. Each facade is counted separately, and a rooftop mechanical room does not count as a storey. On a sloping lot, as found in several Montreal neighbourhoods, the rear facade may have one more storey than the front. If in doubt, a professional decides from the plans and a site visit.
Is our underground garage a parking structure?
It is if it has a concrete slab whose driving surface does not rest on the ground, for example a level that carries vehicles above another level. A garage whose only driving surface is a slab on the ground does not fall within this definition. The plans often settle the question. If not, an engineer can confirm it on site.
Who can carry out the inspection?
For facades, an engineer or an architect. For parking, an engineer produces the in-depth inspection report, and the owner carries out the annual check. In both cases, the choice of methods and tests rests with the professional.
Does the report have to be sent to the RBQ?
Not if it reports no dangerous condition: it is then kept in the register, on the premises, where the RBQ can consult it. If a dangerous condition is found, the professional and the owner must notify the RBQ without delay.
What if the report finds a dangerous condition?
Secure the premises right away (safety perimeter, protective scaffolding, closing part of the parking) and notify the RBQ. Within 30 days, send it the description of the corrective work and the schedule. The work is then carried out according to that description, and a letter from the engineer confirms its completion.
When should the inspection be planned?
The checks must be carried out within the 6 months before the report is produced. Count back from the deadline, allowing for access: aerial lift, public domain occupancy permit, notice to occupants. If the building is a condominium, the visit can be coordinated with the maintenance log visit (Bill 16).
Further reading
Articles and pages by our team to explore the topic in more depth.
Bill 122: Facade and Parking Structure Inspections in Quebec
Buildings covered, what is checked on a facade and how an inspection unfolds.
Read the article →Balconies and Guardrails: Warning Signs, Inspection and Repair
The signs that should alert you, and when to repair rather than replace.
Read the article →Next step
Is your facade or parking report coming due?
Tell us the address, the year of construction, the number of storeys above ground and the date of the last report. We will reply with a service proposal suited to your building.
- Firm
- GC4I Inc., structural engineers
- Office
- 8350 Christophe-Colomb Avenue, Suite 18, Montreal
- Service area
- Montreal, Laval, South Shore, North Shore and West Island
- contact@gc4i.ca
Inspection reports are signed by an engineer, member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. Plans and specifications for corrective work are signed and sealed. References: Safety Code, CQLR, c. B-1.1, r. 3, s. 371 to 400; RBQ explanatory guide on facade maintenance (2022). This text presents the framework in force in Quebec in October 2026. It does not replace an assessment of your building or legal advice.
Have a project in mind?
Tell us about the situation
Tell us about your building and your question, and attach a few photos or plans if you have them. An engineer reviews your request and sends you a written service proposal: scope, deliverables and timeline.
Structural emergency? Call us at (438) 993-8518, 24/7.
What happens next?
- We read your requestPhotos, plans and the building's address help us understand the question.
- We get in touchTo clarify the context, the deadline and what you need.
- Written service proposalScope, deliverables and timeline, before the work begins.
Good to know
- Free quote, no obligationWe review your request and send you a written service proposal.
- Engineers who are members of the OIQOrdre des ingénieurs du Québec.
- Your information stays confidentialIt’s used only to answer your request.