Planning a Winter Office Move in Montréal: Snow, Permits and Year-End Timing

Yes, you can move an office in Montréal in December, January or February, and many companies do because leases often end on December 31. The difference from a summer move is planning: book the truck permit with the borough early, keep an eye on the city's snow-loading schedule for the street, protect both buildings from salt and slush, and give computers time to warm up before they are switched on.

Winter moves also have one real advantage. Moving companies are far less busy than around July 1, when much of the province moves house on the same weekend. Crews and dates are easier to get, and building managers are not juggling three other move-ins that week.

December 31 lease expiries drive winter moves

Commercial leases in Québec often run on calendar years, so a lot of them expire on December 31. Companies that renewed late or found a new space in the fall end up moving in the last two weeks of December or the first weeks of January. Some prefer the holiday period because fewer staff are working and client activity is slow.

The catch is that buildings know this too. Many limit access between Christmas and New Year's Day, run reduced security, or ask for extra notice before they open the loading dock. Ask both property managers for their holiday move rules now, in October, while there is still room to adjust the date.

Borough permits for the moving truck

If the truck has to park on the street in front of either building, you will usually need a permit to occupy the public domain. In Montréal these are issued by the borough, not by the central city, so the process and lead time depend on where each building is. A move from Ville-Marie to Saint-Laurent may involve two different boroughs with two different rules.

The permit reserves the space and lets the borough put up no-parking signs ahead of the move. Without it, the truck may end up double-parked or a block away, which adds time to every trip. Ask your mover who applies and confirm it at least a few weeks out. For moves to Laval, the City of Laval has its own rules for street occupation, so check those separately.

Snow loading and towing

After a significant snowfall, the city clears and then loads snow street by street. Before loading, temporary no-parking signs go up, and vehicles left in the way are towed. A moving truck caught in a loading operation is a real risk on a winter move.

What helps:

• Check the snow-removal status for both streets in the days before the move. The city publishes where loading is planned.
• If a storm is forecast for move weekend, talk to your mover about shifting start times or moving the truck to the loading dock if the building has one.
• Keep the move day flexible by a day if your lease allows it. A Saturday storm can turn into a Sunday move.

Loading docks and back alleys also need clearing. Ask each building who handles the dock, and when, so the crew is not shovelling before it can load.

Protecting floors, walls and furniture

Salt and slush are the main source of damage on a winter move. Without protection, they end up on lobby stone, elevator floors and the new carpet in your suite.

A good winter move plan includes:

• floor runners from the entrance to the elevator and through the suite
• elevator pads on the walls
• mats at every entrance the crew uses, changed when they get soaked
• shrink wrap or padded covers on upholstered chairs and fabric panels so they do not pick up wet salt

Agree in writing with the property manager what protection they require. Some buildings inspect before and after the move.

IT equipment and the cold

Electronics moved through freezing temperatures can collect condensation when they come into a warm room. The usual practice is to let computers, monitors, servers and network gear sit at room temperature, still in their packaging or covers, before powering them on. Your IT team should set how long; a few hours is common for desktops, and more for servers and storage.

Build that waiting time into the weekend. If equipment arrives at the new office on Saturday afternoon, plan to start powering up on Sunday morning, not straight off the truck.

Keep the truck time short as well. Load IT equipment last and unload it first so it spends as little time as possible in an unheated box.

Daylight and crew hours

In December the sun sets before 4:30 p.m. in Montréal. Outdoor work at the truck, the dock and the sidewalk will be done in the dark for most of a Friday-evening move. Make sure both loading areas have working lights, and that sidewalks and ramps are cleared and salted by the building before the crew arrives.

Year-end tasks in Québec that go with the move

A few items are easy to forget during a December move:

• Change your address with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec, Revenu Québec, the CRA, your insurer and your bank.
• New signage at the new address has to follow the Charter of the French Language rules on commercial signage, which were tightened in 2025. Check them before ordering a sign.
• Lease surrender. Most leases require the old suite to be left in a set condition, often with furniture and cabling removed. Read the restoration clause and plan for it, since it can take an extra weekend.

For more on keeping the business running through the move, see our guide on minimizing downtime during a move.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a good idea to move an office in winter in Montréal?

It can be. Movers are less busy than in summer, especially compared to the July 1 period, and many leases end on December 31 anyway. Winter moves need extra planning for snow loading on the street, floor protection from salt, and holiday access rules at both buildings.

Do I need a permit to park a moving truck in Montréal?

If the truck parks on the street, you usually need a permit to occupy the public domain from the borough where the building is located. Each borough has its own process and lead time, so apply a few weeks ahead and confirm whether your mover or your company is responsible.

What happens if it snows on moving day?

A heavy snowfall can slow loading, close loading areas until they are cleared, and trigger snow-loading operations with towing on the street. Most movers will adjust start times or shift the move by a day when a storm is forecast, so keep a backup day in your plan if your lease allows.

How long should computers warm up after a winter move?

Let electronics reach room temperature before powering them on to avoid condensation inside the equipment. A few hours is common for desktops and monitors; servers and storage often get longer. Your IT team should set the exact time for your equipment.

Plan your Montréal winter move

Tell us your dates, both addresses and what is moving. Send the details through our quote form and we will follow up in writing with a winter move plan for your office in Montréal and a free quote.