Guide
Flyer distribution in Montreal: what the regulations allow in 2026
Yes, you can still distribute flyers in Montreal. But since May 17, 2023, carriers can only leave them at addresses that display the green opt-in sticker.
By Sylvain Sourdif, founder and president of Prestige Média
Published
Last updated
What the bylaw says
The City of Montréal's bylaw on reducing the environmental impact of distributing advertising material (by-law 22-028) has been in force since May 17, 2023. It covers flyers, circulars, brochures, leaflets and any similar printed piece designed to advertise. Its main rules:
- ✓Consent by sticker: no advertising material may be left on private property without the consent of the owner or occupant, who gives it by displaying the opt-in sticker on their front door or mailbox.
- ✓Multi-unit buildings: the number of pieces left must match the number of stickers on the residents' mailboxes.
- ✓No plastic: plastic wrapping, compostable or not (bags, envelopes or any other delivery container), is banned.
- ✓Newspapers excluded: according to the City, the bylaw does not apply to newspaper distribution.
The City states that fines are issued for violations.
What varies from one borough to the next
The bylaw applies across the city, but each borough sets its own conditions: permitted hours, whether a permit is required, fees, and where a piece may be left. A few examples from the City's official page, updated on January 14, 2026:
- ✓Le Plateau-Mont-Royal: permit issued by the borough's Bureau Accès Montréal, valid for up to 7 days per distribution, at $134; distribution allowed between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- ✓Verdun: permit required; for commercial flyers, $75 per distribution (up to 7 days) or $2,180 for an annual permit.
- ✓Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce: a valid occupancy permit for commercial and professional activity is required; distribution allowed between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- ✓Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve: no extra fee with a valid occupancy permit; distribution allowed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- ✓Outremont: no permit needed; distribution prohibited on weekdays between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., and on Sundays and public holidays.
These rules can change: always check the official page before a distribution, or let us handle it.
What it means for your business
- ✓Target the right areas: carrier distribution no longer reaches every door on a street, only those with the sticker. Focus on the areas where your customers live.
- ✓Plan the right print run: there are fewer authorized addresses than doors, and multi-unit buildings need as many pieces as stickers. Get your quantities estimated before printing, so you don't pay for pieces that won't be delivered.
- ✓Choose the right format: postcards and flyers work well in mailboxes; door hangers suit houses whose front door leads to a single dwelling, where the borough allows it. Never use plastic wrapping.
Carriers or Canada Post: which to choose?
Choose carriers to target a few streets or a specific neighbourhood, at addresses that display the sticker: it's the most precise way to reach residents who have chosen to receive advertising material.
To reach every household in an area, or to cover several boroughs by full letter-carrier routes, Canada Post distribution is the option to consider (minimum of 5,000 doors or a complete postal code). We confirm the details in your quote.
How Prestige Média handles it for you
- ✓Borough rules: we follow the hours and conditions of every borough in your campaign.
- ✓Permits: we take care of the permits the boroughs involved require.
- ✓Quantities: we work with you to estimate how many pieces to print based on the authorized addresses in your area.
- ✓Tracking: you get a distribution report by area.
Elsewhere: Laval and the South Shore
Every city has its own rules on distributing advertising material. In Laval and on the South Shore (Longueuil, Brossard, Candiac, La Prairie and Boucherville), our carriers follow the municipal regulations in force in each city, and we apply them for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit to distribute flyers in Montreal?
It depends on the borough. Some require none (Outremont, for example), others require a valid commercial occupancy permit (Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce) or a paid distribution permit (Le Plateau-Mont-Royal: $134, for up to 7 days). We handle it for you.
What hours can you distribute flyers in Montreal?
Hours vary by borough: for example, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, and never on weekdays between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., or on Sundays and public holidays, in Outremont. Our carriers follow each borough's hours.
How many flyers should you plan for an apartment building?
As many as there are opt-in stickers on the residents' mailboxes: the bylaw requires the number of pieces left to match the number of stickers. We factor this into your quantities.
Can you distribute flyers in a plastic bag?
No. In Montreal, plastic wrapping, compostable or not, is banned for advertising material: bags, envelopes or any other delivery container. Your pieces are delivered without plastic wrapping.