Règlement 152-2023 requires council's approval of a site-planning and architectural-integration plan (PIIA) for certain work in the architectural core, in the Route 201 Sud and C-7 sector and in zone R-37 (rue Isabelle), and for any detached accessory dwelling unit anywhere in the municipality. Fines run from $500 to $4,000 for each day an offence lasts.
The copy the town has posted is an administrative codification that says it has no official value. It shows no adoption or in-force date.
PIIA stands for plan d'implantation et d'intégration architecturale, a site-planning and architectural-integration plan (art. 1.10). Article 1.2 says the bylaw governs the siting and architecture of buildings and the landscaping of lots, and related work, by setting objectives and criteria, and that its aim is to allow “un contrôle qualitatif” (qualitative control) of development in the zones it covers.
Bylaw 152-2023 repeals and replaces Bylaw 65-2011 and all its amendments (art. 1.3). The copy the town has posted is an administrative codification: it warns that it has no official value, leaves its update date and its table of amendments blank, and shows no date of adoption or entry into force. Its signature lines are blank. Article 5.1 says the bylaw comes into force according to the Loi sur l'aménagement et l'urbanisme and the Code municipal.
Article 1.7 lists three sectors. The architectural core (noyau architectural) is made up of zones C-5, MXT-1 to MXT-3, P-5 to P-9, P-11, R-13, R-15 to R-17, and R-29 to R-32.
The Route 201 Sud and zone C-7 sector is made up of zones C-7, C-8 to C-10 and I-1; the sign rules do not apply in zone C-7 (art. 4.8, 4.11). The third sector is zone R-37 (rue Isabelle), where only the construction and enlargement of a principal building are covered (art. 4.14).
The bylaw also applies anywhere in the municipality to any detached accessory dwelling unit (unité d'habitation accessoire détachée, UHAD): building a new one, converting an accessory building into one, enlarging one, and exterior renovations to one (art. 1.7, 4.18).
Zones are those shown on the zoning plan of Bylaw 148-2023 (art. 1.7). The zoning map for the urban perimeter is posted on ormstown.ca.
In the architectural core, PIIA approval is required, on an application for a building permit or a certificate of authorization, for any of the following (art. 4.2):
In the Route 201 Sud and C-7 sector, approval is required on an application for a subdivision permit, building permit or certificate, for: building or enlarging a principal or accessory building; the same exterior renovations as in the core, without the painting item; adding or modifying a front-yard parking area; and signs, except in zone C-7 (art. 4.8). In zone R-37, it is required for building or enlarging a principal building (art. 4.14). For a detached accessory dwelling unit anywhere in the municipality, it is required for building a new one, converting an accessory building into one, enlarging one, or exterior renovations: replacing wall or roof cladding, changing or adding openings visible from the public road, or changing the roof form (art. 4.18).
The bylaw sets out these steps (art. 3.2–3.9):
Any change to the plans and documents after council's approval requires a new application (art. 3.10). The bylaw sets no deadline for the CCU's analysis or for council's decision.
The bylaw leaves the fees to the municipal fee schedule (art. 2.4). The current one, Bylaw 39-2026 (in force June 1, 2026), sets $500 for a general PIIA application, $350 for a sign and $100 for colour only (item 63).
Chapter 4 sets objectives and criteria for each sector. In the architectural core, they include a front setback and orientation that follow the dominant ones in the sector, and enlargements placed preferably at the rear, or at the side if that is impossible (art. 4.3); new buildings of the same size as the sector's buildings, and roof form, colour, materials and slope that harmonize with surrounding buildings and with the colours historically used in the sector (art. 4.4). For renovations, sober colours must be favoured and accent colours used with restraint and moderation; where earlier renovations or changes have altered the building's original character, the work must aim to restore it as far as possible (art. 4.5). A sign's design is treated as an architectural component of the building, its support is discreet, and reflected light sources are built into the sign or, on the ground, into a base or landscaping (art. 4.6).
In the Route 201 Sud and C-7 sector, the criteria include a main façade parallel to the street and avoiding large front setbacks (art. 4.9); for parking, the objective is to avoid front-yard parking as much as possible, and the criteria include softening it with trees, shrubs, fences and landscaping (art. 4.12). For a detached accessory dwelling unit, the criteria include an architectural link with the principal building, such as recalling its roof forms and harmonizing cladding materials and slopes (art. 4.20); a setback that preserves the alignment of façades on the street; and siting on surfaces that are already paved or built over (surfaces déjà minéralisées), which is preferred to preserve green space and existing vegetation, notably mature trees (art. 4.19).
Anyone who fails to comply with any provision of the bylaw, makes a false declaration or produces erroneous documents to obtain a permit or certificate, obstructs the bylaw's application, or makes, falsifies or alters a permit or certificate commits an offence (art. 2.5). For each day or part of a day the offence lasts, the fine on a first offence is $500 to $1,000 for an individual and $600 to $2,000 for a legal person (personne morale). On a repeat offence it is $800 to $2,000 for an individual and $800 to $4,000 for a legal person. A continuing offence is a separate offence each day, and the municipality can also use any other civil or penal remedy, including those in articles 227 to 233 of the Loi sur l'aménagement et l'urbanisme (art. 2.7).
In the sectors listed in article 1.7, and for any detached accessory dwelling unit, the work listed in chapter 4 needs council's approval of a PIIA before the permit or certificate is issued (art. 3.9). The application goes to the municipality's urbanism department (art. 3.2), and zones are those on the zoning plan of Bylaw 148-2023 (art. 1.7).
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