Note to the reader — The content of this article is based on our understanding of the laws and interpretative documents issued by the Government of Quebec. It is presented for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice, legal consultation, or a professional opinion.
By Alexandre Keenan, Urban Planner, Urban Planning Professional and Luc Munier, Analyst – Municipal Regulations and Inspection
Since March 1st, 2026, the Government of Quebec’s modernized regulatory framework for water environment management and flood protection structures has been in effect. This permanent regime replaces the transitional regime in effect since 2022, established following the repeal of the former Policy for the Protection of Lakeshores, Riverbanks, Littoral Zones and Floodplains.
Although the regulations are now in effect, the next-generation flood zone maps, essential for understanding the practical application of the rules, have not yet been published. They are expected to be released gradually starting in spring 2026, as technical mapping work progresses.
A Context Marked by Concerns and a Well-Established Hydrological Reality
Many stakeholders (property owners, insurers, financial institutions, municipalities) have expressed concerns about the impacts of the new regime. However, it is important to note that the new maps do not create new flood zones. Rather, they scientifically illustrate a reality that already exists and has been exacerbated by climate change, as demonstrated by the major floods of 2017, 2019, and the Baie-Saint-Paul floods in 2023.
The government presents this modernized framework as a tool to:
- strengthen collective resilience to flooding;
- improve public safety;
- protect property and infrastructure;
- preserve natural environments and their ecological functions.
A Modernized Framework Comprising a Central Regulation and Numerous Revisions
The reform introduces three new regulations and amends nearly forty existing regulations, four of which substantially.
The central element of the reform is the Regulation respecting the framework for activities under municipal responsibility carried out in water environments and on flood protection structures.
Designed to be self-contained and simplified, this regulation addresses the challenges encountered under the transitional regime, where municipalities had to consult multiple texts simultaneously for application purposes. Now, a single document consolidates the main applicable rules, facilitating more efficient and consistent application.
Understanding Water Environments in the New Regime
The modernized framework applies to all water environments, including:
- the lakeshore or riverbank;
- the littoral zone;
- flood zones;
- and a major innovation: the watercourse mobility zone.
The mobility zone corresponds to the area where a watercourse can move naturally over time through erosion and sedimentation processes. Like flood zones, it will be subject to dedicated mapping and specific rules.
A New Flood Risk Classification
The regime abandons the 0–20 year / 0–100 year typology in favor of four more intuitive classes:
- Very high risk
- High risk
- Moderate risk
- Low risk
This approach aims to improve risk understanding and support municipal and citizen decision-making.
How APUR Can Support Municipalities and Private Stakeholders
The entry into force of the permanent framework profoundly transforms the way projects in water environments are assessed, authorized, and developed.
For Municipalities
An important innovation of the permanent regime compared to the transitional regime: municipalities can now adopt more stringent standards than those provided by the provincial regulation when their local situation requires it.
APUR can support municipalities and RCMs in:
- updating the land use and development plan
- updating the urban planning by-law
- revising and harmonizing regulations
- field application of modernized standards by a team of inspectors rigorously trained in the new regulatory framework
For Developers and Private Property Owners
APUR also offers specialized support to:
- assist in preparing and submitting authorization applications
- design compliant projects in water environments
- navigate between municipal requirements and those of the Ministry of the Environment
- reduce uncertainties in an evolving regulatory context
Our objective: facilitate compliance, optimize projects, and support sustainable and responsible development practices.