Services
Design-build services
Architectural & Construction Drawings in Greater Montréal
A construction drawing set is the single source of truth for a project — the document a city reviews for a permit and every trade builds from. Whether it does its job comes down to what's in it. A set that's detailed enough to permit but not to build leaves the trades guessing; a set drawn to look good but not coordinated produces change orders on site.
What a permit-ready, buildable set actually contains
Permit drawings prove compliance to the reviewer; construction drawings prevent field errors. A good set is both — detailed enough to permit and to construct without guesswork. It contains:
- Site plan, floor plans, elevations, and sections
- Reflected ceiling, lighting, and electrical layouts
- Structural and MEP detail where the scope requires it
- Millwork and detail drawings
- Finish, door, and hardware schedules
- Code-compliance notes
When a project needs an architect in Quebec
Under Quebec's Architects Act, some projects must have their design directed by an architect — not drawn by someone else and sealed at the end. The exemptions the OAQ publishes are specific. An architect is not required for:
- A detached single-family home — after the work: at most one basement level, height not exceeding two storeys, and total gross floor area under 600 m².
- A semi-detached or row house, a multi-family building of up to four dwellings, or a commercial, business, or industrial establishment (or a combination of these) — after the work: at most one basement level, height not exceeding two storeys, and total gross floor area under 300 m².
Modifications, and who leads the design
A building that does not fall into one of those exempt use categories is subject to the Act regardless of its size. Separately, modifications to an existing building fall outside the Act when they don't change its use and don't affect structural integrity, firewalls or fire separations, exits and their access, or the exterior envelope — which is where a large share of interior fit-out work sits, and a real reason a design-build studio can carry those projects in full.
We identify at the outset whether a project is subject to the Act. Where it is, an OAQ-member architect is engaged to direct that portion of the design from the start — brought in early to lead, not at the end to seal.
Check your own project
Don't take our read on faith. The Ordre des architectes du Québec publishes a decision tool — Aide à la décision – Loi sur les architectes — that tells you whether a given project needs architect-directed plans. Run yours through it, then talk to us about the parts we carry.
The in-house difference
Drawn by people who build
On the work we can carry — exempt buildings and interior modifications that fall outside the Act — the people drawing the set are the people who'll build from it. That changes what gets drawn: details are resolved to be constructed, not just to render cleanly, and the coordination usually discovered on site gets caught on the page. On a project subject to the Act, that same instinct shows up as coordination — we work with the architect directing the design from the first sketch, so the set is still produced by people who build, not handed off cold.
Frequently asked
Construction Drawings — your questions, answered.
What's the difference between permit drawings and construction drawings?
Permit drawings are the simplified set — site plan, floor plans, elevations and sections — that a municipality reviews for code and zoning compliance before approving your project. Construction drawings go further, adding structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing details, dimensions and material specifications the trades actually build from. A good design-build set serves both: detailed enough to permit and to construct without guesswork.
Do I need an architect or engineer for my drawings in Quebec?
It depends on the building's use and size. Under Quebec's Architects Act, many buildings must have their design directed by an architect from the outset — not simply sealed at the end. Small, clearly exempt work — for example a detached home or a small commercial building within the OAQ's size limits — often falls outside the Act, and structural work typically needs an engineer. The honest posture is to engage the architect early to lead the design where the Act applies, rather than draw first and seek a seal after. The OAQ's decision tool sets out the thresholds, and we confirm them for your specific project.
What drawings do I need to apply for a building permit in Montreal?
A typical Montréal permit application includes a scaled set showing existing and proposed conditions: a site plan, floor plans, elevations and, where the structure is affected, sections and structural details. A current certificate of location is usually required, plus photos for exterior changes. Missing documents — architect-directed plans where the Act applies, or the certificate of location — are a common cause of weeks-long delays.
Start a project
Have a space in mind? Let's design and build it.
Tell us about your project — commercial, retail, or residential — and we'll walk you through what design-build can deliver. Consultations across Greater Montréal.
Direct
(514) 697-1742info@indesignconstruction.caService area
- Montréal
- South Shore / Rive-Sud
- North Shore / Rive-Nord
- Laval
- Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- West Island