Gutter cleaning and downspouts: Montréal rules

Leaves fall, the autumn rains arrive, then comes the spring melt: gutter maintenance is a small job that protects your basement and foundation. When properly installed and maintained, gutters (eavestroughs) and downspouts catch the water from the roof and carry it away from the walls; according to the Government of Canada, most damage caused by clogged gutters is preventable. This guide summarizes the Canada.ca page Eavestroughs and downspouts (updated March 23, 2026, checked October 30, 2026) and the City of Montréal page on exterior gutters (in French, updated January 7, 2025, re-read November 1, 2026).

1. When to clean the gutters

Canada.ca recommends checking gutters and downspouts at least twice a year, in the fall and spring, to remove leaves and sticks. Check them more often after a storm, heavy rain or high winds, and when ice is building up. In the fall, the right time is after the leaves have dropped and before lasting frost; if big maples line your street, a second round in November often pays off.

2. Cleaning without taking risks

• Equipment: a sturdy ladder, work gloves and yard waste or compost bags; gutter guards are optional and can be installed at any time.
• Safety: Canada.ca advises not to work alone. Get someone to help or hire a professional. If the gutter cannot be reached safely from a ladder, do not climb on the roof.
• Downspouts: if water drains poorly, a garden hose helps loosen debris.
• Small cracks: they can be sealed with silicone sealant.
• Overall condition: look for damage. Gutters are commonly aluminum, which can last about 20 years according to Canada.ca.

3. Where downspout water should go

Canada.ca recommends an extension that sends water to a well-drained part of the yard, such as a vegetated area or a rain garden, at least 2 m (6 ft) from the foundation of your home and neighbouring homes, if possible. The page also says one downspout is usually installed for every 6 to 12 m of gutter, and that gutters or downspouts should be upsized if they keep overflowing despite regular maintenance. A rain barrel can collect the water; its overflow should also end up in a well-drained area away from the foundation, and the barrel should be emptied before freezing temperatures so it does not burst.

4. Gutters in Montréal and Châteauguay: what the cities say

Canada.ca points out that downspouts connected to the sewer can overwhelm the system during heavy rain and raise the risk of basement flooding, and that they are illegal in some municipalities. Two examples from Greater Montréal:

• Montréal: water from gutters, or the overflow of a rain barrel, must go to a permeable surface, such as a flower bed or lawn, at least 1.5 m from the foundation. It is prohibited to connect a gutter to the foundation drain, or to point it at a hard surface or the street. The City says its by-law on connections to the public water and sewer systems and stormwater management (20-030) must be followed or fines may apply; for questions, contact your borough.
• Châteauguay: according to the City’s exterior and interior renovation page (in French), adding or repairing gutters needs no permit.

Elsewhere, ask your municipality what its by-law requires and whether it offers any help: according to Canada.ca, some municipalities cover part or all of the cost of disconnecting downspouts. Sending water 2 m from the foundation meets both the Canada.ca recommendation and Montréal’s 1.5 m minimum.

5. Ice in the gutters

A gutter clogged in the fall freezes more easily in winter. Canada.ca suggests, with the help of another person, pouring hot water over ice buildup in the gutters from a ladder, or gently breaking the ice apart with a roof rake, to prevent blockages during thaws and rain. If ice builds up at the roof edge or water gets inside, read roof snow and ice dams.

6. Signs it is time to call a contractor

• water pooling along the foundation that could seep into the basement (Canada.ca sees it as a sign of clogged gutters or downspouts);
• gutters that overflow in every heavy rain, even when clean;
• sections that sag, leak or pull away from the roof;
• signs of moisture in the basement: see French drains, foundation cracks and backwater valves; after water damage, see making an insurance claim.

Canada.ca advises checking with your municipality whether a permit or inspection is required before installing new gutters. Before hiring a company, ask for its licence number and check it, get the work and the price in writing (see comparing quotes and hiring a roofer), and be wary of door-to-door cleaning offers or "free" inspections (see door-to-door sales). For other seasonal tasks, see getting your home ready for winter.

The directory lists only companies whose RBQ licence is active, with their subclasses; the site does not recommend or rate any contractor. You can browse roofers in Montréal or in Mirabel, the Longueuil page, or describe your gutter job and get quotes.