Pricing & billing
What does a container on the street really cost, permit included?
Updated July 19, 2026
Short answer
On the street in Montreal, the true total is the container price PLUS your borough's permit — and the permit often costs more than the rental. For a 10-yard over 10 days, expect roughly $1057 in Anjou and roughly $1652 in Outremont. The container is identical; the gap is entirely the permit, which varies by 2.4× across boroughs. In a private driveway no permit is required and the advertised price is the price paid.
Why does the permit cost so much?
A public-domain occupancy permit is generally billed per day and per square metre occupied, with issuance and sometimes analysis fees on top. Over ten days those daily fees add up fast. Each borough sets its own schedule, which is why there is a 2.4× gap between Anjou ($430) and Outremont ($1025) for exactly the same container.
2 boroughs do not publish a surface rate online. We don't invent it: those cells stay "not published" and you have to call the borough.
How do you avoid the permit entirely?
By putting the container on your own property. A standard residential driveway takes up to the 40-yard, and no permit is required on private property. It is the only way to bring the cost back to the advertised price — which is why the first question on any booking should be "driveway or street?", not "what size?".
How long before the permit is issued?
Two to ten business days depending on the borough. Five boroughs require ten business days — two calendar weeks — and that is the constraint that makes job-site dates slip. Our booking form automatically blocks dates the permit cannot cover.
Sources
- Ville de Montréal — temporary public-domain occupancy permit — verified July 19, 2026
Permit rates come from the 19 boroughs and are revised each January. Rental prices are Roulobac's own and current. Confirm the permit with your borough before booking.
Frequently asked questions
Does Roulobac handle the permit?
No. The permit is issued in your name by the borough and remains your responsibility. We give you the exact cost, the lead time and the application link for your borough, and we refuse any date the permit could not cover.
Is the permit cheaper for a short rental?
Yes — the daily portion falls with duration, but the issuance fee is fixed. A three-day permit does not cost three tenths of a ten-day permit.