Work in a duplex, triplex, or quadruplex or in common areas of a co-ownership property with a maximum of four units

Work in a duplex, triplex, or quadruplex or in common areas of a co-ownership property with a maximum of four units

Do you occupy one of the dwellings in the building?
  • Yes

    Owner-occupants

    For owner-occupants of a duplex, triplex, or quadruplex, only volunteer maintenance or repair work is permitted in the building. (Not to be confused with renovation*)

    The maintenance of a building is defined as preventive actions performed to keep the building in good condition – to conserve it. By repair is meant a remedial act that is made necessary due to deterioration – that is, to return to good condition a building that has been damaged or is deteriorating.

    The types of work that maybe performed by volunteers are the following:

    • Interior and exterior painting
    • Work concerning interior surfaces, such as covering and finishing of floors, walls, and ceilings, as well as similar or related work
    • Non-structural work in wood or plastic, such as finish carpentry, as well as similar or related work
    • Work concerning interior doors and windows, as well as similar or related work
    • Work concerning marble, granite, ceramics, terrazzo, and similar materials, as well as similar or related work
    • Work concerning cupboards and counters, as well as similar or related work

    Examples of permitted work:

    • Painting an existing wall for redecoration
    • Placing drywall in part of a wall to repair a hole
    • Changing a broken ceramic tile
    • Sanding and varnishing an existing wood floor

    * Renovation: to improve, to upgrade.

  • No
    You are not allowed to have construction work performed by a volunteer.

Attention

We are publishing this information to help you find out if the regulatory standards governing volunteer work apply to your construction project. If you cannot find an answer to your question here, you may contact the CCQ. Note that this information is only a summary and it is possible that your project will require a more detailed analysis for a decision to be made. 

The articles pertaining to volunteer work in Act R-20 do not modify any other laws used to regulate construction sites (licences, insurance, health and safety, etc.). To learn more about these, visit RBQ and CNESST.

We would also like to inform you that under Act R-20 the CCQ has the power to inspect construction sites to ensure that they comply with the law. In addition, the CCQ may require any person concerned to provide information or documents related to the construction work. 

Finally, for people to be considered volunteers, the work must be performed without constraint or obligation, and not for pay or other compensation.