Local service guide
Heavy Lifting in Laval: Hiring and Access Planning
Arrange Heavy Lifting in Laval by defining the item, its route and its destination before requesting quotes. Ask the crew to confirm equipment, property protection, insurance and the full charge in writing. For work that needs machinery or a container on public space, check Laval’s occupation requirements before fixing the work date; the City lists a processing period of 10 to 15 business days. [1] [4]
Define the move before choosing the crew
Send photographs of the item and the complete route, including landings, tight turns and the final placement. Provide dimensions and the manufacturer’s weight if you have it. Describe anything the crew would need to remove or disassemble, and ask who will put it back.
For a safe, piano, stone tabletop or another awkward item, ask the provider to explain its proposed method and equipment before accepting an offer. Request a site assessment if photographs leave uncertainty about the route. Let the provider determine the crew size rather than assuming that two people will suffice.
For an appliance, agree who handles disconnection and reconnection. If you need transport, name both addresses and describe stairs and elevators at each end. Quebec’s consumer protection office identifies these access details and the distance between addresses as information movers need to assess the work. [4]
Compare the complete charge
Ask for a written offer that states the rate, number of movers, equipment, truck if required, and how the company calculates the total. The Office de la protection du consommateur recommends comparing two or three businesses and recording promised services and additional labour charges in the contract. [4]
Ask when paid time starts and stops. The Office warns that movers commonly charge travel time between their depot and your home. Request separate explanations of minimum booking time, stairs, waiting, disassembly, disposal and any other proposed charges so you can compare the same job across offers. [4]
Confirm whether the rate covers the whole crew or each worker, and request the total including applicable taxes and fees. Keep the scope attached to the offer. Agree on how the provider will obtain your approval if the route or item differs from your description.
Check insurance and the written agreement
Ask for confirmation of coverage for the goods and civil liability insurance of at least $1 million, as Quebec’s consumer protection office recommends. Describe any valuable or unusual item and ask the insurer or provider to explain applicable exclusions, limits and deductibles. [4]
If the mover uses a heavy vehicle, the Office states that it must appear in the Commission des transports du Québec’s register of heavy-vehicle owners and operators. Ask for the business’s legal name so you can check the correct company. [4]
Record the agreed date, arrival time, payment terms and cancellation conditions. The Office recommends a written contract even for agreements made in person. It also explains that contracts concluded by phone or online must be documented in writing. [4]
Prepare the route and finish point
Measure the narrowest doorway and stair turn before moving day. Reserve building access with your property manager where needed, clear loose objects from the route and arrange a place for children and pets away from the work. Ask the crew how it will protect floors, doorframes and railings.
Photograph the item and nearby surfaces before work begins. Walk the route with the crew, confirm the final location and resolve any change in method or price before the lift. At completion, inspect the item and the route before signing off.
Selected Laval public-space permit fees
Local details that affect your job
Public-space access can determine your booking date
Laval lists specialized machinery, containers on the roadway and occupation of pedestrian or cycling routes among situations requiring a public-space occupation permit. Apply through Mon dossier and allow 10 business days, or 15 when traffic-signal intervention is necessary. Receive the permit before occupying the roadway. Some short or off-peak vehicle obstructions require a declaration instead; ask the City which category fits your proposed setup. Assign responsibility for the application and required signage in your agreement. [1]
Book eligible collection before scheduling curbside lifting
Laval offers bulky-item collection by reservation and a scheduled monthly option, with 11 scheduled collections per year. The City recycles or recovers suitable items from the reservation service and sends items from the scheduled collection to landfill. For either option, observe the size and handling limits, and place items on your property at the street edge after 7 p.m. the evening before collection or before 7 a.m. that day. Refrigerators and other refrigerating appliances need a separate route; the City directs residents to its drop-off centres or GoRecycle. [2]
Confirm drop-off access and unloading
Laval identifies drop-off centres at 1205, boulevard Dagenais Ouest in Vimont and 4026, boulevard Dagenais Ouest in Fabreville. The City requires identification and proof of Laval residence and limits accepted material to 3 m³ per visit. Staff do not unload, and dump trucks and dump trailers cannot access the ecocentre. Before hiring a hauler, confirm the destination’s admission requirements for that provider and vehicle, and include unloading in the quote. [3]
Choose the scope before requesting offers
| Your situation | Scope to request | Resolve before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Move an item within the home | Lifting and placement | Send route measurements and ask the crew to confirm its method. |
| Move an item to another address | Lifting, loading, transport and unloading | Describe stairs and elevators at both addresses; clarify depot travel charges. |
| Dispose of an eligible bulky item | Carry-out timed to municipal collection | Check the 1.80 m length limit, 2 m³ allowance and two-person handling requirement. |
| Remove a refrigerator | Carry-out plus a confirmed recycling arrangement | Use the separate refrigerating-appliance route identified by the City. |
| Use machinery on public space | Specialist lifting with access planning | Confirm the permit or declaration category before setting the work date. |
Your hiring checklist
- Send item photographs, measurements, known weight and route photographs.
- Identify the final placement or disposal destination.
- Confirm crew size, equipment, disassembly and appliance preparation.
- Get the full price calculation, travel charges and payment terms in writing.
- Ask for insurance details and clarify coverage for unusual items.
- Assign responsibility for building access, public-space arrangements and signage.
- Include unloading and inspect the item and property at completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hire someone just to move furniture to the street?
Specify carry-out only, then confirm that the item qualifies for collection and that you have the collection date. Laval requires items to be transportable by two people without mechanical equipment and sets limits of 1.80 m in length and 2 m³ per address. [2]
Does every heavy-item move require a street permit?
Check the proposed street setup with Laval. Its rules distinguish permit situations, such as specialized machinery or containers occupying public space, from certain vehicle obstructions requiring a declaration. Do not assume a short visit exempts your setup. [1]
Will ecocentre staff help lift an appliance out of the vehicle?
No. Laval states that staff provide information but do not help unload. Arrange enough help for unloading and confirm vehicle access and admission documents before departure. [3]
What insurance should I ask a mover about?
Quebec’s consumer protection office recommends insurance for the goods and at least $1 million in civil liability coverage. Ask how the coverage applies to your specific item and property, including exclusions and deductibles. [4]
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.