Local service guide
Lighting installation in Montreal: hiring and planning
Lighting installation in Montreal starts with choosing a licensed electrical contractor and defining whether you want to replace a fixture, move it or add lighting at a new location. Québec’s CMEQ states that electrical work requires a subclass 16 electrical-contractor licence. Ask for that licence before booking, then send fixture specifications, photos and your preferred switch or dimmer arrangement so contractors can quote the same work. [1]
Define the installation before asking for quotes
Describe each location separately: an existing ceiling fixture, a pendant moved over a table, new recessed lights or an exterior entrance light. Tell the contractor which fixtures you will supply and which you want them to select. Include the product model, dimensions, weight and installation instructions when available.
Send photos of the room, existing fixture and switch, taken without removing covers or exposing wiring. Note the ceiling height and explain how the contractor can reach the work area. Ask the contractor to assess the existing box, fixture support and wiring before confirming the installation scope.
For recessed lights or a moved pendant, mark your proposed positions on a room photo. Ask who will open and repair the ceiling, who will paint, and whether the quote includes those tasks. Get written approval for any change in scope before the contractor proceeds.
Choose brightness, colour and controls together
Use lumens to compare brightness across bulbs. Hydro-Québec explains that watts give a less reliable indication of LED brightness because LED technology changes. For a colour similar to an incandescent bulb, the utility recommends a soft or warm white bulb between 2,700 and 3,000 K. [3]
Decide where you need general light and where you need light for a specific task. Hydro-Québec recommends desk or table lamps for reading and work on a horizontal surface. Before requesting additional ceiling lights, try a task lamp where you read or work and decide whether you still want a permanent installation. [4]
If you want dimming, check the bulb package or manufacturer’s website for compatibility with the proposed dimmer. Hydro-Québec recommends this check. Send the contractor both model numbers and ask them to include testing at your preferred brightness levels in the handover. [4]
Ask whether you prefer fixtures with replaceable LED bulbs or integrated LEDs. Hydro-Québec identifies both options. Include the choice in your request and ask the supplier how you would obtain a replacement bulb, light module or complete fixture. [3]
Compare written quotes with the same scope
Ask each contractor to separate installation labour, fixtures, controls, materials and any ceiling repair. Request a total showing taxes and any travel or minimum service charge. For work that needs an on-site assessment, ask what the visit costs and whether the contractor credits it toward the installation.
Confirm who will check municipal requirements for your particular project and who will handle any required application. Ask for that responsibility in writing before work begins. Do not assume that a fixture replacement and a renovation involving new lighting have identical requirements.
Agree on the number and locations of fixtures, the controls and the finish work before comparing totals. Ask how the contractor will price an unexpected wiring or support issue and when they will request your approval. Compare the included work alongside the total price.
Plan exterior lighting around its use
For an entrance or yard, describe the area you want to light and when you need illumination. Hydro-Québec recommends timers, programmable switches or motion detectors for outdoor lighting. Ask the contractor to quote the control you want and explain how you will adjust it after installation. [4]
Saint-Laurent’s published guidance requires downward light orientation for covered projects and identifies limits involving light quantity, colour and operating periods. Before ordering exterior fixtures there, confirm whether your property use and project fall within the borough’s rules or exemptions. [2]
At handover, ask the contractor to demonstrate each switch, dimmer and outdoor control. Check the light from the entrance, your usual seating position and the property boundary. Request any aiming adjustments before signing off, and keep the invoice, product information and written warranty terms together.
Hydro-Québec bulb wattage examples at matching brightness
Local details that affect your job
Québec electrical licensing applies to your hiring decision
The CMEQ states that electrical work requires its subclass 16 electrical-contractor licence, whether or not the work falls under the labour law administered by the CCQ. It also states that Québec master electricians must belong to the Corporation. For your installation, ask for the contractor’s business name and licence details and confirm their current status with the CMEQ before accepting the quote. [1]
Saint-Laurent exterior rules depend on the building and project
Saint-Laurent’s guidance covers industries, businesses, institutions and specified large residential uses. It identifies new construction or enlargement of a principal building, outdoor parking work involving more than 15 spaces, and loading-area work as covered project types. It lists single-family, two-family and multiplex uses as excluded. If you own a unit in a larger residential building, ask the building manager and borough to confirm the use classification and whether the proposed exterior work falls within the rules before choosing fixtures. Do not apply this borough guidance across the city. [2]
Choose the scope to request
| Your goal | Request in the quote | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Replace an existing fixture | Assessment of the existing box, support and wiring; installation and testing | Fixture dimensions, weight and installation instructions |
| Add dimming | The proposed dimmer model and testing with your chosen bulbs | Bulb manufacturer’s dimmer compatibility information |
| Improve reading light | Describe the reading position and whether you want a permanent fixture | Try task lighting first; Hydro-Québec recommends desk or table lamps for reading |
| Control an exterior entrance light | Your chosen timer, programmable switch or motion detector | Desired operating hours and control adjustments |
| Change exterior lighting at a larger Saint-Laurent residential building | Confirmation of applicable borough requirements before fixture selection | Building-use classification, project scope and listed exemptions |
Your hiring checklist
- List each fixture location and identify replacement, relocation or new installation.
- Gather fixture model numbers, dimensions, weights and manufacturer instructions.
- Photograph the room, existing lights and controls without opening electrical equipment.
- Specify the brightness, light colour and control arrangement you want.
- Ask for the contractor’s licence details and confirm current status with the CMEQ.
- Request written responsibility for municipal checks, ceiling repairs and cleanup.
- Compare itemized totals and agree on approval for additional work.
- Test the lights and controls with the contractor before signing off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hire a handyman to connect a ceiling light?
For electrical work, ask for a contractor holding the required subclass 16 electrical licence. The CMEQ states that this licence is mandatory for electrical work in Québec. Confirm the licence rather than relying on a handyman service description. [1]
What brightness should I specify for LED bulbs?
Compare lumens rather than choosing LEDs by wattage alone. Hydro-Québec identifies lumens as the best gauge of brightness. Describe your room and tasks to the contractor, then select a brightness target for each location rather than using one target throughout the home. [3]
Do Saint-Laurent’s exterior lighting rules cover every home?
The borough lists single-family, two-family and multiplex uses as excluded from this regulation. It covers specified larger residential uses and other property types for specified projects. Confirm your building classification and scope with the borough; the guidance does not establish the rules elsewhere in Montreal. [2]
How much should I budget for installation?
Request a written quote for your fixtures, controls and site conditions. The sources used here do not provide verified Montreal installation prices. Ask contractors to separate labour, equipment, repairs, taxes and service charges so you can compare the same scope.
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.