Do subcontractors in Quebec need their own RBQ licence?

The RBQ's rule is that anyone carrying out construction work for others, or having it carried out, needs a licence with the right subclasses unless an exemption applies. Check your own case with the RBQ; we don't give licensing advice.

Why would a general contractor care about a sub's licence?

Because the RBQ notes that a general contractor who hires an unlicensed subcontractor can be prosecuted. Expect Quebec builders to verify your licence before inviting you, and make it easy for them.

Can our website be in English only?

For Quebec customers, the OQLF says websites and social media content must be available in French, though other languages may also appear. We plan Quebec marketing in French first.

Marketing for Contractors in Quebec

Quebec is a large construction market centred on Montréal, Québec City, Laval, Gatineau and Longueuil, with Sherbrooke, Lévis and Saguenay as important regional centres. It is also the province where the rules most directly shape contractor marketing. Licensing through the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, workforce certification through the Commission de la construction du Québec and French-language requirements all affect what you can say, how you say it and who will invite you.

The Quebec project market

Larger Quebec work is awarded by builders, developers, institutions, municipalities and public bodies, with the Montréal region the largest by far.

Montréal, Laval and Longueuil. A dense market of multi-unit residential, commercial, institutional and renovation work. Builders keep established trade partners and verify licences carefully.
Québec City and Lévis. A strong public-sector and institutional base, with high documentation expectations.
Gatineau. Closely tied to the Ottawa market, where bilingual capability can open doors on both sides of the river.
Sherbrooke and Saguenay. Regional markets with active builders and a smaller pool of established trades for larger packages.

Climate and the building season

Quebec winters are long and snowy, and beyond the St. Lawrence lowlands they arrive earlier and stay longer. Outdoor work concentrates in the warmer months, and interior trades follow enclosure.

For marketing, plan your heaviest builder outreach for late autumn and winter, when estimators are pricing the coming season, and document every summer project for that outreach. In the regions, start earlier, because the outdoor window is shorter.

Licensing, certification and language

These official sources are where to confirm your obligations. We summarise them only so you know where to look.

Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) issues contractor licences. Doing or arranging construction work for others generally requires a licence with the correct subclasses, and a GC who uses an unlicensed sub risks prosecution. The RBQ's guide to choosing a contractor shows what owners are told to check.
Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) handles competency certification for workers in the construction industry.
CNESST covers workplace health and safety and workers' compensation.
OQLF explains French-language obligations for businesses. Since Bill 96 amended the Charter of the French Language, French has to dominate in commercial signs and advertising, and a website meant for Quebec customers needs a French version.

What this means for marketing: show your RBQ licence number and subclasses clearly on your website and capability statement, because builders and owners will look for them. And build your Quebec material in French first, not as a translation added at the end.

Programs that generate project work

As of October 2026, Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program supports efficiency upgrades in homes, and the provincial Rénoclimat program changed on October 1, 2026, making the pre-retrofit evaluation optional and setting new caps. The Chauffez vert program stopped accepting applications after March 31, 2026. For renovation GCs and envelope and mechanical contractors, these programs drive homeowner projects. Confirm details with the administrator before referring to any program.

Small details Quebec reviewers notice

Use the same company name on your RBQ licence, website and capability statement, and keep project descriptions in natural French rather than literal translation.

How we'd approach marketing in Quebec

French-first material. A French capability statement, French project sheets and a French website, with English available where your buyers need it.
Licence front and centre. RBQ number and subclasses on every credibility document, so verification is instant. That's the core of our bid credibility service for Quebec clients.
Relationships with builders who verify. A builder relationship program that leads with documented, licensed capability.
Owner-facing search, in French, for GCs targeting institutional and commercial work, built on real project pages.

We are a marketing service, not a contractor, and we don't give licensing or language-law advice. See the areas overview for other regions.

Marketing for general contractors and subtrades in Quebec