Residents and property owners in Parc-Extension are preparing for a noticeable increase in municipal property taxes in 2026, following the City of Montreal’s release of borough-by-borough tax rates as part of its latest budget. The borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension will see residential property tax rates rise by 4.5 per cent, exceeding the citywide average increase of 3.8 per cent.
The new rates were adopted with Montreal’s 2026 municipal budget and reflect a combination of central city tax adjustments and borough-level decisions. While the increase is not the highest on the island, it places Parc-Extension among the boroughs experiencing steeper-than-average hikes, alongside areas such as Montréal-Nord, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie and Verdun.
For Parc-Extension, one of Montreal’s most densely populated and economically diverse neighbourhoods, the increase raises particular concerns. The area is characterized by a high proportion of renters, small landlords, and older multiplex buildings. Although property taxes are paid directly by owners, increases often translate into higher operating costs, which housing advocates warn can indirectly affect tenants through rent pressures over time.
According to figures released by the City of Montreal, residential tax increases have fluctuated in recent years under the current administration, registering at 4.9 per cent in 2023, 2.2 per cent in 2024, and now climbing again in 2026. City officials have pointed to rising infrastructure costs, public transit funding needs, and inflationary pressures on municipal services as key drivers behind the latest adjustments.
Within Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, the impact of the increase will vary depending on property type. Owners of single-family homes, condominiums, and duplexes or triplexes are subject to different tax classes and assessment values. In many cases, recent property evaluations will compound the effect of the rate hike, leading to larger tax bills even where the percentage increase appears modest.
Local observers note that Parc-Extension has seen gradual but steady changes to its real estate landscape in recent years. Proximity to major transit corridors, hospitals, and universities has increased development interest, particularly along Jean-Talon Street and near the Université de Montréal campus expansion. As property values rise, tax increases can be felt more acutely by long-time owners and small-scale landlords operating on thin margins.
By comparison, neighbouring boroughs are seeing a wide range of outcomes. Outremont’s residential rate will rise by 3.1 per cent, while Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce will experience one of the lowest increases on the island at 1.9 per cent. At the other end of the spectrum, L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève faces a 6.3 per cent increase, the highest among Montreal’s boroughs.
City officials emphasize that property tax rates are only one part of the equation, with the final amount owed depending on assessed property values. Nonetheless, for Parc-Extension, where affordability remains a central issue, the 4.5 per cent increase is likely to reignite debate over how municipal fiscal decisions affect vulnerable neighbourhoods.
As the new rates come into effect, residents and property owners will be watching closely to see how the city balances its financial obligations with the realities facing communities like Parc-Extension, where even incremental cost increases can have outsized local consequences.
