Underground utility locating in Brossard for changing suburban yards

A city that keeps on building

Brossard had about 3,400 residents in 1958, and the City counted 95,066 in 2024 (1). Between 2016 and 2021, the population grew by 6.8%, or 5,804 new residents, an increase faster than the Quebec average (2). This growth shows in the ground, where service connections from several generations sit side by side.

The REM adds to this growth. Three REM stations were planned along Highway 10 in Brossard: Panama, Du Quartier and a terminal station at the corner of Highways 10 and 30 (3). Service between Brossard station and Gare Centrale opened to the public on July 31, 2023 (4).

On the residential side, municipal rules govern the surface but not what lies beneath it. For an inground pool, the City requires a certificate of authorization along with a site plan and a certificate of location, and the filtration system must be placed at least 2 m from a side property line (5). A shed larger than 4.25 m³ requires a permit, while a fence, a hedge or a residential EV charger generally does not (6). None of these steps shows where the cable already powering the garden lighting runs.

What we find in a yard in Brossard

• The electrical cable powering an existing pool, spa or shed
• The private water service line and irrigation lines under the lawn
• The drain and plastic conduits, which only ground penetrating radar can follow
• The planned path for a new line to an EV charger or a heat pump
• An old buried tank on an older lot, before a demolition or an addition

Preparing a yard project without bad surprises

Start with the request to Info-Excavation, which covers public utilities up to the property line. Then have the private portion located, between the house and the yard equipment. If you are preparing a site plan for the City, our marking and report help your contractor place the pool or filtration away from existing lines. For a fence or a shed slab, a survey focused on the work area is often enough.

Our services in Brossard

Before you dig in Brossard

• Info-Excavation request for public utilities up to the property line.
• Private locating for on-site services: power to the pool or shed, water service line, drain, irrigation.
• Municipal permit to check with the City for work affecting public property.

Frequently asked questions

My fence doesn't need a permit, do I still need to have utilities located? Yes, if you are digging for the posts. Not needing a permit changes nothing about the cables and pipes already buried in your yard. A post driven into a private electrical line or an irrigation pipe can cause damage or a risk of shock. A survey limited to the fence line leaves clear marking for the installer.

Isn't Info-Excavation enough for a newer home? No. Info-Excavation forwards your request to the owners of public utilities, who mark their installations up to the property line. Connections installed later on your lot, such as the power supply to a shed, a pool or an irrigation system, remain your responsibility. That is the part we locate.

Verifiable references

1. City of Brossard, "Statistiques"
2. Le Courrier du Sud, "La population de Longueuil et Brossard augmente plus rapidement que la moyenne québécoise"
3. REM, "Trois stations du REM à venir à Brossard"
4. REM, "Mise en service du REM"
5. City of Brossard, "Piscine privée creusée ou semi-creusée" (leaflet FE110)
6. City of Brossard, "Dépendances et aménagements extérieurs résidentiels"