An RBQ licence has had no expiry date since 2008, so it is not renewed. You must maintain it (maintien) by paying fees every year, on the due date printed on the licence. The 2026 fee is $989.81 for a general licence and $547.53 for a specialized one. If you do not pay on the due date, the licence ceases to have effect.
An RBQ licence is "maintained" every year
Since June 25, 2008, every licence issued by the RBQ has an indefinite term. It has no expiry date, and the RBQ issues a new licence document only when something on it changes. The RBQ speaks of maintenance (maintien) of the licence, not "renewal."
The maintenance is yearly. Under the regulation on the professional qualification of contractors and owner-builders (RLRQ, c. B-1.1, r. 9, s. 15), the maintenance duties and fees are due once a year, on the anniversary of the date the licence was issued. Section 16 provides that the licence itself states this annual due date. Watch that date.
The RBQ also asks you to keep the licence document when the notice of assessment arrives. For guarantor continuing education, see mandatory RBQ continuing education.
2026 annual fees: general and specialized
The maintenance amount depends on the subclasses on the licence:
| Contractor licence | Annual maintenance |
|---|---|
| General (schedule I), or general and specialized | $989.81 (2026 fee) |
| Specialized only (schedules II and III) | $547.53 (2026 fee) |
The total combines duties and fees. For a general licence, the 2026 fee is $884.54 in duties and $105.27 in fees. For a specialized-only licence, the 2026 fee is $442.26 in duties and $105.27 in fees. These amounts are not taxable: you pay the amount shown. To compare with other licence fees, use the RBQ licence fee calculator or the RBQ fees 2026 cheat sheet.
The amounts above apply to contractor licences.
Due date, notice and payment
The notice of assessment
The RBQ mails a notice of assessment (avis de cotisation) 60 days before the due date. The invoice number you need to pay online appears on that notice, received by mail or by email. You can also see the notice in the holder’s online file.
Ways to pay
| Method | What to know |
|---|---|
| Online | The RBQ online payment page, or the websites of Desjardins, Banque Nationale and Banque Laurentienne. You need the file number (the first 8 digits of the licence number) and the invoice number. Accepted cards: American Express, MasterCard and Visa. |
| By mail | Cheque or money order sent to the RBQ Montréal office. |
| In person in Montréal | Credit card, debit card, cheque, money order or exact cash, at any time. |
| Services Québec | Cheque or money order, up to 5 days before the due date. |
The RBQ requires full payment. It accepts no payment at a financial institution counter and none by telephone.
What happens if you do not pay
Under the Building Act (RLRQ, c. B-1.1, s. 71, para. 1, subpara. 8), a contractor’s or owner-builder’s licence ceases to have effect as soon as the holder has not paid the maintenance duties and fees on the due date. The RBQ repeats this on its payment page: you must then file a new licence application.
Three clarifications:
- No published grace days. The RBQ does not publish a grace period. Its FAQ says that no matter how many days late you are, the licence is lost, and you must file the application form and pay the fees for that type of application. For comparison, an application for a new general licence costs $1,291.69 (2026 fee), against $989.81 (2026 fee) for maintenance.
- The bond. If the RBQ has not received the licence bond by the maintenance due date, it recommends suspension of the licence. If the licence lapses for non-payment, the bond stays valid for the new licence, provided that licence is issued within 60 days of the due date (regulation, s. 36).
- A notice already sent. If you received a notice (préavis) of a possible suspension or cancellation and miss the due date before the decision, the licence is suspended until the RBQ takes note of the situation or cancels it (Act, s. 74).
Indexation every January 1
The duties and fees are indexed every January 1. The amounts in this article are the 2026 ones: check the current year’s tariff before you pay.
Keeping your file up to date, adding a subclass or a guarantor
Paying maintenance does not update your file. The Act (s. 67) requires the holder to tell the RBQ in writing, within 30 days, of any change to its legal structure or to information or documents it gave. You report these changes through the online service Mon dossier à jour, which requires a clicSÉQUR express access code and the NEQ (Québec enterprise number), or other identification numbers for a sole proprietor without an NEQ.
To add a subclass or a guarantor (répondant, the person who answers for the licence, see the RBQ guarantor), you file a separate application to modify the licence, outside Mon dossier à jour. The fee to add or replace a guarantor, or to add or replace subclasses, is $105.27 (2026 fee), per guarantor in the case of a guarantor change. A separate article describes the licence subclasses and their exams.
If the guarantor stops acting, a company’s licence ceases to have effect 90 days later (120 days if the guarantor dies), unless another guarantor covers the same field (Act, s. 73).
FAQ
How much does an RBQ licence renewal cost in 2026?
Annual maintenance is $989.81 (2026 fee) for a general licence, or general and specialized, and $547.53 (2026 fee) for a specialized-only licence. These amounts are not taxable. They are indexed every January 1.
When do I have to pay my RBQ licence maintenance?
On the annual due date printed on your licence, which matches the anniversary of its issue. The RBQ mails a notice of assessment 60 days before. Payment at Services Québec must be made no later than 5 days before the due date.
Can I pay my RBQ licence maintenance online?
Yes. You can pay on the RBQ online payment page or on the websites of Desjardins, Banque Nationale and Banque Laurentienne. You need the file number and the invoice number from the notice. Payment by telephone is not possible.
What happens if I forget to pay my RBQ licence?
The licence ceases to have effect on the due date. The RBQ publishes no grace days: you must file a new application and pay the fees for that type of application. The bond stays valid if the new licence is issued within 60 days of the due date.
Does an RBQ licence expire?
No, it has had no expiry date since June 25, 2008. It ceases to have effect, however, if you do not pay the annual maintenance on the due date.
If adding a subclass leads you to new exams, see the exams and preparation on RBQexam. RBQexam is not affiliated with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
Information current to October 1, 2026. Fees are the 2026 tariff, to be rechecked before January 1, 2027.