Welcome tax in Laval in 2026: the exact math (and the new 3% rate)
It's the closing cost buyers forget most often — and in Laval, it just went up. Here is the exact 2026 math, bracket by bracket, with a calculator.
Quick answer
In short: in Laval, the land transfer duty (the "welcome tax") is calculated in brackets — 0.5% up to $62,900, 1% from $62,900 to $315,000, 1.5% from $315,000 to $500,000, then a new 3% rate on the entire portion above $500,000 since January 1, 2026. On Chomedey's median single-family home ($628,500, Centris Q1 2026), the bill reaches about $9,465 — payable on top of your down payment.
This column is for buyers in Chomedey — the most populous district of Laval, between Highway 15 and Highway 13, from Boulevard Saint-Martin down to the Rivière des Prairies. Whether you're eyeing a bungalow on the streets south of Boulevard Notre-Dame or a new condo near Centropolis, the welcome tax is waiting. The transfer duty is not part of your mortgage: it is paid in cash, after the purchase, once the deal closes at the notary's — and it surprises many first-time buyers. In Laval, it also rose in 2026 for properties above $500,000, most single-family homes in the area. Worth knowing the exact amount before you make an offer — it's your notary in Laval who calculates and confirms it. See also Financing a home in Chomedey.
The "welcome tax," plainly
The land transfer duty — nicknamed the "welcome tax" — is a municipal tax charged when a property changes hands. The nickname has nothing to do with a welcome: it comes from minister Jean Bienvenue, who steered the law through in the 1970s. It is calculated on the tax base, the greater of two values: the price paid, or the value on the assessment roll adjusted by the municipality's comparative factor. In a rising market, the price paid usually wins.
Laval's 2026 grid
Laval applies the indexed provincial brackets, then — this is the 2026 change — a higher rate at the top:
| Tax-base bracket | 2026 rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $62,900 | 0.5% |
| $62,900 to $315,000 | 1.0% |
| $315,000 to $500,000 | 1.5% |
| Portion above $500,000 | 3.0% (new in 2026) |
Indexed 2026 provincial brackets: Gouvernement du Québec ↗. The law lets a municipality raise the rate to as much as 3% on the portion above $500,000; Laval adopted it in its 2026 budget (previously 1.5%, then 2%) — see Courrier Laval ↗. Thresholds are indexed yearly; confirm the exact amount with the City or your notary.
Interactive tool
Your Laval welcome tax, in 20 seconds
2026 grid. Enter the tax base (usually the price paid).
Estimate based on Laval's 2026 grid, for guidance only. Thresholds are indexed and the official calculation uses the tax base. Confirm the exact amount with the City of Laval or your notary.
The math on Chomedey's median, bracket by bracket
Take the single-family home at Chomedey's median price in Q1 2026 — $628,500 (Centris, APCIQ):
- 0.5% on the first $62,900 = $314.50
- 1.0% on $62,900 to $315,000 ($252,100) = $2,521
- 1.5% on $315,000 to $500,000 ($185,000) = $2,775
- 3.0% on the portion above $500,000 ($128,500) = $3,855
Total: about $9,465. For reference, without the new 3% tier — i.e. under Laval's old grid — the same property would have cost around $7,750: the 2026 change adds nearly $1,700 on a median-priced home. Courrier Laval cites a nearby case: $9,323 for an average single-family at $622,300. This is a sum to budget in cash, on top of your down payment and notary fees.
When and how to pay it
The City sends the bill a few months after the closing at the notary's, and it is generally due in a single payment. That is precisely what trips up tight budgets: the money must be available after the purchase, once the down payment and fees are already spent. (Laval has in fact floated the idea of spreading payments starting in 2027.) My advice: build the exact amount into your closing plan before you make an offer — not after. It is the kind of number we work out together when I build your pre-approval.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the welcome tax in Laval in 2026?
It is calculated in brackets on the tax base: 0.5% up to $62,900, 1% from $62,900 to $315,000, 1.5% from $315,000 to $500,000, then 3% on the portion above $500,000 since January 1, 2026. On a $628,500 property, that comes to about $9,465.
What changed in Laval in 2026?
The 2026 budget introduced a flat 3% rate on the portion above $500,000 — the maximum municipalities are allowed under Quebec law. Previously that portion followed lower rates (1.5% then 2%). So for properties above $500,000, the bill goes up.
What value is the tax calculated on?
On the greater of two values: the price paid, or the value on the assessment roll adjusted by the municipality's comparative factor. It is that base — not always your purchase price — that drives the calculation.
Are there any exemptions?
Yes: certain transfers are exempt from the duty, notably between spouses or in the direct line (parent-child), under conditions. The Act respecting duties on transfers of immovables sets the list. Confirm your case with your notary.
