Laval is undergoing a vertical transformation that has placed it in an unlikely league of North American urban development. According to city officials, the municipality on the North Shore of Montreal has become the third-largest construction zone on the continent in terms of active cranes, trailing only the massive hubs of Toronto and Los Angeles.
This surge is driven by an unprecedented wave of residential development, primarily concentrated in a strategic sector designed to serve as the city’s future downtown. The scale of the boom is reflected in the skyline, where dozens of cranes now signal a shift from suburban sprawl to high-density urban living.
The claim was first highlighted by city officials during a recent press conference with Montréal International. While the city asserts this top-three ranking, industry experts provide a more nuanced view. Alain Doyle, director of the crane operators’ union (section locale 717 de FTQ-Construction), noted that while Laval is undoubtedly one of the most active territories in Quebec and potentially Canada, the activity has not yet reached a level that would trigger a shortage of qualified operators.
The Numbers Behind the Boom
To understand how a city like Laval can compete with Los Angeles and Toronto, one must seem at the specific data from the previous summer. During that peak, Laval recorded 33 active cranes. In comparison, data from the American firm Rider Levett Bucknall showed 106 cranes in Toronto and 42 in Los Angeles during a similar window. While the raw numbers in those megacities are higher, the density and concentration of activity in Laval’s specific development zone allow the city to claim a significant continental rank in terms of growth intensity.
The growth is not just about the machinery in the air, but the volume of housing hitting the ground. In 2025, Laval saw a record-breaking 4,613 housing units start construction—more than double the 2,023 units started in the previous year. This growth far outpaces regional trends; during the same period, new construction grew by 16.3% across Quebec and 58.1% in the Greater Montreal area.
| Metric | Previous Year | 2025 Peak | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Units Started | ~2,023 | 4,613 | +128% |
| Active Cranes (Peak) | – | 33 | – |
| Permit Processing Speed | Standard | 2x Faster (80% of projects) | – |
Mayor Stéphane Boyer has been vocal about the economic implications of this surge. “When construction goes well, everything goes well,” Boyer said, attributing the success to a streamlined administrative process. He noted that 80% of current projects received their city permits twice as prompt as in previous years, reducing the friction for developers.
Designing a New Downtown
The “third largest construction zone in North America” status is not spread evenly across the city. Instead, the activity is concentrated within a specific quadrilateral that is being groomed as the future center of Laval. This zone is bounded by the A-440 highway to the north, the former Lagacé quarry (the future Carré Laval) to the south, and Espace Montmorency to the east, spanning both sides of the A-15 highway.
This urban redesign is moving away from the traditional suburban model toward a “live-function-play” environment. A primary example is the area west of Carrefour Laval, where several residential towers are currently rising. Mayor Boyer has indicated a long-term vision where vast parking lots at Carrefour Laval will be converted into living spaces, with a mandate that 25% of these new developments consist of green spaces.
The architectural profile of this new center is increasingly vertical. Some of the new residential towers are reaching up to 25 stories. Near Espace Montmorency, for instance, a tower featuring more than 200 condominium units is currently under construction, reflecting the city’s pivot toward high-density housing.
Addressing the Housing Crisis
The catalyst for this construction frenzy is a desperate need for housing. According to data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the vast majority of these new projects are rental-focused. Of the record-breaking units started in 2025, 4,071—or roughly 88%—are destined for the rental market.
For the city administration, this is a targeted strike against the housing crisis and skyrocketing rents. “More housing is a way to fight the housing crisis and prices that are skyrocketing,” Mayor Boyer stated. He further argued that this development stimulates the local economy, supports regional employment, and enhances the services available to citizens.
The city’s ambition is long-term and aggressive. Laval projects that 54,000 new housing units will be constructed across its territory over the next 10 years. This represents a fundamental shift in the city’s identity, moving from a residential suburb of Montreal to a self-sustaining urban center.
Seasonal Fluctuations and Next Steps
Despite the record highs, the construction landscape is subject to seasonal shifts. At the start of 2026, the number of active cranes had dipped to 28, and subsequently fell to 24. However, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office clarified that these numbers typically fluctuate with the weather. The city expects the crane count to rise again as the “warm season” returns and new phases of projects break ground.
The next critical phase for Laval’s urban evolution will be the realization of the “Carré Laval” project at the site of the aged Lagacé quarry, which is expected to further anchor the new downtown core. As the city continues to push for 54,000 new units over the decade, the focus will remain on the balance between rapid densification and the preservation of green spaces.
Do you live in Laval or work in the construction industry? We want to hear how this urban transformation is affecting your neighborhood. Share your thoughts in the comments or contact our newsroom.
