Discover Quebec's July 1 Moving Day: the history, scale in Montreal, costs and logistics, and why this unique tradition still shapes leases and daily life.
Picture a city where, on the same day, thousands of people pack up, drag sofas to the curb, and hustle boxes to waiting trucks. It’s not a fantasy or a gag—that’s July 1 in Quebec. Year after year, the date turns into one giant moving day.
The roots of this unusual tradition reach back to the era when Quebec was a French colony. At the time, winter evictions were barred by law: snow-choked roads made moving dangerous. So most tenants left in spring—on May 1. The habit became so routine that it was written into local laws in the 19th century.
Later, the rules shifted. In 1973 the government moved the moving date to July 1. That proved more convenient for families with children, since the school year had ended and summer weather was far kinder. Since then, most rental agreements in Quebec have begun on that day.
The scale is striking. In Montreal alone, about 70,000 families move on July 1. Across Quebec, the total reaches up to 250,000. Picture entire blocks filling with boxes, furniture and refrigerators carried out to the sidewalk. The streets resemble a restless anthill.
While a lease can start at any time of year, about 80% of residents still choose that day. It sets off a chain reaction: one tenant moves out, another moves in.
July 1 isn’t just boxes and vans; it’s also a tangle of logistics. Movers have to be booked well in advance—sometimes months ahead. On that day their rates can run two to three times higher. Elevators and a parking spot by the building are worth reserving, too.
There are other snags. Trash piles up on the streets as people discard old furniture, appliances and mattresses. Authorities work to keep order, but can’t always keep pace.
And there are serious consequences. In 2021 about 400 families couldn’t find a new place in time and were left without housing. In 2022, during the three months leading up to July 1, a Montreal shelter took in more than 600 animals surrendered simply because there was no way to bring them along.
These days, more people try to schedule moves on other dates to avoid the crush and save money. Even so, July 1 remains Quebec’s main day for changing addresses. It’s not just a date anymore—it feels like a piece of local culture.
If there’s a day anywhere that belongs to boxes, sofas and the commotion of moving, it’s July 1—and it plays out in Quebec.