If you’re still heating your home with oil, your system may be running just fine right now. As long as it is, the law doesn’t force you to do anything. But if your oil furnace fails or needs a major repair, everything changes.
Since December 31, 2023, you are no longer allowed to replace it with another oil-burning appliance, and several other doors are also closed.
Here’s exactly what the law says, and what you can do instead.
What Quebec’s regulation prohibits for oil heating
The Quebec government adopted the Regulation on Oil Heating Appliances as part of its Green Economy Plan 2030. The goal: to progressively eliminate residential oil heating, which emits up to 100 times more greenhouse gases than hydroelectricity according to the government.
The regulation applies in two phases. Since December 31, 2021, installing an oil heating appliance in new construction has been prohibited. Since December 31, 2023, the prohibitions extend to existing buildings. Concretely, from that date:
- It is prohibited to install or replace an oil heating appliance with another oil-burning unit in an existing residential building.
- It is prohibited to replace an oil heating appliance with an appliance running on natural gas or propane (which also rules out dual-energy systems for homes that previously heated with oil).
- It is prohibited to carry out major repairs (notably to the combustion chamber or heat exchanger) on an oil heating appliance that is more than 20 years old.
What the law does not prohibit: continuing to use your current appliance if it’s working correctly, and carrying out minor repairs on it. The government’s objective is not to force the replacement of appliances that are still functioning well. It aims to encourage a change of energy source when they need to be replaced at the end of their useful life, as the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec (CMMTQ) clarifies.
For the full text of the regulation, visit the official Quebec government page.
Your oil heating breaks down: what changes in practice
This is where many homeowners are caught off guard. The oil furnace has been running for 20 years, it gives out in November, and suddenly you realize you can’t replace it with what you had before.
Here’s what you can no longer do:
- Install a new oil furnace
- Replace it with a natural gas or propane furnace
- Have the combustion chamber or heat exchanger repaired on an appliance over 20 years old
And if your appliance is over 20 years old and the required repair involves major components, the repair itself is prohibited, not just the replacement.
The only authorized path: replace your oil heating with a system running on renewable energy, which in the vast majority of cases in Quebec means electricity.
Your options for replacing oil heating
The central heat pump (with existing ductwork)
If your home already has ductwork, this is the most natural solution. A central heat pump uses the existing ducts to heat and cool the entire home. In winter, cold-climate models maintain their efficiency down to -25°C to -30°C. An air handler (central electric furnace) distributes the air produced by the heat pump through the same ducts your old oil furnace used.
The ductless mini-split heat pump (without ductwork)
If your home has no duct system, a ductless mini-split heat pump is the alternative. It installs without ductwork, heats and cools, and can cover one space or multiple rooms depending on the model. For a full home, a multi-zone system can be configured.
The geothermal heat pump
More expensive to install, but the most efficient over the long term. It draws heat from the ground, whose temperature stays stable year-round. It’s particularly suited to homes that have enough property for drilling or trenching.
What’s not available for homes that heated with oil: dual energy (heat pump + natural gas), even though it’s available to other homeowners, is explicitly excluded by the regulation for homes replacing an oil system.
Available rebates for your oil heating conversion in 2026
Two programs are still active to help fund your heat pump.
LogisVert (Hydro-Québec): up to $6,700
The LogisVert program applies to the installation of an ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump, including conversions from oil heating. Rebates are calculated based on the unit’s capacity at -8°C: $50/1,000 BTU/h for a standard ENERGY STAR model, and $120/1,000 BTU/h for a cold-climate model. For the most powerful systems, the rebate can reach $6,700.
Rénoclimat: up to $5,250 in addition
If you take the opportunity to improve your home’s insulation or airtightness at the same time, Rénoclimat can cover a portion of those costs. The energy assessment must be completed before any work begins, without exception.
What closed in 2026:
The Chauffez vert program closed on March 31, 2026, and the federal CAMT program closed its applications on June 30, 2026. Both programs had specifically supported oil heating conversions. By combining LogisVert and Rénoclimat, it’s still possible to access up to $11,950 depending on your situation.
For details on LogisVert amounts and eligible models, see our full article on heat pump rebates in Quebec in 2026.
Eligible equipment we install in Laval and on the North Shore
At Ventilation Hitech, we install ENERGY STAR-certified heat pumps and air handlers eligible for the LogisVert program, in Laval, Blainville, Terrebonne, Mascouche, Repentigny, and Saint-Eustache. We do not carry out the full oil system conversion (tank removal, fuel line plumbing), but we install the electric heating equipment that replaces the oil furnace and gives access to the available rebates.
If your oil heating is approaching the end of its life or you’re planning your transition before a breakdown, now is the right time to get a quote. Wait times grow as soon as winter starts and emergency calls pile up.
Visit our heating services page to learn more about the systems we install.
Frequently asked questions about oil heating in Quebec
Can I still use my oil furnace if it’s working well?
Yes. The law does not require homeowners to replace a functioning appliance. You can continue using your oil furnace and make minor repairs to it. The prohibitions apply only when the appliance needs to be replaced or requires a major repair, particularly if the heat exchanger or combustion chamber is involved, or if the appliance is over 20 years old.
Can I replace my oil furnace with a natural gas furnace?
No. Quebec’s regulation explicitly prohibits replacing an oil appliance with one running on any fossil fuel, including natural gas and propane. Dual energy is also excluded for homeowners replacing an oil system. The only authorized option is a system running on renewable energy, which in the vast majority of cases means an electric heat pump.
Is removing my oil tank mandatory?
The regulation covers the heating appliance, not the storage tank. Tank removal is governed by separate rules that vary by municipality and insurer. Many insurance companies require the removal of a decommissioned tank. Check with your municipality and your insurance broker to understand the obligations that apply to your situation.
How much does replacing oil heating with a heat pump cost?
The cost varies depending on the home’s square footage, whether existing ductwork is in place, and the type of heat pump chosen. For a home with existing ductwork, a central heat pump with an air handler generally runs between $8,000 and $18,000 before rebates. After LogisVert and Rénoclimat, the net cost can be reduced significantly depending on your situation.
Questions about oil heating or your replacement options?
Our team answers all your questions, no commitment required.
(450) 662-9888
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