Across Canada, CLTs generally use similar legal frameworks to structure their organizations and manage land, even though land use and non‐profit legislation varies from one province to another. In Quebec, however, there are some unique legal frameworks that allow CLTs and other community‐owned real estate groups to use different models for ownership and long‐term stewardship. Two of the most important tools are social utility trusts (SUTs) fiducies d’utilité sociale FUS and emphyteutic leases.
This resource introduces these two legal tools, explains how they compare to the CLT model, and illustrates their use through two examples, the Écoquartier Louvain in Montréal and Foncier Solidaire Brome‑Missisquoi in the Estrie region.
