New language rules in Quebec stemming from the adoption of Bill 96 have reshaped how companies communicate with customers, staff and regulators across the province. For any business selling goods or services here, French is no longer a simple courtesy; it is a legal obligation with real deadlines and real fines.
The hard part is knowing exactly which documents, screens and labels need a French version, and by when. This guide breaks down what the law requires, what changed on June 1, 2025, and how to prioritize translation work so your operations stay compliant without a last-minute scramble.
What Bill 96 Changed for Businesses in Quebec
Bill 96, officially titled An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, was assented to on June 1, 2022. It amends the Charter of the French Language, the 1977 law many still call Bill 101. Its purpose is to reinforce French as the common language of work, commerce and public life in the province.
What makes the law significant is its reach: It covers packaging, signage, websites, advertising, contracts, invoices and internal communications. Enforcement also tightened: The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) can investigate complaints, conduct inspections and impose penalties, and the most demanding provisions took full effect on June 1, 2025.
Who the Rules Apply to
Bill 96 applies to any business that offers goods or services to consumers in Quebec, regardless of where the company is based. A retailer in Ontario or a software firm abroad that sells into the province is expected to serve Quebec customers in French. Company size matters only for specific duties, such as francization, which starts at 25 employees.
The law also reaches inward: Companies with staff in Quebec must make internal communications, offers of employment and the software interfaces used by employees available in French. A workplace that runs entirely in English is exposed, even if its customers never see this.
Bill 96 in Quebec: Obligations at a Glance
The table below maps the main obligations against the dates that matter. Some rules are decades old, while others are recent additions that risk catching businesses off guard.
| Area | French requirement | Key date |
|---|---|---|
| Product labels and packaging | French must be at least as prominent as any other language. | In force since 1977 |
| Generic or descriptive terms in a trademark | These must appear in French on the product or an attached medium. | June 1, 2025 |
| Public signage with a non-French mark or name | French must be markedly predominant. | June 1, 2025 |
| Websites and digital catalogues | There must be a French version equivalent in content and function. | Already required, stricter enforcement |
| Contracts of adhesion | A French version must be provided before any other language. | June 1, 2023 |
| Francization (25 or more employees) | The business must register with the OQLF and have a francization program. | June 1, 2025 |
Documents and content you must provide in French
Consumers in Quebec have the right to be informed and served in French. In practice, that covers almost all customer-facing text. Companies may still offer bilingual versions, but the French must be as complete, clear and correct as the other language.
The list below shows the content most often affected:
- Contracts, quotes and purchase agreements, including standard-form (adhesion) contracts
- Invoices, receipts and account statements
- Product manuals, warranties and safety information
- Websites, e-commerce catalogues and commercial social media
- Marketing materials, advertising and promotional emails
- Employment contracts, job postings and internal communications for staff in Quebec
Contracts of adhesion carry a specific rule: The French version must be presented first, and another language may follow only if the customer asks for it after seeing the French text. Many recurring errors in these documents come down to rushed translation, a pattern explored in this overview of common English-to-French translation mistakes in Quebec.
A structured translation plan is easier than fixing violations after a complaint. Explore professional translation and post-editing services that help align these documents with Quebec usage from the start.
Labels, Trademarks and Packaging Under the New Rules
The requirement that French be at least as prominent as any other language on packaging has existed since 1977. What changed on June 1, 2025, is narrower and often misunderstood. If a trademark shown in English contains a generic term or a description of the product, that term or description must now also appear in French, either on the product or on a medium permanently attached to it.
The name of the enterprise and the product name as sold are excluded, along with designations of origin and distinctive cultural names. A grace period lets noncompliant products manufactured before June 1, 2025, remain on shelves until June 1, 2027, under specific conditions. For a legal breakdown, McCarthy Tétrault’s note on common Bill 96 misconceptions is a useful reference, and the practical side of labelling is covered in this guide to packaging translation rules in Canada.
Signage, Websites and Advertising
On public signs and posters visible from outside a building, when a non-French trademark or a business name in another language appears, French must be markedly predominant. The regulation defines this precisely: The French text must have a much greater visual impact, with space at least twice as large as the other language and equal legibility and permanent visibility.
Websites and digital platforms used to sell in Quebec are treated as commercial documents, so they need a French version that matches the other-language version in content, presentation and function. This obligation predates Bill 96, but enforcement is now stricter. Gowling WLG’s summary of the bill’s provisions sets out these display thresholds in detail.
Deadlines, Penalties and Francization
Businesses with 25 or more employees for 6 months must register with the OQLF, down from the previous threshold of 50. Registration triggers a francization process, with progress reports every 3 years.
Francization involves more than a registration. Businesses that meet the threshold must analyze the place of French in their operations, adopt a program to correct any gaps and report on progress every three years. It covers workplace tools, documentation and daily communication, so it usually reveals translation work that a company did not know it needed to complete.
Noncompliance can lead to a formal notice to comply, then fines that generally range from $3,000 to $30,000 per violation, with higher amounts for repeat offences. Company directors can be held personally liable, which raises the stakes well beyond a simple administrative cost. A single unresolved complaint can also trigger a broader review of how the business handles French across its operations.
Where Businesses Most Often Fall Short
Even well-intentioned companies tend to miss the same things. Confirmation emails, automated notifications and chatbot replies often stay in English long after the main site is translated. Point-of-sale receipts, packing slips and return labels slip through because they come from a separate system. Third-party tools, from booking widgets to review pop-ups, may not offer a French option at all. Mapping these hidden touchpoints early prevents a compliant front end from being quietly undermined by an English back end.
Getting Ahead of Bill 96 Compliance
Compliance is less about translating everything overnight and more about mapping what you have, spotting the gaps and fixing the highest-risk documents first. Contracts, labels, signage and customer-facing web content deserve priority, since these attract complaints and inspections.
A careful French version protects both your legal position and your credibility with francophone clients. To align your documents, signage and website with current requirements, request a translation and revision assessment.
FAQ
What does Bill 96 require businesses to translate in Quebec?
Bill 96 requires French versions of most customer-facing and workplace content. This includes contracts, invoices, product manuals, warranties, websites, advertising and internal communications for staff in Quebec. Consumers have the right to be served in French, so bilingual versions are allowed only if the French text is equally complete and correct. Labels and signage follow specific prominence rules. The safest approach treats every customer touchpoint as in scope.
When did the main Bill 96 provisions take effect?
Bill 96 was assented to on June 1, 2022, and rolled out in stages. Contract of adhesion rules applied from June 1, 2023. The most demanding provisions, covering trademarks, signage and francization for businesses with 25 or more employees, took effect on June 1, 2025. A grace period for certain products manufactured before that date runs until June 1, 2027.
What are the penalties for not complying with Bill 96?
The Office québécois de la langue française can issue a formal notice to comply, investigate complaints and conduct inspections. Fines generally range from $3,000 to $30,000 per violation, and they increase for repeat offences. Company directors can be held personally liable. Beyond fines, noncompliance can damage relationships with francophone customers and expose contracts to legal challenge.