The municipal history of Quebec started in 1796 with the creation of administrations for Montréal and Quebec City, but was abolished and replaced in September 1847 by a system of county municipalities, whose councillors were elected from the parishes and townships existing therein, with provision for the creation of towns and villages that would be separated from their counties.10–11 Vic. c. 7, Second Part Further reform came into effect in July 1855 for all parts of Lower Canada other than Montreal, Quebec City and Saint-Hyacinthe,18 Vic. c. 100, s. 4 which included provision for the creation of local councils for parishes and townships,18 Vic. c. 100, s. 10 the representation of towns and villages on county councils,18 Vic. c. 100, s. 11 and the formation of towns and villages by order in council upon the recommendation of the relevant county council.18 Vic. c. 100, s. 34 The municipal law of Lower Canada was consolidated into a single Act in 1860.

For more than a century localities changed little. The early 20th century saw the 2000–2006 municipal reorganization in Quebec, the large-scale amalgamation of smaller municipalities in Quebec into larger cities from 2000–2003 and the subsequent de-mergers in 2006, as well as reorganizations of Mont-Tremblant (2000), Chandler (2001), Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (2001) and Saint-Hyacinthe (2001).

Municipalities written in bold are on their current form.

21st century

2000 Forty-seven municipality modifications were approved in 2000. 1 January: The City of Saint-Pierre is annexed by the City of Lachine. Creation of the Municipality of L'Islet-sur-Mer-Saint-Eugène-l'Islet by the merger of the City of L'Islet, the Municipality of L'Islet-sur-Mer and the Parish of Saint-Eugène. 5 January (amended 21 January): Québec administrative region changed its name to Capitale-Nationale administrative region. 12 January: Creation of the Municipality of Rivière-Blanche by the merger of the Village of Saint-Ulric and the Parish of Saint-Ulric-de-Matane. 26 January: Creation of the Municipality of Leclercville by the merger of the Village of Leclercville and the Parish of Sainte-Emmélie. Creation of the Municipality of Ormstown by the merger of the Village of Ormstown and the Parish of Saint-Malachie-d'Ormstown. Creation of the Municipality of Rougemont by the merger of the Village of Rougemont and the Parish of Saint-Michel-de-Rougemont. The Parish of Saint-André-d'Acton is annexed by the City of Acton Vale. The Parish of Saint-Césaire is annexed by the City of Saint-Césaire. 2 February: Creation of the City of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts-Tourelle by the merger of the City of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and the Municipality of Tourelle. 9 February: The Municipality of Beaudry is annexed by the City of Rouyn-Noranda. Creation of the Municipality of L'Isle-Verte by the merger of the Village of L'Isle-Verte and the Municipality of Saint-Jean-Baptiste-de-l'Isle-Verte. The Village of Saint-Gérard is annexed by the Municipality of Weedon. 23 February: The Parish of Princeville is annexed by the City of Princeville. 1 March: Creation of the City of Saint-Basile by the merger of the Village of Saint-Basile-Sud and the Parish of Saint-Basile. Creation of the City of Saint-Lin-Laurentides by the merger of the City of Laurentides and the Municipality of Saint-Lin. The Municipality of Saint-Pascal is annexed by the City of Saint-Pascal. 8 March: The Municipality of Rainville is annexed by the City of Farnham. 15 March: Creation of the City of Sorel-Tracy by the merger of the City of Sorel and the City of Tracy. Creation of the Municipality of Beaulac-Garthby by the merger of the Village of Beaulac and the Township of Garthby. The Municipality of Capucins is annexed by the City of Cap-Chat. The Municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours is annexed by the City of Richelieu. The Township of Warwick is annexed by the City of Warwick. 8 April: The Municipality of Daveluyville became a City. 19 April: Creation of the Municipality of Saint-Honoré-de-Shenley by the merger of the Parish of Saint-Honoré and the Township of Shenley. 3 May: Creation of the Municipality of Ripon by the merger of the Village of Ripon and the Township of Ripon. The Village of New-Glasgow is annexed by the Municipality of Sainte-Sophie. 27 May: Denis-Riverin Regional County Municipality changed its name to La Haute-Gaspésie Regional County Municipality. 14 June: The Village of L'Île-d'Entrée is annexed by the Municipality of L’Île-du-Havre-Aubert. The Parish of Sainte-Marie-de-Monnoir is annexed by the City of Marieville. 21 June: The Parish of Saint-Casimir is annexed by the Municipality of Saint-Casimir. 26 June: The Municipality of Cascapédia changed its name to Cascapédia-Saint-Jules. 1 July: The Parish of Saint-Gérard-Majella is annexed by the City of L'Assomption. 23 August: Creation of the Municipality of L'Isle-aux-Coudres by the merger of the Municipality of L'Île-aux-Coudres and the Municipality of La Baleine. 16 September: The Municipality of Kingsey Falls became a City. The Municipality of Lac-Nominingue changed its name to Nominingue. The Parish of Saint-Esprit became a Municipality. 4 October: Creation of the City of Carleton-Saint-Omer by the merger of the City of Carleton and the Parish of Saint-Omer. 28 October: The Parish of Larouche became a Municipality. 11 November: The Municipality of L'Islet-sur-Mer-Saint-Eugène-l'Islet changed its name to L'Islet. The Municipality of Rivière-Blanche changed its name to Saint-Ulric. 18 November: The Parish of Sainte-Anne-du-Sault became a Municipality. 22 November: Creation of the City of Mont-Tremblant by the merger of the City of Saint-Jovite, the Municipality of Lac-Tremblant-Nord, the Municipality of Mont-Tremblant and the Parish of Saint-Jovite. 25 November: The Municipality of Saint-André-Carillon changed its name to Saint-André-d'Argenteuil. The Village of Saint-Pie became a City. 29 November: Creation of the Municipality of Papineauville by the merger of the Village of Papineauville and the Parish of Sainte-Angélique. The Municipality of Vianney and the Village of Bernierville are annexed by the Municipality of Saint-Ferdinand. 6 December: Creation of the Municipality of Lanoraie by the merger of the Municipality of Lanoraie-d'Autray and the Parish of Saint-Joseph-de-Lanoraie. 9 December: The Municipality of Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier became a City. 27 December: The Municipality of Nicolet-Sud and the Parish of Saint-Jean-Baptiste-de-Nicolet are annexed by the City of Nicolet. 30 December: The Municipality of Cap-Santé became a City.

2001 Thirty-three municipality modifications were approved in 2001. 1 January: Creation of the Montreal Metropolitan Community. 17 January: Creation of the Municipality of Port-Daniel-Gascons by the merger of the Municipality of Port-Daniel and the Parish of Sainte-Germaine-de-l'Anse-aux-Gascons. 24 January: Creation of the City of Saint-Jean-Iberville by the merger of the City of Iberville, the City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, the City of Saint-Luc, the Municipality of L'Acadie and the Parish of Saint-Athanase. 10 February: The City of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts-Tourelle changed its name to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. 14 February: Creation of the Municipality of Adstock by the merger of the Municipality of Saint-Méthode-de-Frontenac and the Parish of Sacré-Coeur-de-Marie-Partie-Sud. 21 February: The Municipality of Delisle is annexed by the City of Alma. 25 April: Creation of the Municipality of Eaton by the merger of Village of Sawyerville and the Township of Eaton. Creation of the Municipality of Maskinongé by the merger of the Village of Maskinongé and the Parish of Saint-Joseph-de-Maskinongé. Creation of the Municipality of Saint-Siméon by the merger of the Village of Saint-Siméon and the Parish of Saint-Siméon. 16 May: Creation of the City of Lavaltrie by the merger of the Village of Lavaltrie and the Parish of Saint-Antoine-de-Lavaltrie. 26 May: The City of Saint-Jean-Iberville changed its name to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. 30 May: Creation of the Municipality of Eastman by the merger of the Municipality of Stukely and the Village of Eastman. 2 June: The Municipality of Saint-Charles-de-Mandeville changed its name to Mandeville. 13 June: Creation of the Municipality of Pierreville by the merger of the Village of Pierreville, the Parish of Notre-Dame-de-Pierreville and the Parish of Saint-Thomas-de-Pierreville. The Municipality of Saint-Jean-Baptiste is annexed by the City of Mont-Joli. The Parish of Macamic is annexed by the City of Macamic. 27 June: The City of La Plaine and the City of Lachenaie are annexed by the City of Terrebonne. Creation of the City of Pabos by the merger of the City of Chandler, the Municipality of Newport, the Municipality of Pabos, the Municipality of Pabos Mills and the Municipality of Saint-François-de-Pabos. 29 August: Creation of the Municipality of Sainte-Luce-Luceville by the merger of the Village of Luceville and the Parish of Sainte-Luce. 13 September: Creation of the Municipality of Lacolle by the merger of the Village of Lacolle and the Parish of Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel. 19 September: Creation of the Municipality of Montcerf-Lytton by the merger of the Municipality of Montcerf and the Township of Lytton. The Village of Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive is annexed by the Municipality of Les Éboulements. 26 September: The Municipality of Aubert-Gallion and the Parish of Saint-Georges-Est are annexed by the City of Saint-Georges. The Municipality of Petit-Matane, the Municipality of Saint-Luc-de-Matane and the Parish of Saint-Jérôme-de-Matane are annexed by the City of Matane. 5 October: Creation of the Municipality of Saint-Damase by the merger of the Village of Saint-Damase and Parish of Saint-Damase. Creation of the Municipality of Sainte-Croix by the merger of the Village of Sainte-Croix and Parish of Sainte-Croix. 10 October: Creation of the Municipality of Lac-Etchemin by the merger of the City of Lac-Etchemin and the Parish of Sainte-Germaine-du-Lac-Etchemin. 17 October: Creation of the City of Sainte-Marguerite-Estérel by the merger of the City of Estérel and the Parish of Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson. The City of Black Lake, the Municipality of Pontbriand, the Village of Robertsonville and the Township of Thetford-Partie-Sud are annexed by the City of Thetford Mines. 24 October: The Village of Sainte-Anne-du-Lac is annexed by the Municipality of Adstock. 4 November: Elections were held in nearly all municipalities of Quebec. 19 December: Creation of the Municipality of Yamaska by the merger of the Village of Yamaska, the Village of Yamaska-Est and the Parish of Saint-Michel-d'Yamaska. 27 December: The City of Sainte-Rosalie, the Parish of Notre-Dame-de-Saint-Hyacinthe, the Parish of Saint-Hyacinthe-le-Confesseur, the Parish of Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin and the Parish of Sainte-Rosalie are annexed by the City of Saint-Hyacinthe. The Village of Taschereau is annexed by the Municipality of Taschereau. 29 December: The Parish of Saint-Lazare became a City.

2002 Sixty-eight municipality modifications were approved in 2002. 1 January: The City of Anjou, the City of Baie-d'Urfé, the City of Beaconsfield, the City of Côte-Saint-Luc, the City of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, the City of Dorval, the City of Hampstead, the City of Kirkland, the City of L'Île-Bizard, the City of L'Île-Dorval, the City of Lachine, the City of Lasalle, the City of Mont-Royal, the City of Montréal-Est, the City of Montréal-Nord, the City of Montréal-Ouest, the City of Outremont, the City of Pierrefonds, the City of Pointe-Claire, the City of Roxboro, the City of Saint-Laurent, the City of Saint-Léonard, the City of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, the City of Sainte-Geneviève, the City of Verdun, the City of Westmount and the Village of Senneville are annexed by the City of Montréal.