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Frequently Asked Questions

and Department Services

I have a complaint about what’s going on in my neighbourhood!

What's planned for my neighbourhood?

What is a Plan Area?

What is a Development Permit?

How do I get a Building Permit?

How can I set up an office in my house?

When do I need a Zoning Confirmation Letter?

Where is my property boundary?

Can I get a site plan of my house?

Can I get an updated street map for my community or area?

What is my civic number (house number)?

Q:

I have a complaint about what’s going on in my neighbourhood!
A:

Contact the HRM Customer Information Centre at 311 (or 902-490-4000 from outside Nova Scotia), where you will be connected to By-Law Enforcement.

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Q:
What's planned for my neighbourhood?
A:

HRM's Regional Plan focuses on the revitalization of the inner city, environmental concerns, and suburban issues like servicing and an appropriate mix of housing in new neighbourhoods. There are also a number of community plans available and underway.

Local area planning issues, such as rezonings, development agreements, plan amendments, etc., have to be approved in a formal public process.  Information on specific applications is available here, or you can check for upcoming meetings in your area.

Contact the HRM Customer Information Centre, or the Planning Services office in your area, for more information.  Also visit HRM's Online Calendar to track public information meetings and public hearings in your area.

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Q:
What is a Plan Area?
A:

Plan areas are communities of interest which have their own set of land use policies and by-laws which specifically apply to them.

Currently there are twenty-one plan areas in Halifax Regional Municipality.  The following table shows these plan areas and their administrative regions.


Eastern Region
Dartmouth  Eastern Passage-Cow Bay 
Downtown Dartmouth Lawrencetown
Cole Harbour  Lake Major 
Musquodoboit Valley Porters Lake-Lake Echo 
Eastern Shore East Eastern Shore West 

Central Region 

Bedford  Beaver Bank, Hammonds Plains 
Sackville  Fall River-Waverley
Sackville Drive  

Western Region 

St. Margaret's Bay  Halifax
Timberlea Downtown Halifax
Prospect  Chebucto Peninsula

 

For more information on the municipal planning strategies and land use by-laws associated with these plan areas, please visit the Community Plans page.

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Q:
What is a Development Permit?
A:
A development permit is a written approval that your plans for your property (construction/alterations/use) comply with the Land Use By-law for that area.

 

A development permit is not a building permit:  it indicates that your intentions are in accordance with HRM's regulations and by-laws for your specific location.

Contact the HRM Customer Information Centre, or the Development Services office in your area, for more information.

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Q:
How do I get a Building Permit?
A:
When you apply for a development permit, you also apply for a building permit.  Staff will examine your application to help ensure it meets the requirements of the zoning by-law.

A building inspector will examine your plans/sketch to help ensure that it meets the National Building Code.

Contact the HRM Customer Information Centre, or the Development Services office in your area, for more information.

Information brochures and application forms are available online or at any of our three office locations.

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Q:

How can I set up an office in my house?

A:

You need a development permit.  You may also need a building permit.

Contact the HRM Customer Information Centre, or the Development Services office in your area.

 
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Q:
When do I need a Zoning Confirmation Letter?
A:
You need it when buying a house.  It tells the mortgage company/realtor/buyer that the buildings/improvements on the property comply with current municipal Land Use by-law regulations.

 

A zoning confirmation letter is not a requirement of a municipal by-law. It was introduced to meet customer demand.

A zoning confirmation letter costs $100.00.

Contact the HRM Customer Information Centre, or the Development Services office in your area, for more information.

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Q: Where is my property boundary?
A:

If you intend to construct on your property, it is important to know the location of proposed buildings in relation to the property lines.  Not knowing your property boundaries could result in mistakes in construction.

Only a registered Land Surveyor can verify, set or relocate a survey marker.  If you have any questions about survey markers or surveying, please contact the Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors at 902-469-7962.

 
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Q:
Can I get a site plan of my house?
A:

We do have a limited number of site plans available, depending upon which area you are looking and the year.

We advise you to contact the the Development Services office in your area before coming into the office to ensure we have the information you require.

We will only release a copy of the site plan to the owner of the property.

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Q:
Can I get an updated street map for my community or area?
A:
Street maps are available through the Geographic Information Systems and Services (GISS) unit.  Please call 311 (or 902-490-4000 from outside Nova Scotia) for more information.
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Q:
What is my civic number (house number)?
A:
Civic numbers can be obtained by calling Civic Addressing at 902-490-5347.  Please go to the Civic Addressing page for more information.
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