Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing Grant Program

The Affordable Housing Grant Program is available to support non-profit and charitable organizations in developing, repairing and acquiring affordable housing.

Visit the Affordable Housing Grant Program for more information.

Tax relief for non-profit organizations

The municipality's Tax Relief for Non-Profit Organizations Program can help eligible non-profit and charitable organizations reduce the amount of property tax they pay each year. The program is set out in Administrative Order 2014-001- ADM, the Tax Relief for Non-Profit Organizations Administrative Order. The Administrative Order includes a streamlined reapplication process that creates a form of multi-year tax relief for all non-profits.

Waiving of municipal-related construction fees

The municipality waives most municipal-related construction fees for residential development carried out by registered non-profits or charitable organizations whose mandate includes housing. More information on the waiving of municipal fees, and the application form, can be found on the permit fees webpage.

Halifax Water has a deferral mechanism to assist affordable housing by allowing for Regional Development Charges (RDCs) to be deferred for up to ten years for affordable housing projects. For more information, visit the Halifax Water website.

Surplus land for affordable housing program

Administrative Order 50: Respecting the disposal of surplus real property enables the Municipality to sell surplus property at less-than-market value for the purpose of creating affordable housing. Eligibility to purchase surplus land designated for affordable housing is restricted to not-for-profit and charitable organizations.

In July 2025, HRM launched the Surplus Land for Affordable Housing pilot program, as part of HRM’s Housing Accelerator Fund action plan. Under this program, on June 23rd, 2026, Regional Council approved the sale of 48 Pinecrest Drive, Dartmouth to Rooted: Community Development Partners.

Visit the municipal Real Estate and Land Management webpage for information regarding other surplus municipal land.

Housing Accelerator Fund

On Oct. 12, 2023, the Government of Canada entered into an agreement with the municipality to fast track 2,600 housing units over the next three years through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) and 8,866 homes over the next ten years. HAF is assisting in removing barriers to building housing and to fast-track development. HAF has 11 initiatives in the action plan to address the municipality’s role in housing and to hit the targeted units over the next three years.

More information about the municipality’s HAF program can be found on the HAF webpage.

Housing Needs Assessment

In 2023, the Province of Nova Scotia completed a housing needs assessment for the province and the Halifax Regional Municipality (the municipality). The reports contain qualitative and quantitative data, and were informed by engagement with organizations.

In 2025, the municipality worked with Turner Drake and Partners, in coordination with the Province of Nova Scotia, to complete a Qualitative Responses Supplement to the 2023 Halifax Regional Municipality Municipal Housing Needs Report. The Supplement updates the 2023 Housing Needs Assessment to align with required content in the Government of Canada’s Housing Needs Assessment template. While the Supplement provides further updates on the municipal context since 2023, it is intended to be considered along with the quantitative data included in the 2023 report. 

Inclusionary zoning

Inclusionary Zoning is a planning tool that allows municipalities to require the inclusion of affordable units in new developments. The municipality conducted background research and engagement on the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing an Inclusionary Zoning program. In Spring 2026, staff presented recommendations to Regional Council to pause the program at this time. Inclusionary Zoning can continue to be considered as a possible tool, in combination with incentive or bonus zoning, to support affordable housing through future planning programs. For more information, refer to the staff report and Inclusionary Zoning Market Analysis and Policy Options Final Report.

Housing and Homelessness Partnership

The municipality has been an active member of the Housing and Homelessness Partnership (HHP) since it was created in 2013. The HHP is a collaborative of nine partners from the three levels of government, the private sector and non-profit organizations in the municipality with the mandate to “end homelessness and housing poverty in Halifax” by addressing policy and systematic issues. The HHP has been advocating for the need to expand the existing stock of affordable housing to address core housing needs across the municipality. While having a seat at the partnership table, Planning and Development staff play key roles with the partnership through participation in various sub-groups and task teams.

Through participation in the HHP, the municipality acknowledges that housing is a shared responsibility and issues surrounding affordable housing and homelessness cannot be solved by any single group or any single solution.

Rental registration by-law

By-law R-400 -Respecting Registration of Residential Rental Properties includes provisions for mandatory registration of residential rental accommodations. This was done to ensure all rental accommodations meet minimum occupancy standards. Recent amendments to the M-200 - Standards for Residential Occupancies By-law expanded where minimum safety standards apply and included enhanced safety, community integration and accountability provisions for all residential rental properties. The registration and/or licensing of residential rental units will require all residential rental units within the municipality to be registered or licensed. This allows for more flexibility in ensuring buildings are compliant with rules and regulations including meeting minimum standards. View the Council report.

A 2-year update on the Rental Registry was provided to Council in December 2025 (Report).