(c) the area or areas where a district may be established; and
(d) the matters that council shall consider prior to the approval of a development agreement for the development of a district.
(2) When a municipal planning strategy provides for a comprehensive development district, the land-use by-law shall include a comprehensive development district zone.
(3) No development may occur in a comprehensive development district unless it is consistent with the development agreement or it is a development permitted without a development agreement.
229 (1) A development agreement may contain terms with respect to
(a) matters that a land-use by-law may contain;
(b) hours of operation;
(c) maintenance of the development;
(d) easements for the construction, maintenance or improvement of watercourses, ditches, land drainage works, stormwater systems, wastewater facilities, water systems and other utilities;
(e) grading or alteration in elevation or contour of the land and provision for the disposal of storm and surface water;
(f) the construction, in whole or in part, of a stormwater system, wastewater facilities and water system;
(g) the subdivision of land.
(2) A development agreement may include plans or maps.
(3) A development agreement may
(a) identify matters which are not substantive or, alternatively, identify matters that are substantive;
(b) provide for the time when and conditions under which the development agreement may be discharged with or without the concurrence of the property owner;
(c) provide that upon the completion of the development or phases of the development, the development agreement, or portions of it, may be discharged by council;
(d) provide that if the development does not commence or is not completed within the time specified in the development agreement, the development agreement or portions of it may be discharged by council without the concurrence of the property owner.
230 (1) A development agreement shall not be entered into until
(a) the appeal period has elapsed and no appeal has been commenced; or
(b) all appeals have been abandoned or disposed of or the development agreement has been affirmed by the Board.
(2) A development agreement does not come into effect until
(a) the appeal period has elapsed and no appeal has been commenced or all appeals have been abandoned or disposed of or the development agreement has been affirmed by the Board;
(b) the development agreement is signed by the property owner and the municipality; and
(c) the development agreement is filed by the municipality in the registry.
(3) The clerk shall file every development agreement, amendment to a development agreement and discharge of a development agreement in the registry.
231 (1) A development agreement is in effect until discharged by the council.
(2) A council may discharge a development agreement, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms of the agreement or with the concurrence of the property owner.
(3) After a development agreement is discharged, the land is subject to the land-use by-law.
232 (1) A council shall adopt or amend a development agreement by policy.
(2) A council shall hold a public hearing before approving a development agreement or an amendment to a development agreement.
(3) Only those members of the council present at the public hearing may vote on the development agreement or the amendment.
(4) Upon approving a development agreement or an amendment to a development agreement, the clerk shall place a notice in a newspaper circulating in the municipality stating that the development agreement is approved and setting out the right of appeal.
(5) The clerk shall file a certified copy of a development agreement or amendment with the Minister when notice of the development agreement or an amendment to it is published.
(6) Within seven days after a decision refusing to approve a development agreement or an amendment to a development agreement, the clerk shall notify the applicant in writing, giving reasons for the refusal and setting out the right of appeal.
(7) Amendments to those items in a development agreement that the parties have identified as not substantive, or that were not identified as being substantive, do not require a public hearing.
233 (1) Where a municipal planning strategy so provides, a land-use by-law shall identify
(a) the use that is subject to site-plan approval;
(b) the area where site-plan approval applies;
(c) the matters that are subject to site-plan approval;
(d) those provisions of the land-use by-law that may be varied by a site-plan approval;
(e) the criteria the development officer shall consider prior to granting site-plan approval;
(f) the form and content of an application for site-plan approval.
(2) Site-plan approval shall not apply to development of one or two unit dwellings.
(3) No development permit shall be issued for a development in a site-plan approval area unless
(a) the class of use is exempt from site-plan approval as set out in the land-use by-law and the development is otherwise consistent with the requirements of the land-use by-law; or
(b) the development officer has approved an application for site-plan approval and the development is otherwise consistent with the requirements of the land-use by-law.
(4) A site-plan approval may deal with
(a) the location of structures on the lot;
(b) the location of off-street loading and parking facilities;
(c) the location, number and width of driveway accesses to streets;
(d) the type, location and height of walls, fences, hedges, trees, shrubs, ground cover or other landscaping elements necessary to protect and minimize the land-use impact on adjoining lands;
(e) the retention of existing vegetation;
(f) the location of walkways, including the type of surfacing material, and all other means of pedestrian access;
(g) the type and location of outdoor lighting;
(h) the location of facilities for the storage of solid waste;
(i) the location of easements;
(j) the grading or alteration in elevation or contour of the land and provision for the management of storm and surface water;
(k) the type, location, number and size of signs or sign structures;
(l) provisions for the maintenance of any of the items referred to in this subsection.
234 (1) A development officer shall approve an application for site-plan approval, unless the
(a) matters subject to site-plan approval do not meet the criteria set out in the land-use by-law; or
(b) applicant fails to enter into an undertaking to carry out the terms of the site plan.
(2) Where a development officer approves or refuses to approve a site plan, the process and notification procedures and the rights of appeal are the same as those that apply when a development officer grants or refuses to grant a variance.
(3) The council, in hearing an appeal concerning a site-plan approval, may make any decision that the development officer could have made.
(4) A council may by resolution provide that any person applying for approval of a site plan shall pay the municipality the cost of
(a) notifying affected land owners;
(b) posting a sign.
235 A development officer shall issue a development permit for a development in a site-plan approval area if a site plan is approved and the development otherwise complies with the land-use by-law, and
(a) the appeal period has elapsed and no appeal has been commenced; or
(b) all appeals have been abandoned or disposed of or the site plan has been affirmed by the council.
236 Where the owner of property that is subject to a development agreement or a site plan conveys all or part of the property to a person not a party to the development agreement or site plan, the development agreement or the site plan continues to apply to the property until discharged by council.
237 (1) A development officer may grant a variance in one or more of the following land-use by-law requirements:
(a) percentage of land that may be built upon;
(b) size or other requirements relating to yards;
(c) lot frontage or lot area, or both, if
(ii) a variance was granted for the lot at the time of subdivision approval.
(a) number of parking spaces and loading spaces required;
(b) ground area and height of a structure;
(c) floor area occupied by a home-based business;
(d) height and area of a sign.
(3) A variance may not be granted where the
(a) variance violates the intent of the land-use by-law;
(b) difficulty experienced is general to properties in the area; or
(c) difficulty experienced results from an intentional disregard for the requirements of the land-use by-law.
238 (1) Within seven days after granting a variance, the development officer shall give notice in writing of the variance granted to every assessed owner whose property is within thirty metres of the applicant's property.
(2) The notice shall
(a) describe the variance granted;
(b) identify the property where the variance is granted; and
(c) set out the right to appeal the decision of the development officer.
(3) Where a variance is granted, a property owner served a notice may appeal the decision to the council within seven days after receiving the notice.
(4) Where a variance is refused, the applicant may appeal the refusal to council within seven days after receiving notice of the refusal, by giving written notice to the clerk who shall notify the development officer.
(5) Where an applicant appeals the refusal to grant a variance, the clerk or development officer shall give seven days written notice of the hearing to every assessed owner whose property is within thirty metres of the applicant's property.
(6) The notice shall
(a) describe the variance applied for and the reasons for its refusal;
(b) identify the property where the variance is applied for; and
(c) state the date, time and place when council will hear the appeal.
239 (1) Where a council hears an appeal from the granting or refusal of a variance, the council may make any decision that the development officer could have made.
(2) A development officer shall issue a development permit for any development for which a variance has been granted and which otherwise complies with a land-use by-law if
(a) the appeal period has elapsed and no appeal has been commenced; or
(b) all appeals have been abandoned or disposed of or the variance has been affirmed by the council.
(3) A council may by resolution provide that any person applying for a variance shall pay the municipality the cost of
(a) notifying affected land owners;
(b) posting a sign.
240 (1) A nonconforming structure, nonconforming use of land or nonconforming use in a structure, may continue if it exists and is lawfully permitted at the date of the first publication of the notice of intention to adopt or amend a land-use by-law.
(2) A nonconforming structure is deemed to exist at the date of the first publication of the notice of intention to adopt or amend a land-use by-law, if the
(a) nonconforming structure was lawfully under construction and was completed within a reasonable time; or
(b) permit for its construction was in force and effect, the construction was commenced within twelve months after the date of the issuance of the permit and the construction was completed in conformity with the permit within a reasonable time.
(3) A nonconforming use in a structure is deemed to exist at the date of the first publication of the notice of intention to adopt or amend a land-use by-law if
(a) the structure containing the nonconforming use was lawfully under construction and was completed within a reasonable time; or
(b) the permit for its construction or use was in force and effect, the construction was commenced within twelve months after the date of the issuance of the permit and the construction was completed in conformity with the permit within a reasonable time; and
(c) the use was permitted when the permit for the structure was granted and the use was commenced upon the completion of construction.
(4) This Act does not preclude the repair or maintenance of a nonconforming structure or a structure containing a nonconforming use.
(5) A change of tenant, occupant or owner of any land or structure does not of itself affect the use of land or a structure.
241 (1) Where a nonconforming structure is located in a zone that permits the use made of it and the structure is used primarily for residential purposes, it may be
(a) rebuilt or repaired, if destroyed or damaged by fire or otherwise, if it is substantially the same as it was before the destruction or damage and it is occupied by the same use;
(b) enlarged, reconstructed, repaired or renovated where
(ii) all other applicable provisions of the land-use by-law except minimum frontage and area are satisfied.
242 A nonconforming use of land may not be
(a) extended beyond the limits that the use legally occupies;
(b) changed to any other use except a use permitted in the zone; and
(c) recommenced, if discontinued for a continuous period of six months.
243 (1) Where there is a nonconforming use in a structure, the structure may not be
(a) expanded or altered so as to increase the volume of the structure capable of being occupied, except as required by another Act of the Legislature;
(b) repaired or rebuilt, if destroyed or damaged by fire or otherwise to the extent of more than seventy-five percent of the market value of the building above its foundation, except in accordance with the land-use by-law and after the repair or rebuilding it may only be occupied by a use permitted in the zone.
(2) Where there is a nonconforming use in a structure, the nonconforming use
(a) may be extended throughout the structure;
(b) may not be changed to any other use except a use permitted in the zone;
(c) may not be recommenced, if discontinued for a continuous period of six months.
244 (1) A municipal planning strategy may provide for a relaxation of the restrictions contained in this Part respecting nonconforming structures, nonconforming uses of land, and nonconforming uses in a structure and, in particular, may provide for
(a) the extension, enlargement, alteration or reconstruction of a nonconforming structure;
(b) the extension of a nonconforming use of land;
(c) the extension, enlargement or alteration of structures containing nonconforming uses;
(d) the reconstruction of structures containing nonconforming uses, after destruction;
(e) the recommencement of a nonconforming use of land or a nonconforming use in a structure after it is discontinued for a continuous period in excess of six months;
(f) the change in use of a nonconforming use of land or a nonconforming use in a structure, to another nonconforming use.
(2) The policies adopted in accordance with this Section shall be carried out through the land-use by-law and may require a development agreement.
245 (1) A council shall appoint a development officer to administer its land-use by-law and subdivision by-law.
(2) Where the municipality participates in a district planning commission or enters into an agreement with another municipality to provide services, the council may appoint as its development officer an employee of the commission or of the other municipality.
246 (1) Before any development is commenced, a development permit shall be obtained if the council has adopted a land-use by-law.
(2) A land-use by-law may specify developments for which a development permit is not required.
247 (1) Within fourteen days after receiving an application for a development permit the development officer shall
(a) determine if an application is incomplete; and
(b) where the application is incomplete, notify the applicant in writing advising what is required to complete the application.
(2) Within thirty days after receiving a completed application for a development permit, the development officer shall grant the development permit or inform the applicant of the reasons for not granting the permit.
248 (1) A development permit shall be issued for a proposed development if the development meets the requirements of the land-use by-law, the terms of a development agreement or an approved site plan.
(2) Where a land-use by-law is amended or a development agreement is approved or amended, a development permit for a development pursuant to the amendment or the agreement may not be issued until
(a) the appeal period has elapsed; or
(b) all appeals have been abandoned or disposed of or the decision of council has been affirmed by the Board.
(3) A development permit that is inconsistent with a proposed land-use by-law or a proposed amendment to a land-use by-law may not be issued for one hundred and fifty days from the publication of the first notice advertising the council's intention to adopt or amend the by-law.
(4) Where the proposed land-use by-law or by-law amendment has not come into effect after the expiry of one hundred and fifty days from the publication of the first notice advertising the council's intention to adopt or amend the by-law, the development officer shall issue the development permit if the proposed development meets the requirements of the land-use by-law.
249 (1) The approval or refusal by a council to amend a land-use by-law may be appealed to the Board by
(a) an aggrieved person;
(b) the applicant;
(c) an adjacent municipality;
(d) a village in which an affected property is situated;
(e) the Director.
(2) The approval, or refusal to approve, and the amendment, or refusal to amend, a development agreement may be appealed to the Board by
(a) an aggrieved person;
(b) the applicant;
(c) an adjacent municipality;
(d) a village in which an affected property is situated;
(e) the Director.
(3) The refusal by a development officer to
(a) issue a development permit;
(b) approve a tentative or final plan of subdivision,
may be appealed by the applicant to the Board.
250 The following are not subject to an appeal:
(a) an amendment to a land-use by-law to make the by-law consistent with a statement of provincial interest;
(b) an amendment to a land-use by-law or a development agreement to implement a decision of the Board;
(c) a development agreement approved, as ordered by the Board;
(d) an amendment to a land-use by-law that is required to carry out a concurrent amendment to a municipal planning strategy.
251 An appeal shall be served on the Board within fourteen days after the date
(a) of publication of notice of the adoption of the land-use by-law amendment;
(b) of written notice of council's decision refusing to amend the land-use by-law;
(c) of publication of notice of the approval or amendment of a development agreement;
(d) of written notice of council's decision refusing to approve or amend a development agreement;
(e) of written notice of the development officer's decision refusing to issue a development permit or refusing to approve a tentative or final plan of subdivision;
(f) a decision is deemed to be refused.
252 (1) An aggrieved person or an applicant may only appeal
(a) an amendment or refusal to amend a land-use by-law;
(b) the approval or refusal of a development agreement or an amendment to a development agreement,
on the grounds that the decision of the council does not reasonably carry out the intent of the municipal planning strategy.
(2) An applicant may only appeal a refusal to issue a development permit on the grounds that the decision of the development officer does not comply with the land-use by-law, a development agreement, an order establishing an interim planning area or an order regulating or prohibiting development in an interim planning area.
(3) An applicant may only appeal a refusal to approve a tentative or final plan of subdivision on the grounds that the decision of the development officer does not comply with the subdivision by-law.
(4) The Director may only appeal on the grounds that the decision of the council is not reasonably consistent with a statement of provincial interest, an order establishing an interim planning area or an order regulating or prohibiting development in an interim planning area.
253 (1) The Board may
(a) confirm the decision appealed from;
(b) allow the appeal by reversing the decision of the council to amend the land-use by-law or to approve or amend a development agreement;
(c) allow the appeal and order the council to amend the land-use by-law in the manner prescribed by the Board and order the council to approve or amend the development agreement in the manner prescribed by the Board;
(d) allow the appeal and order that the development permit be granted;
(e) allow the appeal by directing the development officer to approve the tentative or final plan of subdivision.
(2) The Board shall not allow an appeal unless it determines that the decision of council or the development officer, as the case may be, does not reasonably carry out the intent of the municipal planning strategy or conflicts with the provisions of the land-use by-law or the subdivision by-law.
254 (1) The Board shall not order the granting of a development permit, the approval of a plan of subdivision, a land-use by-law amendment, a development agreement or an amendment to a development agreement that
(a) is not reasonably consistent with a statement of provincial interest;
(b) conflicts with an order made by the Minister establishing an interim planning area or regulating or prohibiting development in an interim planning area.
(2) The Board shall not make any decision that commits the council to make any expenditures with respect to a development.
255 (1) A district planning commission established by an order of the Minister pursuant to a former Planning Act continues to be a body corporate.
(2) Municipalities that are members of a district planning commission are deemed to have entered into an intermunicipal services agreement for the provision of the services provided by the commission on the same terms and conditions as contained in the order of the Minister establishing the commission, and such an agreement may be varied or rescinded with the agreement of all participating municipalities and the approval of the Minister to the variation or recession is not required.
(3) A participating municipality may withdraw from a commission effective April 1 without the agreement of the remaining participating municipalities but shall, before withdrawing, give the other participating municipalities notice before March 31 of the preceding year.
(4) A participating municipality that withdraws from a commission is
(a) not entitled to receive any assets of the commission without the approval of the remaining participating municipalities; and
(b) responsible for severance costs or other costs imposed by its withdrawal and for its share of any liabilities of the commission existing at the time of its withdrawal.
(5) Where all the participating municipalities have agreed to dissolve the commission, they shall, by agreement, provide for the distribution of the assets and liabilities of the commission among the participating municipalities upon its dissolution.
(6) Where all the participating municipalities cannot agree on the distribution of the assets and liabilities of the commission, one or more of them may make an application to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia to determine an equitable distribution of them.
256 (1) A member of a commission who is a council member of a participating municipality ceases to be a member of the commission when the member ceases to be a council member.
(2) Where a member is no longer able to act, the council that appointed the member may appoint another member for the balance of the term.
257 (1) A commission may
(a) advise and assist the council of any participating municipality in the preparation or amendment of planning documents and in the provision of any service related to planning or delegated to the commission by one or more of the participating municipalities;
(b) exercise rights and powers and perform duties that may be delegated to it by the council of a participating municipality;
(c) expend its funds for any of the purposes of the commission;
(d) retain the services of those persons necessary for the purposes of the commission and determine their remuneration;
(e) do any other things necessary for the attainment of its purposes.
(2) A commission may acquire and dispose of real property to the extent authorized and approved by all the councils of the participating municipalities.
258 (1) A commission shall annually appoint a registered municipal auditor to be its auditor.
(2) On or before June 30 in each year, a commission shall provide the councils of the participating municipalities with a financial report for the preceding year signed by the commission's auditor.
259 On or before June 30 in each year, a commission shall make an annual report to the councils of the participating municipalities setting out its activities for the preceding year.
260 (1) On or before January 15 in each year, a commission shall submit to the clerk of each of the participating municipalities an estimate of its revenues and expenditures for the next fiscal year after adding any anticipated deficit or deducting any anticipated surplus for the current fiscal year.
(2) The participating municipalities may agree on a method for approving or questioning the estimates of a commission.
(3) The council of each participating municipality shall include in its annual estimate of expenditures its proportion of the commission's estimates.
(4) A commission may at any time prepare supplementary estimates subject to the approval of the councils of the participating municipalities.
(5) The council of each participating municipality shall pay the commission its share of the estimates of the commission in accordance with any terms or payment schedule included in the order establishing the commission.
261 The Minister, a council or the Board may, if the person or body considers it appropriate, at any time before a decision is made pursuant to this Part, use mediation, conciliation or other dispute resolution methods to attempt to resolve concerns or disputes.
262 (1) Any notice, decision or other document required to be served pursuant to this Act may be served personally, by mail, by electronic mail or by facsimile.
(2) A notice, decision or other document is deemed to have been served on the third day after it was sent.
263 Property is deemed not to be injuriously affected by the adoption, amendment or repeal of a statement of provincial interest, interim planning area and development regulations in connection with it, subdivision regulations, subdivision by-law, municipal planning strategy, land-use by-law or the entering into, amending or discharging of a development agreement.
264 A municipal development plan and zoning by-law or municipal planning strategy and land-use by-law adopted pursuant to a former Planning Act are a municipal planning strategy and land-use by-law within the meaning of this Act, to the extent they are consistent with this Act.
265 In the event of a conflict between this Part and this Act or another Act of the Legislature, this Part prevails.
266 (1) A municipality may, upon the breach of a development agreement, if thirty days notice in writing has been provided to the owner, enter the land and perform any of the terms contained in the development agreement.
(2) All reasonable expenses, whether arising out of the entry on the land or from the performance of the terms, are a first lien on the land that is the subject of the development agreement.
(3) No action shall be maintained against a municipality or against any agent, servant or employee of a municipality for anything done pursuant to this Section.
267 (1) A municipality may, upon the breach of an approved site plan, if thirty days notice in writing has been provided to the owner, enter the land and perform any of the terms contained in the site plan.
(2) All reasonable expenses whether arising out of the entry on the land or from the performance of the terms of the site plan are a first lien on the land that is the subject of the site plan.
(3) No action shall be maintained against a municipality or against any agent, servant or employee of a municipality for anything done pursuant to this Section.
268 (1) This Section applies to this Part and Part IX.
(2) In the event of an offence
(a) where authorized by the council or by the chief administrative officer, the clerk or development officer, in the name of the municipality; or
(b) the Director, in the name of the Province, when authorized by the Minister,
may apply to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia for any or all of the remedies provided pursuant to this Section.
(3) The Supreme Court may hear and determine the matter at any time and, in addition to any other remedy or relief, may make an order
(a) restraining the continuance or repetition of an offence in respect of the same property;
(b) directing the removal or destruction of any structure or part of a structure that contravenes any order, regulation, municipal planning strategy, land-use by-law, development agreement or statement in force in accordance with this Part and authorizing the municipality or the Director, where an order is not complied with, to enter upon the land and premises with necessary workers and equipment and to remove and destroy the structure, or part of it, at the expense of the owner;
(c) as to the recovery of the expense of removal and destruction and for the enforcement of this Part, order, regulation, land-use by-law or development agreement and for costs as is deemed proper,
and an order may be interlocutory, interim or final.
(4) Where, after the action or proceeding is commenced, it appears that
(a) the offence that was the subject of the action or proceeding may have been done or committed by a person other than the defendant;
(b) the title to the property, or part of or any interest in it, that vested at the commencement of the action or proceeding, has since become vested in a person other than the defendant; or
(c) there has been a fresh offence by the same person or by another person with respect to the same property,
it is not necessary to bring another application and the original application may be amended from time to time and at any time before final judgment to include all parties and all offences and the whole matter of the offences shall be heard, dealt with and determined, notwithstanding that the offences may be offences against different Sections of this Part or against different orders, land-use by-laws, development agreements, regulations or statements of provincial interest.
(5) Where the owner of any property where an offence is taking place or has taken place cannot be found, the municipality or the Director may post a notice of the offence and of the application upon the property.
269 (1) This Section applies to this Part and Part IX.
(2) A person authorized by the Minister or by a council has the right to enter at all reasonable times in or upon any property within the municipality, without a warrant, for the purposes of an inspection necessary to administer an order, land-use by-law, development agreement, regulation or statement of provincial interest.
(3) The authorized person shall not enter any place actually being used as a dwelling without the consent of the occupier unless the entry is made in daylight hours and written notice of the time of the entry has been given to the occupier at least twenty-four hours in advance of the entry.
(4) Where a judge is satisfied, on evidence under oath, that the entry is refused or no person is present to grant access, the judge may by order authorize entry into or on the property during reasonable hours set by the judge.
(5) Any order made by a judge shall continue in force until the purpose for which entry is required is fulfilled.
270 (1) An application for subdivision approval shall
(a) be made to the development officer; and
(b) include a plan of subdivision prepared by a Nova Scotia land surveyor.
(2) Subdivision approval is not required for a subdivision
(a) where all lots to be created, including the remainder lot, exceed ten hectares in area;
(b) resulting from an expropriation;
(c) resulting from an acquisition or disposition of land by Her Majesty the Queen in right of the Province or in right of Canada or by an agency of Her Majesty;
(d) of a cemetery into burial lots;
(e) resulting from an acquisition of land by a municipality for municipal purposes;
(f) resulting from the disposal, by a municipality, of a street or part of a street;
(g) of an abandoned railway right of way;
(h) that is a consolidation of a part of an abandoned railway right of way with adjacent land;
(i) resulting from a lease of land for twenty years or less, including any renewal provisions of the lease;
(j) resulting from a devise of land by will executed on or before January 1, 2000.
(3) An affidavit of the person making a disposition or encumbrance of land that would create a subdivision that specifies the exemption from the requirement for approval and the facts that entitle the subdivision to the exemption is sufficient proof that approval of the subdivision is not required, unless the person to whom the disposition or encumbrance is made has notice to the contrary.
271 (1) Notwithstanding clause 270(1)(b), in a county or district municipality where so provided in the provincial subdivision regulations or a subdivision by-law, an application for subdivision approval may be made by instrument of subdivision rather than by a plan of subdivision.
(2) This Section applies only where the subdivision does not create a street or private road and results in
(a) each lot created being at least one hundred thousand square feet in area and having dimensions that would permit it to contain a two hundred and fifty foot diameter circle within its boundaries; or
(b) an increase in size of an existing lot by the addition of a part of an abutting lot, if the lot reduced in area complies after the subdivision with the frontage and area requirements set out in the provincial subdivision regulations or municipal subdivision by-law, as the case may be.
(3) An instrument of subdivision shall be in the form prescribed in the provincial subdivision regulations.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the procedure and requirements for approval of a subdivision apply to subdivision by instrument and a reference to a plan of subdivision includes an instrument of subdivision.
(5) For greater certainty, no instrument of subdivision that adds or consolidates parcels or areas of land may be approved by a development officer until the development officer is provided with
(a) executed deeds suitable for registering to effect the addition or consolidation; and
(b) the fees for registering the deeds,
and the development officer shall register the deeds with the approved instrument.
272 (1) The Minister shall prescribe provincial subdivision regulations.
(2) Provincial subdivision regulations shall include
(a) procedures for preliminary evaluation and tentative and final approvals;
(b) requirements for preliminary evaluation and tentative and final approvals;
(c) the form of a notice of approval of subdivision;
(d) provisions for the repeal of a subdivision; and
(e) provisions for the referral of an application to a department or agency of the Province or of a municipality.
(3) Provincial subdivision regulations may include
(a) requirements for access to a lot;
(b) requirements respecting the shape of a lot;
(c) where they are not prescribed in a land-use by-law, requirements for minimum lot frontage and minimum lot area;
(d) provisions allowing a waiver of any requirements of the regulations and the circumstances in which a waiver may be allowed;
(e) the fee for the processing of applications for approval or repeal of a subdivision, including recording and filing fees;
(f) procedures and requirements for concept plans;
(g) procedures for the approval of, form of and requirements for approval and registration of instruments of subdivision in a county or district municipality;
(h) requirements for private roads;
(i) any other matter relating to the division of land.
(4) At least thirty days before prescribing or amending provincial subdivision regulations, the Minister shall
(a) send a copy of the proposed regulations to the clerk of every municipality that will be affected by the regulations and invite written comments; and
(b) place a notice in a newspaper circulating in the area that will be affected by the regulations stating where the proposed regulations may be inspected and invite written comments.
(5) Where, on the coming into force of this Act, a municipality has not adopted a subdivision by-law, the municipality is deemed to have adopted the provincial subdivision regulations applicable to the municipality as its subdivision by-law.
273 (1) A subdivision by-law applies to the whole of a municipality, but the by-law may contain different requirements for different parts of the municipality.
(2) A subdivision by-law shall include
(a) any requirements prescribed by the provincial subdivision regulations applicable to the municipality unless
(ii) the municipal requirements implement the municipal planning strategy;
(c) requirements for preliminary evaluation and tentative and final approvals;
(d) the form of a notice of approval of subdivision;
(e) provisions for the repeal of a subdivision; and
(f) provisions for the referral of an application to a department or agency of the Province or of the municipality.
(3) A subdivision by-law may include
(a) requirements for access to a lot;
(b) requirements respecting the shape of a lot;
(c) where they are not prescribed in a land-use by-law, minimum lot frontage and minimum lot area;
(d) provisions allowing a waiver of certain requirements of the by-law and the circumstances in which a waiver may be allowed;
(e) procedures for the approval of, form of and requirements for approval and registration of instruments of subdivision in a county or district municipality;
(f) the fee for the processing of applications for approval or repeal of a subdivision, including recording and filing fees;
(g) requirements for the design and construction of streets, private roads, wastewater facilities, stormwater systems, water systems and other services;
(h) requirements for the transfer to the municipality of useable land, or equivalent value, for park, playground and similar public purposes, provided that the land required to be transferred does not exceed
(ii) ten per cent of the area of the lots shown to be approved on the final plan of subdivision, if the requirement and the reasons for it are provided for in a municipal planning strategy;
(j) requirements that lots be designed so as not to impede a transportation reserve.
(4) Where a municipal planning strategy so provides, a subdivision by-law may
(a) regulate or prohibit new municipal streets in all, or part, of the municipality where, in the opinion of the council, the streets would be premature;
(b) regulate or prohibit subdivisions on private roads in all, or part, of the municipality;
(c) regulate the width of streets or private road rights of way on which subdivisions are permitted;
(d) limit the number of lots that may be created from an area of land in a calendar year.
(5) A subdivision by-law may require that prior to approval of a final plan of subdivision the applicant shall
(a) install water systems, wastewater facilities, stormwater systems and other services in the area of land being subdivided to the standards prescribed by the municipality;
(b) install trees for streets, bus bays, sidewalks and pathways; and
(c) lay out, construct, grade and pave, in whole or in part, any street in the area of land being subdivided to the standards prescribed by the municipality,
or in the alternative, enter into a bond or other security satisfactory to the municipality to
(d) install and provide the water systems, wastewater facilities, stormwater systems and other services in the area of land being subdivided to the standards prescribed by the municipality;
(e) install the trees along streets, bus bays, sidewalks and pathways required by the by-law; and
(f) lay out, construct, grade and pave, in whole or in part, any street in the area of land being subdivided to the standards prescribed by the municipality,
and in either case provide a bond or other security, satisfactory to the municipality, for the maintenance of the services for a maximum of one year from the date the services are accepted by the municipality as having been installed to the standards prescribed by the municipality.
(6) A subdivision by-law may require that an applicant have, or permit an applicant to have, a qualified professional certify to the municipality that the services have been designed and installed to the standards prescribed by the municipality, and the municipality may rely on the certificate so given.
(7) A subdivision by-law may authorize the municipality to require an applicant for subdivision approval to provide water systems, wastewater facilities, stormwater systems and other services, including streets, in the area of land being subdivided with a capacity exceeding the anticipated requirements of the applicant's subdivision, if the municipality reimburses the applicant for any costs incurred with respect to the excess capacity.
(8) Any cost to a municipality pursuant to subsection (7) may, at the option of the council, be recovered by the municipality in the same manner as an off-site charge or in another manner.
(9) The procedure for the adoption, amendment, repeal, approval and publication of a subdivision by-law is the same as the procedure prescribed for planning documents.
274 (1) A council may, in the subdivision by-law, require a person applying for final approval of a subdivision to
(a) provide, at no cost to the municipality, easements for the drainage of stormwater in those circumstances specified in the subdivision by-law on the land that is proposed to be subdivided or outside that land;
(b) transfer to the municipality land, including easements, that may be necessary to operate and maintain stormwater systems;
(c) enter into an agreement to carry out a drainage plan or grading plan required by a subdivision by-law and to provide security satisfactory to the engineer to secure performance of the agreement.
(2) A subdivision by-law may
(a) specify standards and requirements for an easement required by the subdivision by-law;
(b) set standards and requirements respecting drainage master plans, drainage plans and grading plans;
(c) prescribe when drainage master plans, drainage plans and grading plans are required.
275 (1) In this Section, "equivalent value" includes cash or facilities, services or other value in kind, related to parks, playgrounds and similar public purposes or any combination thereof, determined by the municipality to be equivalent to the value of the land as determined by the assessor pursuant to this Section.
(2) Where a subdivision by-law provides for the transfer to the municipality of useable land, the applicant may provide land, equivalent value or a combination of land and equivalent value equal to the amount of the transfer required by the subdivision by-law.
(3) The subdivision by-law may specify the cases in which land only, equivalent value only, or land and equivalent value in a specified combination shall be transferred.
(4) Where equivalent value is to be provided in lieu of transferring land, the amount required shall be determined by an assessor based on the market value of the proposed lots excluding streets, easements and the residue of the land of the applicant, and this valuation may be appealed in the same manner as an assessment.
(5) Where cash is paid in lieu of transferring land, the council shall use the funds for the acquisition of, and capital improvements to, parks, playgrounds and similar public purposes and may use the interest on any funds not expended for those purposes for the operation and maintenance costs of parks, playgrounds and similar public purposes.
(6) A subdivision by-law may include a definition of useable land, which may specify a minimum area, minimum dimensions, location and a method of establishing a minimum quality of the land.
(7) Useable land does not include any streets or easements conveyed to the municipality.
(8) The area of useable land to be conveyed to the municipality is calculated on the area of the lots to be approved, as shown on the final plan of subdivision, excluding streets and the residue of the land of the applicant.
(9) A development officer shall accept any land offered by an applicant that meets the definition of useable land contained in the subdivision by-law.
(10) An applicant may, with the approval of the council, convey to the municipality an area of land in the municipality of equal value outside the area being subdivided, in lieu of land in the subdivision.
(11) An applicant may, with the approval of the council, provide a bond or other security acceptable to the council for the conveyance to the municipality of land in a future phase of the subdivision rather than conveying land from the approved phase of the subdivision or equivalent value.
(12) Any land conveyed to a municipality pursuant to this Section shall be
(a) free and clear of all encumbrances except an easement or right of way that does not materially interfere with the use and enjoyment of the land; and
(b) used for parks, playgrounds and similar public purposes.
(13) Where council determines that any land transferred pursuant to this Section might no longer be needed for parks, playgrounds or similar public purposes, the council may sell the land, after notifying the owners of lots in the subdivision with respect to which the land was conveyed to the municipality, by notice published in a newspaper circulating in the municipality at least fourteen days prior to the council meeting at which a decision to sell will be made, and the proceeds shall be used for parks, playgrounds and similar public purposes.
276 (1) A municipal planning strategy may authorize the inclusion of provisions for off-site charges in a subdivision by-law.
(2) Off-site charges for
(a) new or expanded water systems;
(b) new or expanded wastewater facilities;
(c) new or expanded stormwater systems;
(d) new or expanded streets;
(e) upgrading intersections, new traffic signs and signals and new transit bus bays,
may be imposed in a subdivision by-law to recover all, or part, of the capital costs incurred, or anticipated to be incurred, by a municipality by reason of the subdivision and future development of land and off-site charges for land, planning, studies, engineering, surveying and legal costs incurred with respect to any of them.
(3) The subdivision by-law shall set out the off-site charge areas in which off-site charges are to be levied, the purposes for which off-site charges are to be levied and the amount of, or method of calculating, each off-site charge.
(4) Off-site charges may be set at different levels related to the proposed land use, zoning, lot size and number of lots in a subdivision and the anticipated servicing requirements for the off-site charge area.
(5) Off-site charges may not be imposed if an off-site charge has been paid with respect to the area of land, unless further subdivision of the land will impose additional costs on the municipality.
(6) An off-site charge may only be used for the purpose for which it is collected.
(7) Final approval of a subdivision shall not be granted unless the off-site charges are paid or the applicant has entered into an agreement with the municipality securing the payment of the off-site charges.
(8) Off-site charges are a first lien on the land being subdivided and may be collected in the same manner as taxes.
(9) A by-law in effect on the date this Act comes into force that provides for a trunk sewer tax imposed on each lot in a new or existing subdivision is deemed to be a by-law made pursuant to this Section.
277 (1) An applicant and a municipality may enter into an off-site charges agreement that may
(a) provide for the payment of off-site charges in installments;
(b) permit the applicant to provide certain services or extended services in lieu of the payment of all, or part, of the charge;
(c) provide for security to ensure that the off-site charges are paid when due;
(d) provide for any other matter necessary or desirable to effect the agreement.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 1998 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Updated December 15, 1998. Send comments to legc.office@gov.ns.ca.
