Nova Scotia Extends Halifax Development Charge Freeze by Three Years
The Province of Nova Scotia has extended the freeze on development approval costs in the Halifax Regional Municipality by three years, moving the expiry date to November 9, 2029. The measure aligns with federal infrastructure funding requirements while allowing consumer price index-based adjustments to continue.
The Province of Nova Scotia has extended the freeze on development approval costs in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) by three years, changing the expiry date to November 9, 2029. An amendment to the Development Approval Cost Freeze Expiration Date Regulations took effect on November 5, 2026.
The extension supports federal infrastructure funding requirements, which include maintaining stable development charges. John A. MacDonald, Minister of Municipal Affairs, stated that the extension keeps Nova Scotia in line with federal requirements and supports access to federal investments for housing and growth.
The freeze applies to development-related fees and charges imposed by HRM and Halifax Water. It prevents new fees from being introduced and existing ones from being increased. However, negotiations with the federal government secured flexibility for established consumer price index-based adjustments to continue during the extended freeze, allowing eligible charges to keep pace with inflation.
The change relates to regulations under Section 236A of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter. The freeze originally began in 2023 with a November 9, 2025, expiry date and was previously extended by one year under the federal Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund agreement.