Nova Scotia Amends Planning Regulations to Boost Housing and Mass Timber Construction in HRM
On October 28, 2026, the Province of Nova Scotia announced amendments to the Minimum Planning Requirement Regulations under the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter. The changes mandate residential zoning where hotels are permitted, remove design barriers for mass timber buildings up to 12 storeys, and set adoption deadlines for HRM through mid-2027.
On October 28, 2026, the Province of Nova Scotia announced amendments to the Minimum Planning Requirement Regulations under the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) Charter. The changes aim to remove barriers to housing development, support modern construction methods such as mass timber, and improve emergency access in rural communities.
The amendments strengthen an existing rule that permits residential housing in all zones unless specifically excluded. Under the new provisions, any zone that permits hotels, long-term care homes, or similar overnight accommodations must also permit residential buildings of a comparable scale, such as apartment buildings.
The regulations require HRM to remove certain design requirements that act as barriers to building mass timber residential buildings up to 12 storeys. HRM must adopt these changes regarding mass timber and residential zoning by January 15, 2027.
By June 30, 2027, HRM must update its planning documents to remove restrictions limiting eligible conservation design developments based on the start of construction or lot creation date. The municipality must also update its planning documents by the same deadline to enable residential development and subdivisions where the strategic creation of new public streets would improve connectivity and emergency egress routes.
Minister of Housing John White commented on the need for more housing and the removal of barriers. Minister of Municipal Affairs John A. MacDonald stated that clear planning expectations help communities grow safely and sustainably.
In January 2026, HRM amended its 2014 Regional Plan to address most of the Minimum Planning Requirement Regulations in place at that time. However, a requirement for HRM to adopt a Suburban Plan by June 30, 2025, remains outstanding.