Municipal Fee Policy (approved March 2026)

East Hants, Nova Scotia

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot a475d6edc7a8 · verified 2026-06-05 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

PAGE 1 OF 10 MUNICIPAL FEE POLICY Council Administrative PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to provide a clear and concise policy to set out and amend the fees the Municipality of the District of East Hants (the 'Municipality') charges for various forms of Municipal services. SCOPE The Policy applies to all fees levied by the Municipality of East Hants except to the extent of any conflict with applicable provincial legislation, and, where the fee amounts in this Policy differ from those set out in Policy or Resolution of the Municipality in effect on the effective date of this Policy, the fee amounts set out in this Policy shall amend those previously in effect. DEFINITIONS Term Definition Deposit A charge to cover the costs to advertise and register planning documents and applications. Any unused amount of the deposit will be credited to the applicant. Charges incurred by the Municipality to advertise or register planning documents and applications will be owed by the applicant. Not-For-Profit An organization that provides a service to the community at-large without the objective of making a financial gain, excluding the religious sanctuary of churches. POLICY POLICY STATEMENT 1. It is the policy of the Municipality of East Hants to charge fees for various Municipal services. PAGE 2 OF 10 MUNICIPAL FEE POLICY Council Administrative 1.1. The Municipality will maintain a table of fees outlining the applicable charges or deposits for services provided by the Municipality. 1.2. In the event a fee listed in this Policy differs from its listing elsewhere, the fee outlined in this Policy will be applicable for the service, except as outlined in Section 3.2 of this Policy. 2. Building Permit Fee Refunds 2.1. In the event a permit is revoked or abandoned before work has commenced, the Municipality will retain the administrative fee and refund the remaining balance. 2.2. Where special circumstances, such as death in the family, sickness, loss of employment or other form of substantial personal financial hardship occur, the Director of Planning & Development may authorize a full refund of all building permit fees, including the administrative fee may be granted upon written request up to two (2) years after the date the permit was issued if the hardship or special circumstance occurred while the permit was valid. 2.3. No refund will be given if the permit is revoked or abandoned after work has commenced. 3. Non-Profits 3.1. Not-For-Profits that are carrying out work for the benefit of the organization are exempt from paying Planning and Development permit fees, application fees, and zoning confirmation letter fees. Non-profits are responsible for paying the Deposit associated with Planning Fees. This exemption does not extend to sewer hook-up fees, infrastructure fees, and other fees not associated with Planning and Development. 3.2. Not-For-Profits may have rates or fees for Municipal services that are outlined in other Municipal Policies and are not reflected in the Table of Fees. PAGE 3 OF 10 MUNICIPAL FEE POLICY Council Administrative 4. Impound & Boarding Fees 4.1. Where special circumstances, such as death in the family, sickness, loss of employment or other form of substantial personal financial hardship occur, as well as where Staff are of the opinion that the fees should be fully or partially waived based on the situation which led to the impoundment of a dog, the Municipal Compliance Officer may use their discretion to waive the impound fee and/or daily boarding fee. Municipal Fees Description of Application, Permit, Inspection, License, Permit or Service Fee PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT Planning Rezoning Application Admin fee: $500 Deposit*: $750 MPS Amendment Application Admin fee: $500 Deposit*: $1,000 Development Agreement or Substantial Amendment to a Development Agreement Application Admin fee: $500 Deposit*: $750 Discharge Development Agreement Application Admin Fee: $50 Deposit*: The cost of registering agreement with Land Registration Office Unsubstantial amendment to Development Agreement Admin Fee: $100 Deposit*: $300 Development Agreement Renewal (expired) If within 3 years of Council approving a Development Agreement an application is required due to the original agreement expiring, the admin fee will be 50% of the full application fee. The proposal needs to be substantially the same as the original Development Agreement proposal. *The unused portion of all deposits is returnable to the applicant PAGE 4 OF 10 MUNICIPAL FEE POLICY Council Administrative Description of Application, Permit, Inspection, License, Permit or Service Fee Development Control Development Permit $100 Site Plan Application $100 Application for Variance to the Land Use Bylaw $100 Application for Signage Permit $50 Zoning Confirmation Letter Zoned Area $75 Un-zoned Area $25 Blasting Permit $100 Subdivision Preliminary $100 Tentative $50 per lot Final Plan $100 Building Permits Building Permit - includes unfinished basement for residential buildings, community centres and churches. Admin Fee: $125, plus $0.15/sq. ft Building Permit for commercial, industrial less than 2500 sq. ft. Admin Fee: $300, plus $0.20/sq. ft Building Permit for commercial, industrial 2500 - less than 10000 sq. ft. Admin Fee: $500, plus $0.20/sq. ft Building Permit for commercial, industrial 10000 - less than 49000 sq. ft. Admin Fee: 2,500, plus $0.20/sq. ft Building Permit for commercial, industrial 49000 sq. ft. or larger Admin Fee: $5,000, plus $0.20/sq. ft Sheds, shell warehouses, garages Admin Fee: $50, plus $0.10/sq. ft Barns and other farm buildings (excluding dwellings) Admin Fee $75, plus $0.05/sq. ft. Residential alterations or repairs Admin Fee: $125, plus $0.10/sq. ft. Commercial, industrial alterations or repairs Admin Fee: $150, plus $0.20/sq. ft. Occupancy Permit $50 Demolition Permit $25 Outdoor residential decks, verandas, stairs, barrier free ramps $25 Pool Permit $25 Unavailable or not prepared for inspection upon arrival of Building Inspector $50/occasion PAGE 5 OF 10 MUNICIPAL FEE POLICY Council Administrative Description of Application, Permit, Inspection, License, Permit or Service Fee Permit Renewal $25 Fire Inspection A fire inspection requested by property owner/agent which is beyond the scope of the fire inspection schedule or required for non-regulatory approvals (e.g. liquor license) $50 Planning Printing Fees Copies of Maps Small: $10 Large: $25 Copy of East Hants Official Community Plan Copy with Maps: $125 Black & White Copy without Maps: $25 Copy of Subdivision Plans Printed on Plotter: $25 Copy of Municipal Documents over 75 pages in length $25 Dog Bylaw Fees- Bylaw P-1000 Lifetime Dog Registration Fee $25 per dog; Four or more dogs $75 total Replacement Tag $5.00 Kennel operators registered with the Canadian Kennel Club $50.00 per annum Impound Fee First offence $50.00 Second offence $75.00 Third offence, and thereafter $100.00 Daily Boarding Fee $85.00 FINANCE Tax Certificate Fee Tax Certificate issued: $60 per issue (Resolution C13(124)) Collection Fees Per Administrative Policy of the CAO Fees for Pension Plan Administration Per Administrative Policy of the CAO Provision of Uncertified Tax Information Per Bylaw F-200 Fire and Burglar False Alarm Charge Per Bylaw F-500 Private Road Maintenance and Improvement Per Bylaw F-300 Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing Program Interest Rate Royal Bank Prime rate less 1.6% at the time of borrowing PAGE 6 OF 10 MUNICIPAL FEE POLICY Council Administrative Description of Application, Permit, Inspection, License, Permit or Service Fee Water Supply and On-Site Sewage Disposal Program Interest Rate Royal Bank Prime rate less 1.6% at the time of borrowing Water Utility Fees Rates found in the 'East Hants Water Utility Schedule of Rates and Charges For Water and Water Services' and 'East Hants Water Utility Rules and Regulations Applicable to the Supply of Water and Water Services' by NSUARB INFORMATION ACCESS Routine Access Records Per 'Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act' FOIPOP Requests Per 'Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act' Copy Charges for Information Access Requests $0.15 per page SOLID WASTE Tipping Fees Per 'Solid Waste Tipping Fee Policy'. PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURE East Hants Aquatic Centre Fees Per Administrative Policy of the CAO Recreation Program Fees Per Administrative Policy of the CAO Tourism Fees Per Administrative Policy of the CAO Sportsplex and Aquatic Centre Room Rentals Per Administrative Policy of the CAO Merchandising Goods for Resale Per Administrative Policy of the CAO Arena Rental - Dry Pad (Spring/Summer) $ 75.00/hour Arena Rental - Ice - Non-Prime (Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:00pm) $ 135.00/hour Arena Rental - Ice - Prime (Monday-Friday 5:00pm - Close, All Day Saturday - Sunday) $ 250.00/hour Field House - 1/3 - Non-Peak (June 1st - October 31st)) $ 42.00//hour Field House - 1/3 - Peak Season - Non-Prime (November 1st - May 31st, Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:00pm) $ 88.00/hour Field House - 1/3 - Peak Season - Prime (November 1st- May 31st, Monday-Friday 5:00pm-Close, Saturday - Sunday All Day) $ 140.00/hour PAGE 7 OF 10 MUNICIPAL FEE POLICY Council Administrative Description of Application, Permit, Inspection, License, Permit or Service Fee Field House (Full) Non-Peak Season (June 1st - October 31st) $ 98.00/hour Field House (Full) Peak Season - Non-Prime (November 1st - May 31st, Monday-Friday: 7:00am-5:00pm) $ 212.00/hour Field House (Full) Peak Season Prime (November 1st - May 31st, Monday-Friday 5:00pm-Close, Saturday - Sunday All Day) $ 335.00/hour ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Title/Role Responsibilities Policy Editor The Policy Editor is a person having managerial and policy-making responsibility related to the writing, compilation and revision of content and will: - Ensure policies in their care and control are always up-to-date, reviewed annually or sooner if necessary - Draft new or edit existing policy content - Be able to interpret and explain policy content - Ensure policy documents are branded and any supporting documents, i.e. applications forms are also branded and content consistent with the policy - Ensure policy content is relevant and accurate - Seek and secure approval recommendation of the policy from the Policy Owner - Seek and secure approval of the policy from the appropriate Approver; and, - Provide the final approved policy document to the Assistant Municipal Clerk PAGE 8 OF 10 MUNICIPAL FEE POLICY Council Administrative Title/Role Responsibilities Policy Owner The Policy Owner will: - Provide oversight to ensure policies in their care and control are always up-to-date, reviewed annually or sooner if necessary by the assigned Policy Editor - Be able to interpret and explain policy content - Provide oversight to ensure policy documents are branded and any supporting documents, ie. application forms are also branded and content consistent with the policy - Provide oversight to ensure policy content is relevant and accurate - Review the policy and make recommendation for approval to the appropriate Approver; and, - Ensure that the final approved policy document has been provided to the Assistant Municipal Clerk Approver The Approver will: - Review Policy recommendations for approval consideration (approve, reject or edit); and, - Notify the Policy Editor, Policy Owner and Assistant Municipal Clerk of decision Assistant Municipal Clerk The Assistant Municipal Clerk will: - Facilitate an annual Policy Review; and, - Ensure final approved policies are maintained, stored and posted where appropriate Employees The Employees will: - Ensure that any change in charges for certain applications, approvals, permits, licenses and services that are applicable for residents and businesses when requesting permits, licenses, or other forms of services are presented as an amendment to the Municipal Fee Policy. RELATED DOCUMENTATION Related forms, processes, procedures and other documents that support the policy. Document Name Document ID Document Type Bylaw F-200, Fee for the Provision of Tax Bylaw Bylaw F-300, Respecting the Maintenance and Improvement of Private Roads Bylaw Recreation Fees Policy Policy Tourism Fees Policy Policy PAGE 9 OF 10 MUNICIPAL FEE POLICY Council Administrative Document Name Document ID Document Type Solid Waste Tipping Fee Policy Policy East Hants Water Utility Schedule of Rates and Charges For Water and Water Services Rates Schedule East Hants Water Utility Rules and Regulations Applicable to the Supply of Water and Water Services Regulations Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Legislation VERSION LOG Version Number Amendment Description Amendment/ Policy Editor Amendment/ Policy Owner Approver Approval Date 1.0 Initial Approval Manager of Administrative Services Director of Finance & Administration Council April 26, 2017 2.0 Addition of all non-Planning fees, change in Planning fee values, removal of Dog Impounding Fee, addition of Blasting Permit Fee, creation of Information Access Fee. Policy Analyst/Development Officer Director of Corporate Services Council July 24, 2024 3.0 Addition of Lifetime Registration Fee, removal of annual Dog Registration Fee, change to Replacement Tag Fee Manager of Development Services Director of Corporate Services Council September 25, 2025 PAGE 10 OF 10 MUNICIPAL FEE POLICY Council Administrative Version Number Amendment Description Amendment/ Policy Editor Amendment/ Policy Owner Approver Approval Date 4.0 Addition of Dog Impound Fee and Daily Boarding Fee, and ability to waive fees Manager of Development Services Director of Corporate Services Council March 25, 2026 CERTIFICATION I, Kim Ramsay, Municipal Clerk for the Municipality of East Hants, hereby certify that this policy was duly approved. Kim Ramsay Municipal Clerk