Property maintenance across Nova Scotia
What are the rules on junk, derelict cars, and unsightly property?
22 of 49 municipalities in Nova Scotia have an adopted bylaw on property maintenance on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapolis Royal Town |
Minimum Housing and Maintenance Standards By-law | standards: Buildings and yards maintained to minimum standards; yards kept clean and free from thistles and noxious weeds; garbage in enclosures; no health/fire/accident hazards · enforcement: Building official issues written notice of violation fixing time to comply; CAO may apply to Supreme Court (MGA s.181); penalties on conviction | 2026-06-05 |
| Antigonish Town |
Minimum Standards for Residential Occupancies By-Law | standards: Owners must maintain residential buildings to minimum standards: structural soundness, weather-tight roofs/walls, pest-free, fire prevention, heating to 20C, plumbing, egress · enforcement: Inspector serves Order to Comply specifying non-compliance and reinspection date; failure leads to daily summary offence tickets ($250) and Supreme Court remedies (MGA s.181) | 2026-06-05 |
| Berwick Town |
Junk Yard Bylaw (No. 86)
+1 more |
standards: No person shall have or operate a junk yard unless first obtaining a licence · enforcement: Licence by written application to Town Council; licence fee $100.00 per year payable on granting · standards: Owner/occupier shall cut and destroy thistles and other noxious weeds on land owned or occupied; slaughterhouses only at appointed places | 2026-06-05 |
| Bridgewater Town |
Chapter 115 — Minimum Building Standards By-Law | standards: Owner must maintain buildings to minimum standards; yards kept free of rubbish/debris, hazards, tall grass/weeds; no discarded/dismantled/abandoned vehicles stored in yard · enforcement: Building Official issues Order to Remedy; on failure, summary offence ticket per day, or Town applies to Supreme Court for life-safety threats · fines: $100-$5,000 and in default imprisonment up to 30 days | 2026-06-05 |
| Cape Breton Regional municipality |
Minimum Standards By-law for Existing Residential Dwellings No. M-100
+1 more |
standards: Owner must keep building free of rubbish/garbage/debris and objects that are health, fire or accident hazards; maintain structural, roof, wall, plumbing, heating standards · enforcement: Building Inspector may order repairs (within 90 days); municipality may do work at owner's expense as first lien; Supreme Court remedies · fines: $250-$10,000 or imprisonment up to one year (each day a separate offence) | 2026-06-05 |
| Clare District municipality |
By-Law No. 14 — Dangerous and Unsightly Premises | standards: No person shall permit property to become partly demolished, decayed or deteriorated so as to be dangerous, unsightly or unhealthful, or permit ashes, junk, yard cleanings, vehicle/machinery bodies or other rubbish/refuse · enforcement: Committee instructs Clerk to serve notice to remedy; on failure within 30 days, Municipality may enter and remedy and recover cost as a debt · fines: $100-$1,000 and in default imprisonment 15 days to 3 months; each day a separate offence | 2026-06-05 |
| Colchester County municipality |
Dangerous or Unsightly Procedures By-law — Chapter 21
adopted 2024-09-25 |
standards: Every owner must maintain property so it does not constitute Dangerous or Unsightly Premises as defined in s. 3(d) of the MGA · enforcement: Council follows Part XV of the MGA; Order to remedy (30 days first order, 7 days subsequent); Administrator/third party may perform work at owner's cost per s. 348 MGA · fines: First offence $500-$1,000; second $1,000-$2,500; third or subsequent $2,500-$5,000 (default imprisonment up to 30 days) | 2026-06-05 |
| Digby Town |
The Minimum Housing and Maintenance Standards Bylaw No. 1979-01
+2 more |
standards: yards kept clean and free from thistles and noxious weeds; garbage enclosures maintained clean/sanitary; buildings kept free of rodents, vermin and insects; accessory buildings in good repair · enforcement: building inspector gives written notice of violation with time to remedy; on failure, council serves further notice and person liable to penalties under s.228 Towns Act · standards: yards kept clean and free from thistles and noxious weeds; garbage enclosures clean/sanitary; rental unit kept free of rodents, vermin and insects; kept free from debris/health/fire/accident hazards | 2026-06-05 |
| Halifax Regional municipality |
By-law D-300 Respecting Derelict Buildings
adopted 2007-06-12 |
standards: Derelict building = vacant, neglected, poorly maintained, unsuitable for occupancy; ruinous/dilapidated, depreciates value, allurement to children, health/safety/fire hazard, or unsightly exterior · enforcement: Municipality may order owner within 120 days to make habitable or demolish; may secure building and enter to do work, costs collected as first lien · fines: $1,000-$10,000 (each day after 120-day period a fresh offence) | 2026-06-05 |
| Lockeport Town |
Minimum Maintenance By-Law (By-Law 33) | standards: Owner shall keep building clean and free from rubbish, garbage, debris, and objects/conditions that are health, fire or accident hazards · enforcement: Building Inspector may order owner to do necessary repairs; Town may apply to court for order to remove/destroy building at owner's expense | 2026-06-05 |
| Middleton Town |
Public Health (No. 212) — Chapter 23
adopted 1935-01-07 |
standards: No owner/occupier/tenant shall permit filth, garbage, refuse, vegetable/animal matter, stagnant/impure water or other matter offensive or dangerous to public health to accumulate; must keep premises clean and wholesome · enforcement: Removal by owner/occupant within 24 hours (or reasonable time) after written notice from Board of Health, or removal under Board direction at owner's expense | 2026-06-05 |
| Mulgrave Town |
By-Law #19 — Anti-Litter By-Law
+1 more |
standards: No person shall throw any dirt, filth, or rubbish on any sidewalk, street, road, lane or highway in the Town | 2026-06-05 |
| New Glasgow Town |
Property Minimum Standards Bylaw
adopted 2024-10-23 |
standards: Property and landscaping maintained clean/tidy, not unsightly; no discarded/derelict vehicles, boats, furniture, equipment on land; free of rubbish and debris; lawns/hedges not overgrown · enforcement: Appointed Person serves Order to Comply; on non-compliance Town may seek remedy under MGA s.181(3) and recover costs | 2026-06-05 |
| Oxford Town |
Building and Grounds Maintenance Bylaw | standards: No property/structure permitted to become demolished, decayed or deteriorated so as to be dangerous, unsightly, offensive or unhealthful; no ashes, junk, yard cleanings, vehicle bodies/parts left on land · enforcement: Council may instruct Clerk to serve notice to remedy; on failure within 30 days Town may enter and remedy and recover actual cost as a debt | 2026-06-05 |
| Richmond County municipality |
By-Law 028 — Dangerous or Unsightly Premises (with Amendment) | standards: No property permitted to become partly demolished, decayed or deteriorated so as to be dangerous, unsightly or unhealthy; no ashes, junk, yard cleanings, vehicle/machinery bodies or parts, rubbish or refuse so as to be dangerous, unsightly, unhealthful or offensive · enforcement: Standing committee instructs Clerk to serve notice to remedy; on failure within 30 days an authorized person may enter and remedy and recover actual cost as a debt | 2026-06-05 |
| Shelburne Town |
Minimum Standards and Maintenance Standards By-law | standards: Yards kept clean and free from all debris, thistles and noxious weeds; buildings maintained in good repair, free from hazards or conditions affecting health or causing fire/accidents · enforcement: Building Inspector gives written notice of violation with time to remedy; Council may order remedy within 30 days; penalties under Towns Act if not remedied | 2026-06-05 |
| Stellarton Town |
Building and Grounds Maintenance By-Law (Amendment) | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Stewiacke Town |
Minimum Housing and Standards Bylaw No. 70 | standards: Yards kept clean and free from garbage and debris; accessory buildings and buildings maintained in good repair, free from hazards or conditions affecting health or causing fire/accidents · enforcement: Building official gives written notice of violation with time to remedy; CAO may apply to Supreme Court (s.181 MGA remedies); penalties under s.508 MGA if not remedied in 30 days | 2026-06-05 |
| Truro Town |
Minimum Building & Housing Maintenance Standards Bylaw No. 1662 | standards: Vacant lots/yards kept clean of debris, tall grass and weeds; buildings maintained in good repair free from fire/safety hazards; pest-free · enforcement: Inspector serves notice/order to remedy; on failure may enter and do work at owner's cost as first lien; may order dwelling vacated | 2026-06-05 |
| Victoria County municipality |
Minimum Housing Standards By-law | standards: Yards kept clean and free from garbage and debris; accessory buildings maintained in good repair free from hazards · enforcement: Building inspector serves written notice to remedy; if repairs not made the Municipality may do repairs at occupant's expense and recover costs by court action | 2026-06-05 |
| Wolfville Town |
Chapter 46 - Property Minimum Standards Bylaw | standards: Property maintained clean, tidy and not unsightly; no derelict vehicles/furniture/appliances on land; lawns/hedges not overgrown; free of rubbish and debris · enforcement: Appointed Person serves Order to Comply; on failure may have contractor do work; Town charges costs as a first lien on property | 2026-06-05 |
| Yarmouth Town |
Minimum Housing Standards Bylaw (TOY 14)
+1 more adopted 2023-11-16 |
standards: Yards/walks/accessory buildings maintained safe and free from health/fire/accident hazards; garbage properly stored in receptacles and enclosure; structural soundness, dampness, pest control · enforcement: Building Official serves Order to Comply; on failure may issue ticket, order use discontinued, or remedy at Town cost (max $1500 emergency) as a lien on property · standards: Vacant buildings must be secured against entry, monitored monthly, protected against fire/danger, registered; boarding maintained, building/property not dangerous or unsightly (MGA s.344) | 2026-06-05 |
Nothing on file for property maintenance
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Checked, nothing adopted (2) — Amherst (2026-06-05), Westville (2026-06-05).
Other bylaws on file, none on this topic (25) — Annapolis, Antigonish, Argyle, Barrington, Chester, Clark's Harbour, Cumberland, Digby, East Hants, Guysborough, Inverness, Kentville, Kings, Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, Pictou, Pictou, Port Hawkesbury, Queens, Shelburne, St. Mary's, Trenton, West Hants, Yarmouth.