Freeze on Development Charges Extended in HRM
Nova Scotia has extended the freeze on development-related fees and charges imposed by Halifax Regional Municipality and Halifax Water for another three years, moving the expiry date to November 9, 2029.
Effective November 5, the extension generally prevents new development fees and charges from being introduced and existing charges from increasing. However, established consumer price index-based adjustments may continue, meaning eligible charges can still rise with inflation.
Municipal Affairs Minister John A. MacDonald said the extension supports federal infrastructure funding requirements and continued access to investments needed for housing and community growth. The freeze began in 2023 and was previously extended by one year under the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund agreement.
For rental housing developers, the extension provides greater predictability when budgeting for approvals and infrastructure charges. The inflation-adjustment exception remains important: project budgets should account for eligible increases rather than assume every development charge will remain unchanged through 2029.
Source: Government of Nova Scotia — Municipal Affairs, November 5, 2026.