Development Permit

You must always inquire with Jill Webb, Development Officer before any type of construction or demolition begins. Any person planning to carry out any form of development or construction in the Municipality is governed by the provisions of our Municipal Land Use By-law, the National Building Code Act and the Municipality’s  Building By-Law.

A Development Permit is required for most development projects. If you are planning to build, renovate or change the use of your property you must first obtain the required Development Permit. New and complex developments may require other provincial and municipal approvals/documents, our Development Officer will assist you in completing your permit application.

STEP 1 – Development Permit – Inquiry Form

Building Application Form

The Building Inspection department is responsible for the regulation of construction, alteration, and repair or demolition of buildings and structures within the Municipality of Shelburne, Town of Shelburne and Town of Lockeport. All Bylaws are enforced for the protection of residents and businesses.

Once the inspection department has received your “completed” application and confirmation of your development permit, every effort will be made to issue your permit within 5 business days. 

STEP 2 – Building_Demolition Application – Fillable

New Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

The provincial government has announced new regulations on short-term rentals, including Airbnbs, that will take effect September 30, 2024, with a goal of boosting the availability of long-term options.

The regulations will include requiring short-term rentals to provide documentation proving compliance with municipal bylaws, consent from condo boards and primary residence.

In order to comply with these new regulations, if you have a short-term rental in the Municipality of Shelburne, please complete the Zoning Letter Request Form and submit to jill.webb@municipalityofshelburne.ca.

If you have any further questions, please contact Jill Webb, Economic Development Officer at jill.webb@municipalityofshelburne.ca.

Other Forms

Renewal Form
To renew your building permit please print off the form below and drop it off or send it to the Building Department along with the $5.00 renewal fee.

Permit Renewal Form – Fillable

Assignment of Agent
An assignment of agent form is required when someone other than the legal property owner requires access to the information in a building or demolition permit.  This form authorizes all information regarding a permit and/or inspections to be released to the agent listed on the form including, but not limited to, applying and signing for permits.

Assignment of Agent Form – Fillable

Building Within Town Limits?

Town of Shelburne
#168 Water Street
P.O. Box 670
Shelburne, NS
B0T 1W0
(902) 875-2991

Town of Lockeport
#26 North Street
P.O. Box 189
Lockeport, NS
(902) 656-2216

Development Permit Form – Fillable

Radon Awareness

Radon (Rn) is a naturally occurring, colourless and odourless gas that is radioactive and known to cause lung cancer. In fact, Rn is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and the leading cause of the disease among non-smokers (World Health Organization, 2009). Radon is generated naturally from the radioactive decay of uranium. Both elements are found in varying amounts in all the soils and rocks throughout the province (Goodwin et al., 2009, 2010a). Since Rn is a gas, it is easily transported in the natural environment and transfers readily into air and water. In the outdoor environment, Rn emanating from the earth is very quickly diluted in the air to very low (background) concentrations (Goodwin et al., 2010b) that are well below the level of 200 Bq/m3 that is deemed a health risk by Health Canada (Health Canada, 2008). Although a gas, Rn is very heavy, heavier than lead, in fact, and in the enclosed spaces of an indoor environment (homes and buildings) Rn can concentrate in low-lying areas like the basement or lowest levels of the home. Radon in indoor air can sometimes reach high enough levels to be a health risk and exceed the 200 Bq/m3 Health Canada guideline.

Health Canada has established a protocol for Rn testing of homes (Health Canada, 2008). The protocol states that a home exceeding the 200 Bq/m3 guideline, but below 600 Bq/m3, should be remediated to below the guideline level within two years. Homes with a Rn level greater than 600 Bq/m3 should be remediated to below the guideline within one year. There is an abundance of information available regarding Rn testing of homes and the remediation of homes that are found to exceed the Health Canada guideline. Readers may begin their search with the Nova Scotia Environment (https://novascotia.ca/nse/environmental-health/radon.asp) and Health Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-risks-safety/radiation/radon/resources.html ) websites.

The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness recommends that all homeowners in the province test their homes for Rn. Many Rn studies carried out globally have shown conclusively that, although the percentage of homes exceeding established Rn guidelines can vary from area to area, there are no areas completely devoid of homes with high Rn. No matter where you live, the only way you will know for sure whether or not your home has high Rn is to complete a proper Rn test (Health Canada, 2008). Since there are regions where there are a higher percentage of Rn guideline exceedences, a map such as this showing the distribution of these regions is useful in determining priority areas for testing and for assisting with building code guidelines. https://fletcher.novascotia.ca/DNRViewer/?viewer=Radon