The Nova Scotia Heritage Property Act,
Statute and Bylaws

Originally passed in 1980 and amended in 1991, the Government of Nova Scotia’s Heritage Property Act helps identify, protect and rehabilitate heritage properties throughout the province. The act is administered by the Heritage Property Program, part of the Nova Scotia Heritage Division, Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

This past year, the act underwent a review and it was determined that Nova Scotians, including municipalities, property owners and developers, wanted changes made to the act that would improve its ability to address current and future needs.  These amendments became effective on December 10, 2010. 

The act allows for various levels of property registration:

• Individual registered provincial heritage properties can occur when they are deemed to have a provincial level of heritage value.  Heritage value may include architecture, historical associations or settings, and provides important representations of Nova Scotia’s history.
• A registered provincial streetscape can occur when a grouping of properties (collectively) is deemed to have provincial heritage value.  These properties must all be visible from one vantage point.
• A registered provincial public-building interior can occur when the character-defining elements of a publicly accessible building interior owned by the Government of the Province is deemed to have provincial heritage value.
• A provincial cultural landscape can occur when a distinct geographical area or property uniquely representing the combined work of nature and of people is deemed to have provincial heritage value.
• Individual registered municipal heritage properties can occur when properties are deemed to have a local or community level of heritage value.  Heritage value may include architecture, historical associations, or settings and provide important representations of municipality’s history.
• A registered municipal streetscape can occur when a grouping of properties (collectively) is deemed to have local or community have heritage value.  These properties must all be visible from one vantage point.
• A registered municipal heritage conservation district can occur when a large area of urban or rural properties (collectively) is deemed to have a local or community level of heritage value.  The properties contained within the district’s boundaries typically cannot be entirely seen from one vantage point.  All districts are developed by the community for the community and have their own bylaw and plan for administrations.
• A registered municipal public-building interior can occur when the character-defining elements of a publicly accessible building interior owned by the municipality is deemed to have municipal heritage value.
• A municipal cultural landscape can occur when a distinct geographical area or property uniquely representing the combined work of nature and of people is deemed to have municipal heritage value.

It must be stressed that the various designations do not represent different levels of heritage value but, rather, are based upon the property’s historical associations.  For example, if a local business and its owner are known for contributing to the establishment of a town’s economy, the property may have stronger heritage value as a registered municipal heritage property.  However, if the same property affected the industrial economy of the province, it may also have strong heritage value as a registered provincial heritage property.  In either case, the property’s historical associations help determine its designation once registered under the act.