Before buying a new home, please consider the following before finalizing your purchase:

Who owns the road I will use to access my house?

Roads in Colchester County are owned by either:

• the Province,
• the County, or
• private individuals or companies

Services such as plowing and maintenance, garbage pick up, school bus routes and access to emergency vehicles are affected by ownership of the road. Call the County Office for information on road ownership before buying.

Does my home have access to water?

If your home is using well water, contact Nova Scotia Environment at 902-893-5880 for enquiries. If you are in Debert or Tatamagouche, contact us to determine if you have access to a public water supply and to find out more about your water connection, including setting up a water account, cost for water and making a connection.

Does my home have access to a sewer system?

The County operates several public sewer systems in areas such as Tatamagouche, Debert, Great Village, Brookfield, Hilden, Valley, Bible Hill, Salmon River and Truro Heights. If you want to know more about an existing sewer connection, connecting to our sewer and related costs, please contact the Public Works Office. If you are located outside of a sewer serviced area and have any questions about on-site septic fields, please contact Nova Scotia Environment.

For additional information, please contact the Public Works Office at 902-897-3175.

Where is my organics green cart, I can’t find it?

Every home has been provided with a green cart that remains a part of the residential property. If there isn't a green cart, you may need to purchase a new one from the County or make it a part of your real estate transaction to have one replaced.

What do I do if my green cart is broken?

Some of the older green carts are starting to break and need replacement or repairs. Contact us to learn about your options.

Where can I get a small kitchen green bin?

You can purchase a mini bin from the County Tax Office, 1 Church Street, Truro.

How do I find out when garbage collection takes place and what are the rules?

You can download the free Colchester Waste App, visit our website at www.colchester.ca/collection-schedules or call the Colchester Solid Waste Helpline.

For additional information on the purchase, delivery or repair of a green cart, or for garbage pickup details, please contact the Colchester Solid Waste Helpline at 902-895-4777.

The house I want to buy has a second unit or in-law suite. Is it legal?

Permits are always required to add apartments and in-law suites to existing homes as they require fire separations and other code requirements to be met for safety purposes. Contact the Building Inspection Office and check before purchasing the property. Once the sale is final, you are the new owner and are required to bring the unit up to code which may have substantial associated costs. Also, some zones in Colchester County do not permit additional units, so be sure to speak with the Development Officer.

A house is and always was a house, right?

In the age of tiny houses and trying to avoid code requirements, sheds and garages are sometimes turned into homes without the required permits. Although we do catch some of these properties during routine inspections, be sure your lawyer checks to ensure this is not the case with your new cottage or home. Permits and code requirements are not the same for sheds and garages as they would be for a new home/cottage. The cost of bringing these buildings up to code can be substantial and is one that is the responsibility of the current property owner.

Can I keep animals on my property?

Some zones in Colchester County require large setbacks for buildings and fenced areas to house animals that cannot be met due to lot size. Be sure to speak with the Development Officer to see if the home you are considering can meet these setbacks.

Can I expand my house or build other buildings on my property?

Zoned areas in Colchester County may have increased setbacks compared to the fire safety setbacks required under the building code. To review the setbacks needed for any planned addition or to change the house, please contact a Building Inspector and the Development Officer to ensure you have the space required for an addition.

Can I run a business out of my home?

Some zones in Colchester County do not permit businesses, home occupations or commercial uses. Be sure to speak with the Development Officer to see if you can utilize the home in the way you have been planning.

What are the rules surrounding dog licensing in Colchester County?

It is the law in Colchester County to register your dog annually for a fee of $12.00. Tags can be purchased at numerous locations throughout the County. For a list of tag vendors, see the article on page 9, contact our office or visit our website at www.colchester.ca/animal-control.
Please contact the Community Development Office at 902-897-3170 for additional information relating to building permits, zoning and animal control services.

Are there outstanding taxes on the house I want to buy?

Having your realtor or lawyer order a tax certificate from the County is a great way to protect yourself from unwanted expenses. For a fee of only $25.00, you can find out about any outstanding taxes, utility account balance or liens on your future property. If you are buying a new home that has as existing water connection, be sure that a final meter reading has been recorded by the water utility before taking ownership of the new property.

How much will my taxes cost and when are taxes due?

Each year Council sets a residential and commercial base tax rate to be applied towards a taxable properties assessed value. The majority of properties in Colchester County also have area tax rates depending on the location and services available. Please contact the Tax Office if you have any questions in regard to the current tax rate or area rates that apply to your property. Annual tax bills are mailed once, in June, and are due August 31st of each year.

For more information, please contact the Tax Office at 902-897-3150.

What is FOIPOP?

As a public body, the Municipality of the County of Colchester is subject to the Government of Nova Scotia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP). The Municipal Government Act – which provides authority for most of the activities and operations of municipal government in Nova Scotia – also contains provisions relating to FOIPOP in Part XX. These pieces of legislation ensure that the Municipality is transparent and accountable to its citizens, while protecting individual privacy rights and personal information.

What information can be accessed, and what are my rights?

Everyone has a right of access to most recorded information held by the Municipality, but certain exemptions do apply. Foremost, citizens have the right of protection of the privacy of personal information in the custody or under the control of the Municipality (which includes such things as: your name, address, telephone number, age, sex, education, marital status, health-care history, and financial history). Additionally, legislation prohibits the FOIPOP Administrator from disclosing:

• information that could reasonably be expected to harm intermunicipal or intergovernmental relations or reveal information provided by other municipalities or governments in confidence, unless there is consent
• information that could reasonably be expected to harm the financial and economic interests of the municipality or another municipality or the Province
• information related to certain labour relations mediation or conciliation proceedings
• information subject to solicitor-client privilege
• someone else's personal information
• information that could significantly harm a third parties business interests
• information that could harm law enforcement; and
• information that could harm the economic or financial interests of a public body, other individuals, or the public

Citizens have a right of access to their own personal records under the control of the Municipality, including your own personal information and the right to update or correct this personal information.

How can I access information?

Devin Trefry, the Municipality of the County of Colchester's FOIPOP Administrator, has been appointed to administer Part XX of the Municipal Government Act, and can be contacted to assist with access to information requests. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by contacting 902-897-3160.

What is the process and how much will it cost?

If you would like to access information, all requests must:

• Be in writing
• Specify the subject matter of the record requested with sufficient particulars so that it can be identified; and
• Be accompanied by a $5.00 application fee (i.e. a cheque payable to the Municipality of the County of Colchester)

When making a request, please try to be as specific as possible about the information you are seeking to avoid delays in processing.

Depending upon the nature of the request, additional charges may be levied. A $15 for each half hour of staff time (in excess of 2 hours), a photocopying charge of $0.20 per page, and shipping and transportation costs are all potential additional costs to accessing information.

An estimate will be provided to the applicant who must either pay the charges in advance or make an application for the charges to be waived.

No Fees Will Be Charged For The Applicant's Own Personal Information.

What kind of response can I expect to receive?

There are three types of responses you might get from the Municipality once a decision has been made about giving you the records:

• Access in full: you are getting everything that you have asked for;
• Access in part: the Municipality will let you know that we are providing some of the information and will explain the reasons why; or
• Withheld in full: the Municipality will let you know that we are not providing any of the information and will explain the reasons why.

Responses are normally provided within 30 days of receipt of the request.

Making a request

Make a request by filling out and signing the Municipality's pdf FOIPOP Application Form(142 KB) . Requests may be submitted by mail, fax, or email, but must include the $5.00 fee to initiate the process (unless it has been waived).

If access is denied or you disagree with the response provided, you have the right to contact the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office (1-888-243-1564) to request a review of the Municipality's decision. You must request this review within 60 days of the Municipality's decisions. There is no charge for the review.

The Municipality's administration operates under a Council - Chief Administrative Officer system. The head of the Administration branch of the Municipality is the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) who reports directly to Council.

The CAO is accountable to the Council and is responsible for providing leadership in the development and administration of all programs, by-laws, policies and other initiatives approved by the Council. The CAO also serves as the Municipal Clerk and as such carries out legislative requirements of that position.

Phone Directory/Business Hours

1 Church Street
Truro, Nova Scotia
B2N 3Z5
Phone: 902-897-3160
Fax (General Inquiries): 902-843-4066
Toll Free (in Nova Scotia): 1-866-728-5144

Hours of Operation

Monday to Friday
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
For evening and/ or weekend emergencies, call 902-897-3175

Colchester Balefill Facility Hours of Operation

Monday to Friday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

Municipal Council

Municipal Departments and Facilities