Notice on Municipal-wide Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law
On July 29, 2026, Municipal Council conducted Second Reading and approved a new Municipal Planning Strategy and Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law, completing a five-year planning process that will guide growth and development across the municipality. For more information, please visit https://engage.modl.ca/modl2040
pdf LUB Second Reading July 29, 2026(980 KB)
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MPS Second Reading July 29, 2026(709 KB)
Secondary Planning Strategies and Land Use By-laws
MODL has 8 Secondary Planning Areas each with their own secondary planning strategy and land use by-law. If your property is within one of the 8 Secondary Planning Areas, your proposed development must meet all applicable rules in the corresponding land use by-law to receive a building permit.
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Blockhouse SPS & LUB(27.68 MB)
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Hebbville SPS & LUB(30.70 MB)
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Hemford Forest SPS & LUB(577 KB)
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Oakland SPS & LUB(833 KB)
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Osprey Village SPS & LUB(881 KB)
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Princes Inlet & Area SPS & LUB(66.74 MB)
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Riverport & District SPS & LUB(1.15 MB)
Notice on Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning Project: Launched in 2020, the Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning Project aims to guide how land is used and developed across the Municipality, supporting vibrant, sustainable communities while meeting provincial requirements under Nova Scotia legislation. The drafts approved by Council on July 29, 2026, will be sent to the Province of Nova Scotia for review and approval. For more information, please visit the project page on Engage MODL.
Development Agreement
Sometimes in a land use by-law, a certain use that would not normally fit the existing land use pattern may be permitted by Development Agreement. A Development Agreement is a legal contract between a landowner and Municipal Council that controls various aspects of the development, such as hours of operation, amount of parking, and landscaping.
A Development Agreement allows Council to exercise more specific control over the development to ensure that it conforms to the character of the existing community.
Public consultation [ pdf Policy 066(4.25 MB) ] is required by law for entering into a Development Agreement. This provides the community with an opportunity to have input into how a development occurs within their community.
pdf Development Agreement Application Form(298 KB)
By-law Amendment
As time goes by, changes happen to market forces, population characteristics, and the types of development. To reflect such changes, the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law can also change. If any individual is looking to apply for an amendment, an application to amend a planning Strategy or Land Use By-law is required.