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Active Planning Cases

To view the active planning cases, please visit https://engage.modl.ca/.

Development Permits

A Development Permit may be required in addition to a Building Permit before any development takes place on a property. When you apply for a Building Permit, a Development Officer will determine if a Development Permit is needed. Complete the Application Form for Building, Development, or Demolition Permits found here.

Development means: 

1. Changes to a structure, such as any new construction, addition, alteration, replacement, or relocation; and 
2. Changes to a land use, such as residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural uses. 

If your property is in any of the following communities, you may require a Development Permit before developing: 

  • Designated Coastal Protection Area 
  • Hemford Forest 
  • Village of Hebbville 
  • Community of Blockhouse 
  • Community of Oakland 
  • Princes Inlet and Area (Maders Cove, Sunny Brook, Martin's Brook, and Herman's Island) 
  • Riverport and District (Riverport, Lower and Middle LaHave, Feltzen South, Rose Bay, and Kingsburg) 
  • Osprey Village (part of Cookville and former Lunenburg Municipal Industrial Planning Area in Oakhill and Harold Whynott Road) 

The Zoning Map will help you determine which regulations apply to your property. 

 
If you are uncertain about a Development Permit being required, please contact the Planning team at (902) 530-2802. 

If an individual starts construction without a Development Permit, they are in violation of the Land Use By-law and Council can take legal action, such as fine or order removal. The Municipality has a violation policy  pdf Policy 015 (85 KB)  which outlines the process to be followed in such instances.

Zoning Confirmation Letter & Property Report

If zoning information is required specific to a property and provided in writing, the Municipality requires a form to be completed, along with the fee. Details on the location of the property and the intended use will be required to provide the most correct information. 

pdf Property Report & Zoning Confirmation Application Form (179 KB)

Development Agreements

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 [Policy 066] 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 Amendments 

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. 

  pdf By-law Amendment Application Form (298 KB)