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Step 5 of 12

Check your municipal permits and zoning

In Nova Scotia, home business rules are set by your municipality, and they vary a lot.

Time
1–2 hours
Cost
Varies by municipality

Check your municipal permits and zoning: step-by-step guide

Screenshots use a made-up example business. Official sites change, so yours may look slightly different.

  1. Halifax home improvement permits page on the Home Based Business tab with the development permit requirement highlighted
    1. Each municipality sets its own rules. Halifax, for example, needs a development permit for a home-based business. Look up your own municipality in the same way.

Screenshots captured 2026-10-18. See something different? Report a problem

It depends on your municipality

We found no general Nova Scotia business licence for a small retailer. Each municipality sets its own rules.

In Halifax, a home-based business needs a development permit, even with no renovations. The home must be your primary residence, and the simplest permit only covers a space under 20 m² that needs no changes. Zoning rules differ between areas, so check the land use by-law for your address.

Look up your own municipality rather than assuming Halifax's answer applies to you.

Be upfront about what you sell

Some products or business types carry extra by-laws or requirements, including food. Tell your municipality exactly what you will sell so you know before you start, not after.

Keep the answer

Save your permit. If the municipality confirms you do not need one, get that in writing, because banks and suppliers sometimes ask.

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