On August 13, 2026, a staff report went to Harbour East–Marine Drive Community Council recommending changes to short-term rental (STR) regulations in two plan areas:
Eastern Passage/Cow Bay — one dwelling unit per lot could operate as an STR without being the host’s primary residence, but only in the rural, unserviced areas outside the Urban Service Area boundary. Eastern Passage itself (inside the service boundary) would keep the current primary-residence rule.
North Preston, Lake Major, Lake Loon, Cherry Brook and East Preston — the same relaxed rule (one STR per lot, no primary-residence requirement) would apply across the whole plan area.
This matches the approach Regional Council already approved in December 2025 for six other rural plan areas.
Why it matters: if adopted, this opens up non-primary-residence STR hosting to more properties in these communities — a meaningful shift for owners who don’t live on-site.
What about other areas? No changes are being proposed for the Beaver Bank, Hammonds Plains and Upper Sackville plan area at this time. That area is more suburban in character, and is currently going through separate, ongoing plan review processes for the African Nova Scotian communities of Upper Hammonds Plains and Lucasville — so staff are holding off on STR changes there until that work is further along.
What’s next: Community Council is being asked to give First Reading and schedule a public hearing before final adoption.
Public Hearing has been set for Thursday October 1st 6PM at the Community Council meeting room 60 Alderney Road, Alderney Landing, Main Floor. Email HRM clerk’s office clerks@halifax.ca Register to speak or send a written letter of support for STRs.
Survey context: Public engagement showed 53% support in Eastern Passage/Cow Bay and 85% support in the North Preston/Lake Major/Lake Loon/Cherry Brook/East Preston area.
Since late 2025, STRANS has been actively representing short-term rental owners across Nova Scotia, advocating for our industry at municipal and provincial meetings, engaging with government officials, and building stronger relationships with tourism organizations. Here’s an update on what we’ve been working on.
November 2025
Three STRANS Board members attended the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities Fall Conference to represent short-term rental owners from across the province.
During the conference, we challenged the Minister of Housing, John White, after he proudly stated that the new short-term rental regulations had “shut down” approximately 1,400 STRs in Nova Scotia.
STRANS President Catherine Sanderson asked whether the Minister had considered the impact on the families who had lost valuable supplemental income because of these closures. She also questioned whether the department had investigated how many of those properties had actually been converted into long-term housing—the government’s stated objective.
Unfortunately, the Minister was unable to answer. His response was simply that if even a few had converted, then “a bed is a bed is a bed.”
We believe Nova Scotians deserve a more thoughtful approach to housing policy—one that considers both the people providing accommodations and the communities they support.
The exchange received media attention, and CBC interviewed both Catherine Sanderson and Alex Howell, Policy Lead for Airbnb Canada.
Several STRANS Board members and general members attended the Halifax Regional Municipality Public Hearing regarding the approval of short-term rentals in rural areas, including:
Eastern Shore (East and West)
Lawrencetown
Musquodoboit Valley
Dutch Settlement
Planning Districts 8 & 9
Planning Districts 14 & 17
HRM is also considering amendments for three additional planning areas, with further public consultation recommended:
Eastern Passage/Cow Bay
North Preston/Lake Major/Lake Loon/Cherry Brook/East Preston
Beaver Bank/Hammonds Plains/Upper Sackville
STRANS continues to work closely with HRM Planning staff regarding these proposed changes.
January 2026
Two STRANS Board members, along with our Cape Breton representative, Anne-Marie McGowan, met with the executive team at Destination Cape Breton to discuss opportunities to strengthen the short-term rental sector in Cape Breton.
Executive Director Terry Smith spoke about the need to renovate and modernize many accommodations, noting that visitor expectations for high-quality—and even luxury—accommodations continue to rise.
We also discussed the fact that four of the five municipalities working with the Eastern Planning District have yet to adopt land-use bylaws that address short-term rentals.
Destination Cape Breton has also simplified the Marketing Levy collection process by partnering with an Ontario-based company to administer it.
They continue to encourage STR operators to register through their website, where you can also learn more about the updated Marketing Levy collection process:
STRANS executive met with representatives from Shift regarding their Hidden Housing Pilot Project in Halifax. The project also involved discussions with AHANS, Shelter Nova Scotia, and staff from the Department of Opportunities and Social Development.
A major focus of the discussion was arbitrage operators who lease multiple units—primarily luxury apartments—in commercial areas where STRs are permitted, contributing to increased rental prices in those neighbourhoods.
STRANS presented our perspective and reinforced our position that individually owned short-term rentals do not have a measurable impact on affordable housing.
Later that month, STRANS also attended the Bedford Suburban Planning Open House to learn more about future planning initiatives and to advocate for the role of short-term rentals in suburban communities.
We submitted a document to Council outlining how responsible short-term rentals can actually help homeowners afford to purchase and maintain their homes.
March 2026
STRANS met with TIANS President Darlene Grant Fiander for a productive discussion about the future of tourism in Nova Scotia.
The meeting helped strengthen our relationship, and TIANS gained a better understanding of the important role short-term rentals play in supporting tourism throughout the province. We look forward to continuing to work together to advance both traditional accommodations and the short-term rental sector.
(Although, yes—they would still like all of our members to join TIANS!)
Board members also attended three Tourism Nova Scotia and TIANS Five-Year Tourism Strategy sessions in Antigonish, Wolfville, and Membertou, Cape Breton.
At each session, STRANS advocated for the inclusion and recognition of short-term rentals within Nova Scotia’s long-term tourism strategy.
These meetings have helped us build stronger working relationships with both Tourism Nova Scotia and TIANS, and we have developed specific initiatives that STRANS will pursue over the next five years to help strengthen our industry.
Registration Feedback
Following the provincial registration process introduced by the Department of Growth and Development this winter, STRANS surveyed our members to learn about their experiences.
Most members found the registration process straightforward, although several shared constructive feedback and identified areas that could be improved.
We compiled these responses into a report and submitted it directly to the Director responsible for short-term rentals within the department.
Looking Ahead
As you can see, STRANS has been busy representing the interests of short-term rental owners across Nova Scotia at municipal, provincial, and tourism industry events.
Our work continues, and your voice matters.
If you have suggestions, concerns, or ideas that could help strengthen our industry, we’d love to hear from you.
