The Town has a Vending By-law, which regulates vending on Town-owned property and includes details regarding hours of operation, location and other opreational requirements. A vending permit may be required. There are also opportunities to vend on private property , which may require a development permit. please contact the Community Development Department to discuss your plans and determine if you need a vending or development permit: 902-541-4369 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

The Town has a Sidewalk Cafe By-law, which outlines when and where a sidewalk cafe is permitted and details regarding its design. A permit is required for a sidewalk cafe. You may make an application in person at Town Hall. Please contact the Community DEvelopment Department to determine if your business can have a sidewal cafe: 902-541-4369 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

The Town of Bridgewater has had a zoning by-law (Land Use By-law) since August 1975. This sets out where residential areas are compared to commercial areas, for example. Each property has a specific zone applied to it and the rules for how you may develop your property are set out in the Town's Land Use By-law. 

Please contact the Community Development Department for more information or to ask any questions you may have. 

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You can consult the Town's Zoning Map to see what zone applies to your property. Or you can contact the Community Development Department to ask. 

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Please check with the Development Officer:

• If you are planning to change how you use your building or property;
• If you are planning to build, add to, alter/renovate, replace or relocate any building or part of your existing building;

You may need a development and/or building permit before you undertake your project.

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A development permit is not required for the following:

• Interior renovations, unless there will be a change of use (from an office to retail, for example).
• Minor structures under 215 square feet.
• Retaining walls, pergoals, play structures, tree houses, cold frames and garden trellises, clothes line poles, flag poles, dog houses, monuments and interpretive displays.
• Backyard chickens (maximum of two in a secure coop, no roosters).

For more information, please contact the Community Development Department 902-541-4369 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

A Building Permit is not required for the following. However, a Development Permit may be required for some or all of the below mentioned items:

• Service corridor work for sewage, water, electrical, telephone, rail or similar systems.
• Accessory buildings under 215 square feet
• Interior and exterior non-structural material alterations and material repairs with a monetary value of $5,000 or less.
• Free standing signs, utility poles, and awnings.
• Fences not as part of a pool enclosure

Please contact the Community Development Department for more information - 902-541-4369 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Yes, you will need a development permit for a deck, shed (over 215 sq. ft.), pool and fence (subject to the applicable zone). The Town will need to know where these are placed on your property in relation to your property lines and any buildings. You may also need a building permit for the shed (also called an "accessory structure") if it is over 215 square feet in size; canopy; deck; pool; and pool enclosure to ensure they are built to code. 

Yes, development and building permits are required for all types of swimming pools. 

A swimming pool is defined as a "water-filled enclosure, permanent or portable, capable of holding water to a depth of more than 24-inches (600mm)".

A copy of the Town of Bridgewater's Swimming Pool By-Law and suggestions for filling can be obtained from the Engineering Department or viewed on the Pool and Deck Regulations page of our website.

Yes, you will need a Demolition Permit for the removal of any building or major part thereof.

Please contact the Town's Building Officials in the Engineering Department to apply. 902-541-4370 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

For details concerning demolition waste management, contact the Lunenburg Regional Recycling and Composting Facility at Tel: (902) 543-2991.

Often you may need more than one of the three permit types: development, building and demolition. A single application may be made for all permits. You may have a contractor apply on your behalf. The application form must be signed by the owner of the property or be accompanied by a written authorization from the owner. 

A site plan showing the location of any structures to be built and/or removed is required. The application must also include details about how the structure will be constructed. The application form may be downloaded here in PDF format and submitted by mail, email or fax. You may also make an application in person at Town Hall. Payment must be made in person. 

For more information, please contact the Community Development Department 90-2541-4369 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

A Development Permit costs $25.

The minimum fee for a Building Permit is $25.00. The total permit fee for all types of construction, excluding manufactured homes, is calculated at $3.00 per $1,000 of total project value. The total project value does not include land or taxes.

Building Permit  for single and multi section manufactured homes on surface mount foundations is calculated at $2.10 per $1,000 of total project value (total project value does not include land or taxes). 

Town's Fees Policy sets out the permit fees which may change from time to time.  

Any additional details that may be required in part depend on the type of project and location. It is very important to provide as much detail as possible.

Wtih smaller projects, a drawing of how the project will be constructed along with a list of materials may be sufficient. For larger projects, such as a a new building (house, garage, apartment building, etc.) a site plan of the property and/or a complete set of blueprints may be required. 

Please contact the Community Development Department 902-541-4369 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Your permit is the proof that you have permission to undertake the work. Your project may begin only after your permit is issued and you have been advised the permit is ready. After a complete application is received, it takes time to process. Our staff work hard to get the permits issued in a timely manner. Remember to apply in advance of your project to avoid delays. 

Your permit will set out what inspections may be required at various stages of the project. Development permits typically do not require inspections. Building permits may require multiple inspections at different stages. You are responsible for contacting the Town to request the inspections as instructed on the permit.

The final step in a Building Permit is to receive your Occupancy Permit, which is the final inspection to ensure the work is complete and in compliance with code. There is no additional cost for this permit. 

A property's zoning may be changed if the new zone is deemed appropriate for the property and if there is a proposed new use for the property. The property owner would apply for a rezoning; a process that includes a final decision from Council. Please contact the Community Development Department to discuss your proposal and idea in advance of making an application.

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The term "as-of-right" refers to the permissions that the zoning allows by development permit. Each zone within the Town's planning documents allows certain activities and uses to happen with minimal intervention. That is considered "as-of-right". For each zone, the Land Use By-law sets out the conditions required (including setback distances from property lines, maximum height, etc.), and if those can be met, a development permit can be issued. 

Most zones also allow activities and uses to happen by site plan approval or development agreement (higher, larger, more units, additional uses, etc). These are often associated with a more intensive or larger activities and the process for obtaining your permission for those uses require notification of neighbouring properties as well as more oversight by and negotiation with Town Staff  (site plan approval) and, in the case of development agreements, the approval of Town Council. 

For more information, please contact the Community Development Department: 902-541-4369 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Site plan approval is the process in which certain developments are permitted. uses permitted by site plan are ususally more intensive or larger than those permitted as-of-right, but the process is not as stringent as the development agreement process. Through this process, the Development Officer analyzes the submitted site plan to make sure it is consistent with the criteria set out in the Land Use By-law. There are site plan criteria for development in certain residential, commercial and institutuional zones.

Please contact the Community Development Department for more inforation on the rpocess and timlines. 902-541-4369 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

A development agreement is legal agreement between Town Council and a property owner that enables certain development to happen on that property. The Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law detail what type of land use activities require a development agreement in order to be permitted. A development agreement may take 4 to 6 months or longer to complete, depending on the complexity of the project proposal. Please contact the Community Development Department for more information on the process and timelines.

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