Welcome to the Town of Yarmouth
On the Edge of Everywhere
Minimum housing standards
The Town of Yarmouth sets minimum housing standards to protect residents’ health and safety. These rules describe the basic requirements every dwelling must meet.
Minimum requirements
- Weatherproof structure: solid walls, floors and roof.
- Secure openings: working, lockable windows and doors.
- Safe exits: clear, usable escape routes.
- Light & ventilation: adequate natural light and fresh air.
- Electricity: safe electrical service for lighting and appliances.
- Smoke alarms: installed and working.
- Plumbing: flush toilet, bath or shower, and hot and cold running water.
- Kitchen: facilities for food preparation.
- Heating: adequate heat for cold weather.
Conflicts with other bylaws
If another Town bylaw sets a higher standard, the higher requirement applies to protect public health and safety.
Complaints & questions
To report a problem or ask about standards, contact the Building Official: (902) 742-1505 or buildinginspector@townofyarmouth.ca You can also fill out and return a pdf complaint form(115 KB) .
pdf Minimum Housing By-Law(216 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is considered adequate heat?
- Under the Minimum Housing By-Law, the heating system must be capable of maintaining a specific indoor temperature during cold weather (typically 20°C or 68°F, though you should reference the specific clause in the pdf By-Law PDF(216 KB) for the exact requirement). The system must be in good working order, properly vented, and safe for operation.
Q: Does the Town handle disputes between landlords and tenants?
- No. The Minimum Housing By-Law is for health and safety enforcement. If you have a dispute regarding rent, lease agreements, or tenant rights, please contact the Nova Scotia Residential Tenancies Program at 1-800-670-4357 or https://www.novascotia.ca/residential-tenancies.
Q: What are the requirements for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors?
- Every dwelling unit must be equipped with functioning smoke alarms installed as per the manufacturer's instructions and provincial fire code. While the by-law mandates working alarms, residents are encouraged to check provincial fire safety regulations for specific placement requirements (e.g., inside every bedroom).
Q: What happens after I file a complaint?
- A Town official or Building Inspector conduct an on-site inspection, with entry into the dwelling. If a violation exists, the Town will issue an order to the property owner to bring the dwelling up to standard. The inspector will follow up to ensure compliance.
Parks, trails and open spaces
Yarmouth has many parks, open spaces and trails where you can enjoy sea breezes, sunsets and cool evening fog. See the full list of trails and landmarks.
Hartlin Trail The Hartlin Trail follows the historic train route from Bunker's Island to Lake Milo and beyond. The trail runs along the edge of Yarmouth Harbour and is ideal for walks, jogs and strolls. You’ll find interpretive signs, wharves, parks, museums, shops and restaurants along the way. Check tide times before you go — Yarmouth Harbour has tides of about 4–5 metres.
Parks and playgrounds
Parks and green spaces are throughout Yarmouth. These include:
- Frost Park
- Beacon Park
- Rotary Park
- Doug Melanson Park
- Sealed Landers Park (which connects Milton Dam and Lake Milo)
Playgrounds
- Yarmouth Elementary School (children’s playground)
- Town playgrounds on Sprucewood Drive, Beacon Street, Havelock Drive and Goudey Street
- A preschool playground at the Nova Scotia Community College
Recreation and sports
- Lake Milo Aquatic Club: supervised swimming, swim lessons, sailing, canoeing, kayaking and dragon boat activities each summer run by Yarmouth Recreation.
- Gateway Field: nearly a century of baseball history and full track and field facilities; nighttime baseball and softball are often at Broadbrook Park.
- Yarmouth High School and Meadowfields School: host soccer and other field sports.
Report a problem If you see a problem at a park or trail, contact Operational Services or use Report a Problem.
Parking
The Town of Yarmouth provides abundant free public parking (no meters). Read the Parking Bylaw for full rules and definitions.
Quick facts
- On‑street parking: 2‑hour limit unless signed otherwise.
- Town lots: Glebe Street (behind Town Hall), Collins Street, Brown Street, Hawthorne Street — 2‑hour limit without a permit.
- Permits: Needed to park longer than 2 hours in town-owned lots. Buy virtual permits via HotSpot (app or web) or in person at Town Hall.
- Enforcement: Parking enforcement is active. Tickets or impoundment may apply for infractions.
Common infractions (may result in ticket or tow)
- Parking longer than posted time limits (eg. over 2 hours).
- Parking in a lot over 2 hours without a permit.
- Parking in an accessible space without a permit.
- Not parking within the lines of a single space.
- Parking over safety lines or not in an indicated space.
- Parking facing the wrong direction or more than 150 mm from the curb.
- Any other Motor Vehicle Act violations.
Electric vehicle charging
- Brown Street Parking Lot: Features Nova Scotia Power Level 3 fast chargers (180 kW output) with 4 total connectors.
- Yarmouth, NS Supercharger (120 Starrs Road): Features 6 Tesla Supercharger outlets with up to 250 kW capacity.
- Collins Street Parking Lot: Municipal and NS Power stations.
- Killam Bros. Marina (90 Water Street): Public Level 2 charging.
Winter parking (Dec 1–Mar 31)
- No parking on streets from 1:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Do not park in the street right-of-way where it may obstruct snow removal or winter maintenance.
- Do not park on streets or sidewalks from one hour after a snowstorm begins until two hours after it ends.
Learn more at Snow Plowing.
Parking passes (HotSpot)
- Monthly pass: $20. Daily pass: $2. Online convenience fees: $0.50 (daily) and $2.00 (monthly) plus HST. No convenience fee for in‑person purchases at Town Hall.
- HotSpot supports multiple vehicles per account; select the plate that matches the vehicle parked.
- Purchase: HotSpot app or hotspotparking.ca; or in person at Town Hall, 400 Main Street.
- pdf Download the parking map (PDF, 1008 KB).(752 KB)
Parking enforcement contacts
- Phone: (902) 742‑4860
- Email: enforcement@townofyarmouth.ca
Towed/impounded vehicles
- Bishara's Garage
- Address: 1292 NS‑340, South Ohio, NS B5A 5N2
- Phone: (902) 742‑7759
Disputing tickets
- to dispute a parking ticket, a notification will arrive by mail with information on how to dispute the ticket in court.
Newcomers Guide
Welcome
Moving to a new place can be challenging, especially if this is your first time living in Canada. Drop by Town Hall at 400 Main St. — we’ll answer your questions. Our Mayor and Council are happy to meet new residents.
On behalf of everyone here, welcome to Yarmouth!
Our Town
Yarmouth is the regional centre for southwestern Nova Scotia. The town has nearly 7,000 residents and serves as the financial, business, education and lifestyle hub for about 70,000 people across Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne counties. The port sits in the heart of some of the world’s richest lobster grounds and fishing has long shaped our culture and economy.
We are at the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia. New Brunswick lies to the north across the Bay of Fundy; Maine, USA is to the northwest; Halifax is about 300 km away. The climate is maritime: winters are mild with little snow accumulation, summers are cool to warm, and precipitation is spread through the year. Check local tide and weather reports — tides here are among the highest in the world.
Checklist for moving in
- Find a family doctor or nurse practitioner: call 1-844-491-5891 for help finding primary care. Nova Scotia Health Authority also lists programs for people without a family physician.
- Call 211 for community services, including newcomer supports and refugee assistance.
- Register your children for school: see Education for local school contacts.
- Set up taxes and utilities. Learn how to start water, sewer and electricity services and pay municipal taxes.
- Update your driver’s licence at Access Nova Scotia office, 10 Starrs Rd.
- Apply for or update your passport at the Yarmouth Service Canada Centre, 13 Willow St.
What you need to know
- Active living: programs, sports and recreation options. Learn more by clicking here.
- Animal services: how to register a dog and pet-owner responsibilities.
- Bill payments: where to pay your municipal taxes, water bill, and more.
- Building and renovating: apply for a building permit before major changes.
- Culture and heritage: learn about Yarmouth’s history and local museums.
- Emergency services: Police, fire, and medical services are available 24/7. For immediate danger, call 911.
- Events: local festivals and civic events help you connect with the community.
- Local media: listen to CJLS/Y95.5 FM or watch Eastlink TV.
- Minimum housing standards: kKnow your rights as a tenant or homeowner.
- Passport services. You can update your passport at the Yarmouth Service Canada Centre at 13 Willow St.
- Garbage, recycling and composting: Yarmouth uses a 2-bag system — one bag for paper, one for plastic and metal. Learn about collection, hazardous-waste and pharmaceutical disposal on our Garbage, Recycling & Composting page.
- Transportation: FREE local transit, shuttle services and seasonal ferry connections. Learn more by clicking here.
- Weather, tides and pollen: check local reports before travel or waterfront activities. Learn more by clicking here.
- Winter services: learn about snow clearing, resident responsibilities and safe winter driving on Snow & Ice Management.
Report a problem
If you see a maintenance or safety issue, tell us at Report a Problem so we can follow up.
