Official homepage for the Town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

The Town of Yarmouth strives to foster a safe environment where people and pets can live together under our Dog Bylaw. Pet owners are responsible for licensing their dogs and ensuring that they don't cause a disturbance. Here's a quick guide to animal issues in Yarmouth, including dog licensing, lost pets, and how to register a complaint.

SPCA

The Nova Scotia SPCA, Yarmouth Branch has a contractual agreement with the Town to respond to animal-related public safety and nuisance issues. They also monitor and enforce our Dog By-Law and provide the necessary sheltering services for lost and impounded pets. By-Law enforcement only pertains to dogs in non-emergency situations.

To contact the SPCA:

298 Hardscratch Road
Brooklyn, NS
B5A 4A8
Phone: (902) 742-9767

Shelter Hours of Operation: Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 AM–4 PM
Dog By-Law Enforcement Hours of Operation: 9 AM–9 PM

Note: Shelter Staff only checks phone messages during Open hours.

Dog Licensing

Our  pdf Town Dog Bylaw (3.35 MB) requires all owners to license their dogs annually by April 1. The licensing year runs from April 1 to March 31. See Schedule A – Licence Registration and Impound Fees in the bylaw for more details.

As an owner, you're required to apply for a license within 10 days of acquiring a dog. If you obtain your dog before September 30, you must pay the full licensing fee. If you obtain your dog after September 30, your fee will be reduced by 50 percent.

You can license your dog in person at:

Town Hall
Main Floor Reception Desk
400 Main Street
Yarmouth, NS B5A 1G2

Hours: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Monday to Friday, closed on statutory holidays.

Dangerous Dogs

The owner of any dog classified as a "dangerous dog" must license their dog as a dangerous dog in the municipal registry each year. (You can find more details in section 25 and Schedule A – Licence Registration and Impound Fees in the bylaw.)

Violating the Regulations

Pet owners found to violate Dog Bylaw regulations will be liable for penalties and subject to penalty costs as outlined in Schedule B – Penalties. Be safe, be sure, and register your dog!

Registering a Complaint

To register a complaint regarding a violation of the Dog Bylaw, contact the Animal Control Line at 902-307-0475. Here's what you need to know about filing a complaint:

• You may have to provide a witness statement for Animal Control to proceed with an investigation. If you're not willing to provide a statement and appear in court, Animal Control may not be able to act on your concern.
• You should be aware that all information provided to Animal Control is subject to Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation (FOIPOP) and legal disclosure. During the investigation, complainant and witness information is kept confidential. However, if the matter proceeds to prosecution, all information relating to the investigation, including the identity of complainants and witnesses must be shared with the defence.
• Details are important. The more detail you can provide, the easier it will be to act on your complaint. Depending upon the nature of your complaint, you may be required to provide specific information about the pet, its owner, and the incident.

Lost Your Pet?

If your pet goes missing, there's a whole community of people ready to help. Here's what to do:

• Be prepared to give a detailed description of your pet, including distinguishing markings, tattoos, license tag number, and/or microchip number.
• Look around your neighbourhood and ask your neighbours if they have seen your pet.
• Contact the Yarmouth SPCA to file a lost pet report if you cannot locate your pet. Their staff will review the report and call you if any animal at the shelter matches your pet's description. Check back frequently and please let them know if your pet has been found.
• Contact local veterinary clinics.
• Post notices, preferably with a picture of your pet, at local pet stores, veterinary clinics, and drugstores. Always ask permission before posting a notice.
• Place an ad in the lost-and-found section of local newspapers.
• Contact local radio station Y-96/CJLS to run a lost pet classified ad.

Found a Lost Pet?

If you find a lost pet, you should:

• Do not approach the animal if it's showing signs of aggression. Take note of the animal's appearance, including any distinguishing markings, and the location and time you saw the animal. Call the Animal Control line at (902) 307-0475 to report an aggressive animal at large.
• Approach the animal only if it appears friendly, and you feel comfortable doing so. If you're able to catch the pet, keep it in a safe, secure place. Take note of the animal's appearance including any distinguishing markings, tattoos, or license tag number. Contact the Animal Control line at (902) 307-0475 to file a found pet report.
• If the lost pet is a stray dog, a stray other animal, or a prohibited animal, contact the Animal Control line at (902) 307-0475.
• Ask people in the area if they are familiar with the animal.
• If the pet is wearing a collar with a rabies tag, contact the veterinary clinic that issued the tag.
• Place an ad in the lost and found section of local newspapers.
• Contact local radio station CJLS to run a found pet classified ad.

Free Transit

The Town of Yarmouth is pleased to provide a free, accessible transit service for residents and visitors.

Guidelines

For the comfort and safety of Town of Yarmouth Transit passengers, we ask that all passengers follow our rules of the road. From smoking, food and scents to strollers, luggage and scooters, learn about your responsibilities as a rider. All guidelines can be found in our  pdf transit brochure.(4.63 MB)

Route & Schedule

Town of Yarmouth Transit runs using a flag stop system – where you can choose to board and depart the bus at designated stops, or by creating your own flag stop. Anywhere except for Starr's Road and a portion of Main Street and Vancouver Street (see map below) on the designated route, you can “wave” down the bus. Learn more about our route and schedule.

Service Interruptions: Stay Informed

In the event of a planned interruption in service (i.e. holidays, maintenance), announcements are posted on the home page of this website, Town of Yarmouth Facebook, Twitter, and through our community notifications service "Alertable". Unplanned interruptions (e.g. mechanical issues) are also announced in the same manner, and aired by CJLS radio as soon as possible. 

Sign up for Alertable today and receive instant notifications through a smartphone App, text, email, landline and more.

Download Our Brochure

The brochure contains the route, schedule and guidelines. Click the link below to download the PDF file. Paper copies are also available at Yarmouth Town Hall. 400 Main Street.

pdf Town of Yarmouth Transit Brochure 2025(4.63 MB)

Pothole in the road? Unsafe playground equipment? Graffiti or trash on a walking trail? If you see a problem in Yarmouth, making the town a better place starts with sharing what you see. Report your non-emergency concerns using the SeeClickFix submission tool below. You can also subscribe for updates and share issues with your neighbours, like lost pets.

PLEASE NOTE: This method of reporting issues is not monitored 24/7. Requests placed over weekends or holidays may not be addressed until the following official business day. For Public Works emergencies such as water leaks, snow and ice, during the week, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., you can call the Public Works office at 902-742-9423 for assistance. For after-hours emergencies, please call 1-833-460-8709. If you have an emergency, please call 911. You can also take action by learning about Yarmouth's emergency services and by-law enforcement or checking out the full Town Hall contacts list.

FAQs - Please review these important tips and tricks before you submit your request.

What can expect from using this system?

SeeClickFix is an easy way for residents to report concerns directly to the town and have department staff follow up to resolve the issue. Please always include a detailed address, description, and photo (if possible) to give as much information to staff as possible so they can investigate and determine the best way to address your concerns. The more detail you can offer, the quicker the issue is resolved. You are also encouraged to enter your email address on reports in order to get automated updates on the status of your issue as staff work to resolve it. When asked, also provide your phone number so we can follow up if needed (your number is not shared publicly). This system is best suited to respond to service requests like potholes, street lights, trees, garbage, etc. that can be assigned to staff and addressed in a timely manner. Issues requiring immediate attention or those dealing with public safety should be reported directly to our Operational Services Department. This method of reporting issues is not monitored 24/7. Requests placed over weekends or holidays may not be addressed until the following official business day. For public works emergencies such as water leaks, snow and ice, during the week, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., you can call the Public Works office at 902-742-9423 for assistance. For after-hours emergencies, please call 1-833-460-8709.

What types of things should I report using this system?

This system is best suited to respond to service requests like potholes, street lights, trees, garbage, etc. that can be assigned to staff and addressed in a timely manner. Start a report with the address of the issue and you will then see a drop-down menu with all of the possible categories of issues you can report using this system. Issues threatening public safety or requiring immediate attention should always be reported directly to our Operational Services Department at 902-742-9423 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. For after-hours emergencies, please call 1-833-460-8709. If you have an emergency, please call 911.

What should I NOT use this system for?

Issues threatening public safety or things needing immediate attention like downed wires, tree limbs, flooding, water main breaks, etc. should be reported directly to our Operational Services Department Things that require long-term planning, a larger discussion, a community process, or involve multiple departments or non-Town of Yarmouth entities should be directed to the appropriate department by phone call or email as these issues are not easily "fixable" in the same way a pothole, streetlight, etc. are.

What if I submitted a request but haven't received a response?

The town receives several requests per day, and departments do their best to respond in a timely manner. If you submitted a request and it hasn't been resolved or there has been no communication to you about what to expect in several days, please send an email to comms@townofyarmouth.ca and a staff member will look up your request and connect with staff to get an update for you.

Report Your Problem Now

Begin using the form below by adding the address of the location with the issue. Once you confirm the address, you can select the type of issue, add a photo if available, a description of the problem and then click to submit. Once received, it will be assigned to staff to be addressed.

To keep us posted on the go, download the See Click Fix app to your phone: