The Province of Nova Scotia lets municipalities create a marketing levy to support local tourism promotion. Yarmouth first adopted a marketing levy bylaw in 2007. In 2024 the Town updated the bylaw so the levy applies more evenly across accommodation types and adapts better to market changes.
What the new bylaw does
Under the new bylaw (Town of Yarmouth Marketing Levy Bylaw — Bylaw 82), a mandatory 3% marketing levy will be charged to guests who stay in registered accommodations for 30 days or less. The levy takes effect on June 1, 2025. The Bylaw can be found here: https://www.townofyarmouth.ca/town-hall/bylaws/1668-marketing-levy-bylaw/file.html
Levy remittance and administration
The Town has partnered with the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) to help accommodation providers understand and collect the marketing levy. ORHMA was chosen because it has experience handling municipal accommodation levies across Canada. ORHMA will:
- explain how to apply the levy
- help with reporting and remittance
- support businesses with compliance and administration
ORHMA contact information
Email: Levy@orhma.com
Phone: 905-361-0268
To assist with your inquiry, please provide your full name, address, and the name of your municipality.
Levy reporting portal for the Town of Yarmouth:
Frequently asked questions
What is a Marketing Levy?
A marketing levy is a fee collected from visitors who stay at registered accommodations. Marketing levies are standard worldwide, across Canada and the Maritimes and are one way to help fund destination marketing.
How does the Bylaw work?
Operators throughout the Town of Yarmouth will collect a 3% levy from visitors who stay in registered accommodations, and remit the funds collected to the Town of Yarmouth every month. The Town distributes the funds collected to our Destination Marketing Organization, the Yarmouth & Acadian Shores Tourism Association (YASTA).
How Much is the Marketing Levy?
The levy fee will be 3% of the accommodation purchase price, and is subject to HST. "Purchase Price” means the total price for which accommodation is purchased, inclusive of the price, optional fees, service fees, and other considerations accepted by the Operator in return for the Accommodation provided.
Who Pays for the Levy?
Visitors who stay in registered tourist accommodations within the boundaries of the Town of Yarmouth pay the levy. A tourist accommodation is a roofed accommodation rented for 30 days or less.
Why a Tourism Marketing Levy?
The Marketing Levy is a strategic tool that generates revenue to help grow the local tourism economy and enhance regional marketing initiatives and partnership opportunities.
How do I remit and pay the levy?
The Town of Yarmouth has designated the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) for the collection of the levy. ORHMA's contact details are above, along with the link to the Levy Reporting Portal for accommodations providers in the Town of Yarmouth.