Town Services - Town of Lunenburg

Short Term Rentals

The Provincial Regulations for short-term rental and tourist accommodations requires proof of compliance documentation from your Municipality, in this case the Town of Lunenburg, to accompany your application. Please note the following documentation, provided together, meets the Town of Lunenburg’s requirements to show proof of compliance:

Development Permit to authorize the short-term rental use on your property. If you have previously applied for and obtained a Development Permit for short-term rental or tourist accommodation, you will not need to re-apply, but will still need to provide a copy when you register with the Province.
Zoning Confirmation Letter to confirm that short-term rentals are permitted in your zone

Please complete a Development Application Form(330 KB) . Return the completed form, along with a floorplan sketch of the general layout of the building for all floors, clearly showing which unit will be the short-term rental, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or in person to Town Hall. Development Permits are free. Include with it a written request for the Zoning Confirmation Letter. The fee for a Zoning Confirmation Letter is $63.60, which can be paid via one of the Town’s acceptable payment methods(125 KB).

Follow these links to learn more about the new provincial regulations and registration process for short-term rentals and tourist accommodations:

Regulations for short-term rentals and tourist accommodations - Government of Nova Scotia, Canada

For further information contact the Town of Lunenburg at 902-634-4410 ext 225 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

AM I ALLOWED TO HAVE A SHORT TERM RENTAL? THE LAND USE BYLAW STATES:

6.4.11. Only one short-term rental shall be permitted on a lot.

6.4.12. Short-term rentals shall not be permitted in accessory dwellings or accessory buildings.

Accessory Building means a separate building located on the same lot as the main building or principal use, and of a nature customarily and clearly subordinate and incidental to the main building or main use of land.

Accessory Dwelling means the use of a building or part of a building for a dwelling unit subservient to another dwelling unit on the lot.

Alan explanation as to what the Bylaws mean

Short-Term Rental Levy

The Town of Lunenburg has adopted a 3% Short-Term Accommodation Levy, effective January 1, 2027. The levy is intended to support tourism promotion and tourism-related initiatives within the Town of Lunenburg. The levy applies to short-term accommodations located within the Town of Lunenburg and is authorized under the Municipal Government Act.

Insert link to Short-Term Levy Page

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July 27 - August 1st -Youth Start Up Challenge - Ages 12-15

This five-day youth startup challenge provides youth with an opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills and gain hands-on experience in creating products and starting a business. At the beginning of the week, participants are given $100 to create their own idea and bring it to life.

Throughout the week they will work through the process of developing their business until the final day when they take their product “to Market” to sell. The participants get to keep all profits!

Registration is free: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/100-youth-startup-challenge-lunenburg-tickets-1988174717099?aff=oddtdtcreator

Built Environment Accessibility Plan

The Built Environment Accessibility Standard Regulations are part of Nova Scotia's commitment to enacting accessibility standards under the Accessibility Act. The standard includes planning requirements for organizations to develop maintenance plans for accessible entrances and parking spaces, as well as standards for snow and ice control of pedestrian facilities and fire emergency evacuation plans for small apartments. The regulations aim to prevent and remove barriers to accessibility in the built environment, which encompasses spaces where people live, work, learn, and play. Enforcement of compliance will begin on April 1, 2026.

Learn more about the pdf Town of Lunenburg’s Built Environment Accessibility Plans(97 KB) .