Property maintenance — Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

What are the rules on junk, derelict cars, and unsightly property?

Regional municipality of Cape Breton has 2 adopted bylaws on file, verified against the original documents on 2026-06-05.

Minimum Standards By-law for Existing Residential Dwellings No. M-100 adopted bylaw

standards	Owner must keep building free of rubbish/garbage/debris and objects that are health, fire or accident hazards; maintain structural, roof, wall, plumbing, heating standards	s. 4.1; s. 2.2
enforcement	Building Inspector may order repairs (within 90 days); municipality may do work at owner's expense as first lien; Supreme Court remedies	s. 3.2; s. 35.1; s. 40.1
fine range	$250-$10,000 or imprisonment up to one year (each day a separate offence)	s. 36.1

scout note

Sets minimum maintenance and habitability standards for existing residential dwellings in CBRM (MGA s.181).

Vacant and Derelict Buildings By-law No. V-300 adopted bylaw

standards	Vacant buildings must be secured, weather-tight, free of debris/fire hazards; derelict = ruinous, depreciates value, allurement to children, unsightly exterior, or fire hazard	s. 1 "derelict building"; Section 6
enforcement	Municipality may order owner to demolish or obtain conditional building permit; may enter and do work, cost recouped as lien; title forfeiture possible	Section 5.2; Section 9.2-9.3; s. 11.4
fine range	First offence min $1,000; second/subsequent min $2,000 (per day separate offence)	s. 11.1

scout note

Regulates vacant and derelict buildings within CBRM, with maintenance standards and CBRM authority over dangerous structures.

Machine-readable: property-maintenance.json · Official website: http://www.cbrm.ns.ca/ · Last verified 2026-06-05 · Property maintenance across Canada