Traffic & streets across Nova Scotia
What is the speed limit? What are the rules for using the street?
26 of 49 municipalities in Nova Scotia have an adopted bylaw on traffic & streets on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town |
Street Encroachment By-Law D-21 (Respecting Encroachments Upon Public Streets) | street obstruction: No person shall construct or maintain any encroachment or use a street for construction or restoration without an encroachment license. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Telephone booths may be issued by Engineer if free flow of pedestrians is not impeded and no traffic hazard is created. · fines: not less than $100 not exceeding $2,000 | 2026-09-27 |
| Annapolis Royal Town |
Streets and Sidewalks By-law
adopted 2023-02-15 |
street obstruction: No cutting/excavating sidewalk, curb, or street without Street Excavation Permit; no travel on temporarily closed street. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Town may lease sidewalk for seasonal/temporary sidewalk cafe/restaurant; abutters maintain grass between curb and sidewalk. | 2026-09-27 |
| Antigonish Town |
Ice and Snow Removal Bylaw | street obstruction: No person shall pile or place snow or other debris on any Town street or within three (3) feet of any sidewalk. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Occupants in Core must remove snow/water/debris from sidewalk; no person shall damage sidewalk. · fines: $78.75 for failing to clear away snow from sidewalks or gutters adjoining premises; $165.00 for obstructing a street or sidewalk | 2026-09-27 |
| Berwick Town |
Town of Berwick Bylaw – Streets
adopted 1963-07-09 |
street obstruction: No team unattended unless hitched/secured; teams standing in line close to curb to obstruct street as little as possible. · sidewalk or boulevard use: No gate shall open or swing outwardly across sidewalk; no sign projecting more than eight feet over or less than eight feet above sidewalk. | 2026-09-27 |
| Bridgewater Town |
Town of Bridgewater Bylaw Chapter 14 – Care of Streets
adopted 1966-01-05 |
street obstruction: No person shall place any encumbrance upon any street preventing free and uninterrupted use; permits for occupying street for building or excavation require safe passage. · sidewalk or boulevard use: No dumping coal or heavy articles on concrete/asphalt sidewalks unless protected by boards; occupiers keep sidewalk and gutter free from dirt and nuisance. · fines: not exceeding five dollars; not exceeding ten dollars; not exceeding twenty dollars | 2026-09-27 |
| Cape Breton Regional municipality |
Cape Breton Regional Municipality Streets By-law (T1)
adopted 1995-11-21 |
street obstruction: No person shall obstruct any street or sidewalk; no sign or structure within street limits; no dirt, filth, litter, rubbish deposited on street. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Movable business sign allowed if not impeding pedestrians; overhanging sign/awning height not less than seven feet; heavy load: boards not less than one inch thick. | 2026-09-27 |
| Colchester County municipality |
Municipality of Colchester Neighbourhood Nuisance By-law, Chapter 2
adopted 2024-05-30 |
street obstruction: No person shall obstruct a street by any means, including parking/leaving a motor vehicle, interfering with street use or causing safety hazard or street damage. · fines: First offence: not less than $300.00 and not more than $10,000.00; second offence: not less than $700.00 and not more than $10,000.00; third/subsequent offence: not less than $1,000.00 and not more than $10,000.00. | 2026-09-27 |
| Cumberland County municipality |
Municipality of Cumberland Streets and Sidewalks By-Law 07-09
adopted 2007-11-21 |
street obstruction: No person shall obstruct pedestrian or vehicle traffic or excavate/damage a street without a Street Disturbance Permit. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Heavy loads on sidewalk require protective boards; no visible damage except permit. · fines: $200.00 to $2,000.00 | 2026-09-27 |
| Digby Town |
Town of Digby Streets and Sidewalks By-Law #2009-06
adopted 2009-09-08 |
street obstruction: No excavation or construction/temporary activity likely to obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic without a Street Disturbance Permit. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Sandwich boards/temporary signs allowed on sidewalk by commercial abutter if leaving minimum 7 feet unobstructed walkway; sidewalk cafes by lease. · fines: $100.00 to $5,000.00; payment in lieu $50.00. | 2026-09-27 |
| East Hants District municipality |
Municipality of East Hants By-law IO-100, Winter Road & Sidewalk Snow Clearing & Maintenance
adopted 2015-12-16 |
street obstruction: No person shall park or leave standing a Vehicle upon a Public Road where it is obstructing snow removal or other winter maintenance activities. · sidewalk or boulevard use: No person shall clear or cause to have cleared snow from a private road or driveway onto a Sidewalk. · fines: not less than two hundred dollars ($200) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000); $100 within 14 days | 2026-09-27 |
| Guysborough District municipality |
Municipality of the District of Guysborough Sidewalk By-Law (By-Law #20) | street obstruction: Abutters shall trim vegetation encroaching over a street; no abutter shall place dirt, dust or other nuisance onto the street. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Abutters shall maintain grass between curb and sidewalk; signs shall not obstruct pedestrians; leave minimum 1 m unobstructed; maximum signage face area one square meter. · fines: not less than $50.00 and not more than $500.00 plus any and all costs incurred by the Municipality to correct the contravention | 2026-09-27 |
| Halifax Regional municipality |
Halifax Regional Municipality Streets By-law S-300
adopted 1997-11-18 |
street obstruction: No person shall make any excavation in a street, obstruct a street, or close off/use a street without a permit. · sidewalk or boulevard use: No driving/riding animals on sidewalk where annoyance; boulevard gardens must comply with Administrative Order; no invasive species. · fines: not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not more than ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars | 2026-09-27 |
| Inverness County municipality |
Municipality of the County of Inverness By-Law #7 (Municipal Property and Streets)
adopted 1994-07-11 |
street obstruction: Obstructing or causing obstruction in any public place or way; projecting building/fence must be removed after notice. · sidewalk or boulevard use: No person shall drive or ride any animal on any sidewalk. · fines: not more than One Hundred Dollars; default imprisonment not more than ten days | 2026-09-27 |
| Kentville Town |
Town of Kentville Streets By-law (CH83)
+1 more adopted 2011-10-31 |
street obstruction: No person shall construct, place, enlarge, reconstruct, maintain, or permit an Encroachment upon, under, or over a street unless an Encroachment Licence has been issued. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Sidewalk café shall not operate later than 2:00 a.m.; operate only between May 15 and October 15 unless Council approves otherwise. · street obstruction: No person shall make any opening or excavation in any street or sidewalk | 2026-09-27 |
| Lunenburg Town |
Town of Lunenburg Streets By-law (By-law 10.18)
+1 more adopted 1978-07-27 |
street obstruction: Town may remove any encroachment impeding safe street operation; no license if it affects traffic flow or snow plowing. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Sidewalk cafés/sales/furniture/landscaping allowed by license; must maintain 1.2m pedestrian travel surface; no food/drink service on sidewalk. · street obstruction: No encumbrance preventing free use; no articles left longer than necessary; sidewalk openings require permit; excavation requires deposit. | 2026-09-27 |
| Mahone Bay Town |
Town of Mahone Bay Streets and Sidewalks Bylaw
adopted 2026-02-26 |
street obstruction: Street Excavation Permit required for cutting/excavating sidewalk, curb, or street; no structure on/over street without Street Use Permit. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, scooters prohibited on sidewalks; children under 12 with adult oversight excepted; bicycle rules in Motor Vehicle Act/Traffic Safety Act. · fines: not less than $250 and not more then $5,000 | 2026-09-27 |
| Middleton Town |
Town of Middleton Bylaws, Chapter 9 - Streets
adopted 1969-01-06 |
street obstruction: No person shall place any encumbrance upon any street preventing free and uninterrupted public use. · sidewalk or boulevard use: No person shall dump, unload, deposit, or move coal or heavy article on concrete/asphalt sidewalk unless protected by boards not less than one inch thick. · fines: not exceeding ten dollars; not exceeding four dollars; not less than two dollars and not more than ten dollars; not exceeding twenty dollars; not less than one, or more than five dollars; minimum penalty of $25 and not exceeding a maximum penalty of $75. | 2026-09-27 |
| New Glasgow Town |
Town of New Glasgow Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal By-Law (By-Law No. 34)
adopted 2011-01-17 |
street obstruction: The Abutter shall not permit snow or ice to block the sidewalk. · fines: not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2000.00) | 2026-09-27 |
| Pictou County municipality |
Municipality of the County of Pictou Spring Road Weight Restriction By-law
adopted 2016-03-07 |
truck route rule: Restricted Road Spring Weight Restriction: max single axle 6,500 kg; tandem/triple 12,000 kg; tridem 18 000 kg; gross 12,000 kg. · fines: not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) | 2026-09-27 |
| Shelburne Town |
Town of Shelburne Encroachment Bylaw
adopted 2020-01-20 |
street obstruction: No person shall construct or maintain any encroachment or use a street for construction/restoration without an encroachment license. · fines: minimum penalty of $100 | 2026-09-27 |
| Stewiacke Town |
By-Law Respecting Weight of Vehicles on Town Streets (No. 2009-18)
adopted 2009-08-20 |
truck route rule: No person shall operate upon a street a vehicle or combination with maximum gross vehicle weight in excess of 12,000 kg. · fines: One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) | 2026-09-27 |
| Trenton Town |
Town of Trenton By-law No. 13 - Streets Maintenance and Care | street obstruction: No person shall place an encumbrance upon any street preventing free and uninterrupted public use. · sidewalk or boulevard use: No bicycle shall be ridden on any sidewalk. · fines: not exceeding twenty dollars; not less than one nor more than five dollars; not exceeding ten dollars; not exceeding five dollars | 2026-09-27 |
| Truro Town |
Streets, Maintenance and Care of
+2 more adopted 1916-09-14 |
street obstruction: Abutters shall trim vegetation encroaching over a street to prevent interference with pedestrians, sight lines, or structures. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Abutter shall not permit snow or ice to block sidewalk; maintain grass between curb and sidewalk. · street obstruction: No person shall place any encumbrance upon any street preventing free and uninterrupted use. | 2026-09-27 |
| West Hants Regional municipality |
Town of Windsor Bylaw #10 - Streets and Sidewalks Bylaw
+1 more |
street obstruction: No person shall excavate or engage in construction/temporary activity likely to obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic in a street without a Street Disturbance Permit. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Sandwich boards or temporary/mobile signs may be placed on sidewalk by abutter with Sidewalk Signage Permit, leaving 1 metre unobstructed; max 1 square metre. · fines: not less than $100.00 and not more than $5,000.00 | 2026-09-27 |
| Yarmouth District municipality |
Municipal Streets, Sidewalks, and Trails By-Law M-089-24
adopted 2024-06-26 |
truck route rule: Heavy Load means loads over 9923 lbs or 4501 kg; no moving over sidewalk/trail unless protected; no driving over curb. · street obstruction: No person shall make excavation, break surface, or engage in construction/temporary activity likely to obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic without a Street Disturbance Permit. · sidewalk or boulevard use: Abutters shall remove snow, icicles or ice overhanging sidewalks; trim encroaching vegetation; no heavy load on sidewalk/trail unless protected; no gates impeding traffic. | 2026-09-27 |
| Yarmouth Town |
Town of Yarmouth Streets & Sidewalks Bylaw (TOY 8)
+1 more adopted 2018-10-11 |
street obstruction: No excavation, surface breaking, or construction/temporary activity likely to obstruct traffic without a Street Disturbance Permit. · sidewalk or boulevard use: No person shall use or operate a skateboard, roller blades or roller skates on any sidewalk. · fines: Fine not less than $500.00 and not more than $10,000.00; payment in lieu of prosecution $215.00. | 2026-09-27 |
Nothing on file for traffic & streets
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Checked, nothing adopted (1) — Stellarton (2026-09-27).
Other bylaws on file, none on this topic (22) — Annapolis, Antigonish, Argyle, Barrington, Chester, Clare, Clark's Harbour, Digby, Kings, Lockeport, Lunenburg, Mulgrave, Oxford, Pictou, Port Hawkesbury, Queens, Richmond, Shelburne, St. Mary's, Victoria, Westville, Wolfville.