Coastal Protection

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) is developing new rules that will impact how development occurs along our coast. MODL has a responsibility to its residents and our environment to ensure that new homes, businesses, and other structures are not placed in areas that could be at risk of coastal flooding or erosion, while protecting our natural assets from potential harms caused by development. The new regulations are intended to meet two primary objectives:

1. Protecting our communities from our coast: Keeping human activity away from the risks posed by coastal erosion and flooding.
2. Protecting our coastline from us: Protecting our sensitive coastal ecosystems from the impacts of human activity and development.

Why is MODL doing this?

Regulations controlling where and how coastal development can occur in MODL are needed now. We are facing a climate emergency that is causing rising sea levels and an increase in extreme weather events. At the same time, development pressures and land values have resulted in unsustainable forms of development along our coast. In some cases, due to their size and location, substantial levels of rock armouring or other hardened shoreline treatments are required to protect these properties, potentially causing negative impacts on local ecosystems and public spaces.

Much of the unsustainable development currently occurring is being driven by a lack of existing regulations. Most coastal communities in MODL have no regulations on how close structures can be to the coastline or coastal wetlands, or how elevated above sea level new structures must be built. While the Province of Nova Scotia passed the Coastal Protection Act four years ago, regulations to implement this legislation have still not been introduced. In the absence of provincial action, MODL is moving forward to fill this gap.

What regulations are being proposed?

The Municipality is considering regulations to ensure that new development is not placed in areas that are at risk of coastal erosion, coastal flooding, or that would cause harm to sensitive ecosystems such as coastal wetlands or sand dunes. More specifically, regulations could introduce special requirements or limit new building in the following areas:

1. Areas at risk of coastal erosion

2. Areas at risk of coastal flooding 

Regulations to protect structures such as houses from the risks of coastal flooding are typically in two forms:

1. A vertical elevation requirement for new buildings, or

2. Limiting building within areas deemed to be at risk of coastal flooding.

The goal of these regulations would be to ensure that new structures are located in areas that are safe. It would also be intended to ensure those buildings could remain in place for the lifespan of the structure (typically 70-100 years), and to ensure human lives and emergency responders are not put at risk. There are different methods to establishing these regulations, but all of them take into account the impacts of sea level rise and storm surge. To learn more about how vertical elevations deal with coastal flooding click here. To help shape the regulations you would like to see please fill out our survey here.

Example of a vertical elevation or setback related to coastal flooding.

3. Areas within or near sensitive coastal ecosystems 

Regulations to protect sensitive coastal ecosystems such as coastal wetlands and dunes are typically in the form of conservation zones that limit development, and setbacks from the edge of these features to lessen the impact of nearby development. The goal of these regulations would be to help protect the integrity and function of these important natural assets and to preserve them into the future. To learn more about sensitive coastal ecosystems click here. To help shape the regulations you would like to see, please fill out our survey here.

Example of a coastal wetland that is part of a sensitive coastal ecosystem. 

Where will these regulations apply?

All properties directly bordering either the ocean or along the LaHave River (to the border with the Town of Bridgewater) are currently being considered within the project area. In addition, environmental features such as coastal wetlands or sand dunes that have a direct function which relates to the ocean are also being considered as part of the project area. However, the exact geography of where any new rules would apply has not yet been determined, as this partly depends on the type of regulatory approach used.

When will the regulations be approved?

The Municipality is looking to introduce these new regulations as soon as possible, while also ensuring that the process gives ample time and opportunity for public input and education. The current timeline aims to have the regulations approved by the end of 2023.