Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning

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The Municipality has been actively working on municipal-wide land use planning to help shape vibrant, sustainable communities for the future. Launched in 2020, this multi-year project focuses on updating key planning documents, including the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB), to guide development, support community needs, and meet the province’s mandate for land use planning across Nova Scotia.

A key part of this project is introducing zoning for all areas of the municipality, affecting every property. Zoning helps manage growth, protect important resources, and ensure our communities are thoughtfully planned for the years ahead.

The first draft



The Municipality has been actively working on municipal-wide land use planning to help shape vibrant, sustainable communities for the future. Launched in 2020, this multi-year project focuses on updating key planning documents, including the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB), to guide development, support community needs, and meet the province’s mandate for land use planning across Nova Scotia.

A key part of this project is introducing zoning for all areas of the municipality, affecting every property. Zoning helps manage growth, protect important resources, and ensure our communities are thoughtfully planned for the years ahead.

The first draft documents were shared with Council and the public on March 13, 2025.

  • These were intended as drafts only. They can and will change as we hear from the public over the next few months.
  • We are committed to ensuring every property owner in the District knows about this project. We will be sending a direct letter or postcard to every single resident to advertise the open houses.
  • We’ll also advertise the open houses and Council meetings on Facebook, CKBW, in the South Shore Bulletin, in Municipal Matters, in our monthly email newsletter (modl.ca/communication), and on this website.

On March 13, 2025, the draft documents were posted as part of the Planning Advisory Committee agenda on the Engage site, and distributed to Council and the public. The documents were intended as drafts, to be reviewed and discussed by both the Planning Advisory Committee, Council, and the public over a series of months through extensive public engagement.

However, we have heard loud and clear from residents that many have serious concerns with the drafts. The overwhelming majority of comments expressed deep concern over possible restrictions on small scale agriculture. There were also general concerns that the draft documents are too restrictive for the District of Lunenburg.

At the March 25, 2025 Council meeting, Council passed a motion “that Municipal Council direct staff to prepare a second draft of the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law that is less restrictive and closer in line to the mandatory minimum planning requirements outlined in the Municipal Government Act.” You can watch Council's discussion at the meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/live/uP1wiDqpcUY?t=936s

As staff rewrite the draft documents, we need to hear directly from residents about their concerns. Our public engagement events are beginning immediately, with efforts that will see staff and Council attend dozens of formal and informal events throughout every district. We will advertise these opportunities through a direct mail postcard to all residents, print and radio ads, and social media sharing. The complete list of engagement events is available under the Open Houses and Events tab on this site. These events are drop in style, where you can talk to staff and Council.

Can't attend an event? You can watch a presentation below, then submit your thoughts by email to planning@modl.ca, through the Survey or Questions tab below, or you can call a Planner Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm. If you reach our voicemail message, please leave your name and number and a Planner will call you back before the end of day, or the next morning.



  • Policy & Strategy Agriculture Discussion - June 17, 2025

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    At the upcoming Policy and Strategy Committee meeting, there will be a discussion on agricultural lands and uses as they relate to land use planning. This includes discussions about small-scale farms and numbers of animals. This is part of the Municipal-Wide Land Use Planning initiative and follows a previous discussion on drinking water protection.

    This meeting will be held on June 17, 2025 in the Municipal Office Council Chambers. Staff will present information about the topic, followed by a discussion by the committee. No decisions will be made, as the session is intended for information and discussion purposes only. Policy and Strategy Committee meetings are always open to the public and are also streamed live on the Municipality's YouTube page.

    Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025

    Time: Expected to start sometime after 1:00 p.m.

    Location: Municipal Office Council Chambers

    For more information about the project, you can view the staff report here and the slides here that the committee will be reviewing.

    If you have questions or need clarification about this item or the project, contact us at planning@modl.ca or 902-530-2802.

    Thank you.

Page last updated: 18 Jun 2025, 08:54 AM