Public Hearings and Notices
Municipal Property Owners Receiving 2026 Assessment Notices from PVSC
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Property owners within the Municipality of Cumberland are receiving their 2026 Assessment Notices by mail from the Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC).
Assessments are conducted annually by the corporation, the province’s independent, municipally funded, not-for profit assessment authority. Values reflect market conditions as of Jan. 1, 2025, and the physical state of each property as of Dec. 1, 2025, including any renovations or demolitions.
This year’s Assessment Roll reaches $206.3 billion provincially - a growth of 8% over last year.
In the Municipality of Cumberland, residential assessments grew from $3,305,613,400 in 2025 to $3,555,605,200 in 2026. Commercial assessments increased from $388,790,200 in 2025 to $397,026,400 in 2026.
The total assessment roll increased to $3,952,631,600 in 2026 from $3,694,403,600 in 2025.
“The 2026 Roll reflects steady growth across residential and commercial markets in Nova Scotia,” says Charlene MacNeil, Director of Assessment.
“Smaller, affordable options such as manufactured homes remain strong, while industrial parks and vacant land lead commercial growth. Apartments, condominiums, and other multi-unit properties - such as duplexes - are also experiencing notable growth, driven by new construction provincewide.”
The Capped Assessment Program (CAP) rate is 2.6%, up from 1.5% last year. Approximately 72% of residential properties - 416,847 accounts - qualify for the CAP, which limits the amount the taxable assessed value can increase year over year.
PVSC representatives and assessors are available to answer property owner questions at 1-800-380-7775 or
The deadline to appeal your 2026 property assessment is Feb. 12, 2026. Your signed appeal must be received no later than midnight on Feb. 12, 2026.
Notice of Public Hearing - Bylaw to Amend Land-Use Bylaw 2509
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A Public Hearing for the By-law to Amend the Land Use By-law 25-09 for the Municipality of Cumberland will be held at 4 pm, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in the Council Chambers of the Upper Nappan Service Centre.
Note that this meeting may be rescheduled or conducted online, visit cumberlandcounty.ns.ca to verify meeting schedule.
The purpose of this By-law is to enable the implementation, under the Land Use By-law, of the Intermunicipal Service Agreement between the Town of Amherst and the Municipality of Cumberland regarding sanitary sewer service.
Hearing documents can be viewed at plancumberland.ca/hearings or by contacting our office at 902-667-1142.
Public Hearings are open to the public.
You may participate by submitting comments by email to:
Notice of Public Hearing - Proposed Sale Less Than Market Value
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TAKE NOTICE there will be a Public Hearing on Dec. 17, 2025 regarding the proposed sale of two parcels of land totalling 3.465 hectares (details below) at 30 Highway 242, Joggins, Cumberland County to the Joggins Improvement Business Development Association at less than market value. The Joggins Log Cabin is situated on this property. The estimated value of the property is approximately $140,000.
The land in question is owned by the Municipality but has been leased to local community groups to use the premises for non-profit purposes to showcase local cultural history, provide tourism information, and use of the space as a meeting place for community groups.
The Public Hearing will be held during the Regular Council Meeting on December 17th, 2025, at the E.D. Fullerton Municipal Building, 1395 Blair Lake Road, Upper Nappan, Nova Scotia. The Meeting will be held in the Council Chambers commencing at 4:00pm ADT. People wishing to speak during the Public Hearing may appear at the Council Meeting in person. Written comments or questions regarding the proposed sale can be sent prior to the meeting to:
Deputy Clerk, Municipality of Cumberland
1395 Blair Lake Road, Upper Nappan, B4H 3Y4
Email:
The parcels of land in question have Property Identification (PID) numbers 25061961 & 25061987. PID 25061961 is 2.52 hectares (approximately 6.23 acres) and PID 25061987 is 0.945 hectares (approximately 2.34 acres), totalling 3.465 hectares (approximately 8.56 acres). The properties are represented in yellow in the sketches below:
Notice of Public Hearings - Bylaw to Amend MPS 25-12 and Amend LUB 25-13
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A Public Hearing regarding the By-law to Amend the Municipal Planning Strategy 25-12 and the By-law to Amend the Land Use By-law 25-13 for the Municipality of Cumberland will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in the Council Chambers of the Upper Nappan Service Centre.
Note that this meeting may be rescheduled or conducted online, visit cumberlandcounty.ns.ca to verify meeting schedule.
By-law to Amend the Municipal Planning Strategy 25-12
Redesignate PID 25224874, 40 Chapel St., Springhill from Residential to Commercial.
By-law to Amend the Land Use By-law 25-13
Rezone PID 25224874, 40 Chapel St., Springhill from Institutional (INS) Zone to Mixed-use (CMix) Zone.
Hearing documents can be viewed at plancumberland.ca/hearings or by contacting our office at 902-667-2313. Public Hearings are open to the public. You may participate by submitting comments by email to:
Municipality of Cumberland issues RFP for review of Development & Planning Department
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The Municipality of Cumberland has issued a request for proposals for a comprehensive independent review of its Development & Planning Department.
The review will assess efficiency, transparency, compliance with Nova Scotia municipal standards, and alignment with best practices. The review will identify opportunities for improvement in workflows, technology use, service delivery, and stakeholder engagement.
“Over the past five years we have reviewed every aspect of the Municipality’s operations except our development and planning shop,” Cumberland CAO Greg Herrett said in announcing the review. “This review will complete that work” he said. “Permitting and inspections, development and subdivision approvals have seen significant increases in volumes over the past few years. We want to take a step back and have a look at our processes and how we assign resources to that department to ensure we’re in step with best practices in place across the rest of the province.”
The RFP closes in mid-December and the work is expected to be completed in March of 2026.