News release

Property Owners to Benefit from Changes to Assessment Act

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (Oct. 2000 - March 2014)

Nova Scotia property owners will have more time to appeal their assessments when changes to improve the Assessment Act and regulations go into effect Tuesday, Jan. 1.

"We recognize the need for the property assessment appeal process to be clear and understandable," said John MacDonell, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "Nova Scotians want the processes and procedures to be efficient and transparent. The Assessment Act and regulations now provide more flexibility to the appeal process for Nova Scotia property owners."

The act extends the length of time property owners have to appeal their assessments to 31 days after the notices are mailed. The time allowed to file appeals of amended or confirmed assessments will be 14 days.

Other changes to the legislation include a new name for the assessment appeal body, which will be called the Nova Scotia Assessment Appeal Tribunal. Nova Scotians who wish to appeal an assessment will now be given 14 days notice of their hearing date.

"The Property Valuation Services Corporation believes that these important changes to the Assessment Act will benefit everyone in the assessment system," said Russell Walker, chair of the PVSC board. "The corporation is committed to an open and transparent assessment process and encourages property owners to contact us if they have any questions about their property assessments."

Information on the improved appeal process will be included with the 2013 assessment notices sent to Nova Scotia property owners.