Department of Natural Resources Railway Crossing Licence
Department of Natural Resources

Railway Crossing Licence
Who Needs This Licence?
Any adjacent land owner who wants to establish a crossing over an abandoned railway line owned by the Province of Nova Scotia.

Note: The Province of Nova Scotia has obtained ownership for certain railway corridors abandoned by railroad operators, and the Province of Nova Scotia has assumed responsibility for crossings previously granted by railways.

Issuing Department / Agency:
N.S. Department of Natural Resources

Where can you get this Licence and / or further information?
  Central Regional Office (Truro)
Regional Director
N.S. Department of Natural Resources
664 Prince St.
(Arlington St. entrance)
Truro, NS  B2N 1G6

Tel: 902-893-6350
Fax: 902-893-5613 		Western Regional Office (Lunenburg)
Regional Director
N.S. Department of Natural Resources
300 Green Street
Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0

Tel: 902-634-7557
Fax: 902-634-7577
 

Eastern Regional Office (Coxheath, Cape Breton)
Regional Director
N.S. Department of Natural Resources
300 Mountain Road
Sydney, NS B1L 1A9

Tel: 902-563-3370
Fax: 902-567-2535

OR

Any of the Local or Area Offices of the N.S. Department of Natural Resources. (See Offices, N.S. Department of Natural Resources.)

Application Forms & Process:
An application form can be obtained from the nearest Local or Area Office of the N.S. Department of Natural Resources. When completed, it is submitted to any of these offices.

The application must be accompanied by a location sketch and a copy of the applicant's deed or other title documents.

If all requirements are met, and the application is approved, the permit can be collected at the counter or sent to the applicant by mail.

Waiting Period:
80 business days (3.5 months)
Expiry & Renewal:
This licence is valid for 1 year from the date it is issued, and will automatically renew from year to year unless cancelled or terminated by either party.

Price:
Initial Application and Annual Renewal:  Nominal fee of $1

Related Requirements:
  1. Crown Lands: Right-of-Way Agreement, N.S. Department of Natural Resources
  2. Crown Lands: Lease - (Private Enterprise and Non-Profit), N.S. Department of Natural Resources
Additional Information:
  1. The location of the crossing will be specified in the Licence.

  2. The licence may contain limitations on alterations that can be made to establish the crossing.

  3. No permanent structures or barriers can be erected at the crossing without the specific written consent of the Department of Natural Resources.

  4. Crossings must be no more than 5 metres wide and be approximately at right angles to the centre-line of the rail line corridor.

  5. This licence does not provide exclusive use of the crossing.
Legislative Authority:
Crown Lands Act, Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, Chapter 5, Section 16(1)

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