Short-term Rental Provincial Registration

The Province of Nova Scotia recently announced new Short-Term Rentals Registration Regulations that will come into effect on September 30, 2024. As part of the new registration requirements, hosts will be required to provide supporting documents that show they are permitted to operate their short-term accommodation under the applicable municipal land use by-law, prior to registering with the province.

The Municipality of Chester is working on creating an online form that will assist in obtaining the necessary documents to demonstrate you are permitted to operate your short-term rental accommodation. Check back on this page in the next two weeks as we hope to have it ready by the end of August.

Please note the Municipality of Chester is currently in the process of developing a new STR licence that will serve as the required documentation in future years. The documents provided to confirm your registration for 2024-25 are temporary and all STR hosts will be required to obtain a STR licence from the Municipality of Chester once it is in place.

To help you prepare in advance of the form being ready on our end, we are providing an overview of what is required to be permitted to operate under the Municipality’s land use by-laws. You may already have the documentation you need.

1. If you have a Development Permit for your property that was issued after January 9, 2020 that permits the operation of a “Tourist Accommodation” or “Tourist Home” and have not added additional short-term rental units on the property since this permit was issued, you have everything you need and may provide this to the Province as proof you are permitted to operate for 2024-25.
2. For those with short-term rental properties located within the Village of Chester planning area, you will need to complete our online form once it is available and will be provided a temporary compliance letter that can be used to register with the Province for 2024-25.
3. For those with properties outside the Village of Chester planning area who began operating a short-term rental prior to January 9, 2020 and have not added any additional rental units on the property since that date, you will need to complete our online form once it is available and will be provided a temporary compliance letter that can be used to register with the Province for 2024-25.
4. For those with properties outside the Village of Chester planning area that began operating a short-term rental after January 9, 2020 or who have added additional short-term rental units to the property and do not have a Development Permit for the operation of a “Tourist Accommodation” or “Tourist Home” or for the additional short-term rental units, you should contact our office as soon as possible to begin the process of obtaining a development permit that will allow you to register your short-term rental with the Province for 2024-25.

If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact our office using the information on the right.