BILL NO. 218
(as introduced)
1st Session, 65th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
4 Charles III, 2026
Private Member's Public Bill
Building More Model Homes Faster Act
Claudia Chender
Dartmouth South
First Reading: March 3, 2026
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
An Act to Build More Model Homes Faster
WHEREAS there is an urgent need to accelerate the construction of affordable, accessible and energy-efficient housing in Nova Scotia;
AND WHEREAS the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation maintains a catalogue of standardized, high-quality housing designs;
AND WHEREAS municipal permitting processes can delay the deployment of housing using these designs despite these designs meeting Provincial and national building standards;
AND WHEREAS streamlining the approval processes for catalogue and modular homes can assist prefabricated factory home builders in scaling up their operations;
AND WHEREAS the Province has an opportunity to strengthen domestic forestry, mass timber and advanced manufacturing industries and create jobs through public procurement;
THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Building More Model Homes Faster Act.
2 The purpose of this Act is to
(a) streamline the approval and permitting of select pre-approved housing designs by designating the designs as-of-right, thereby accelerating housing development in the Province; and
(b) create jobs for Nova Scotians by supporting the development of a forest-to-homes manufacturing supply chain in the Province through public procurement, industrial strategy and pre-approved modular design standards.
"as-of-right" means a housing development that is permitted under applicable municipal land-use bylaws or regulations without the need for discretionary approvals, including with respect to rezonings, variances, council resolutions or public hearings;
"catalogue design" means any housing design that
(a) has been pre-approved by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the Atlantic Provinces or is in a supplemental housing design catalogue maintained by the Government of the Province; and
(b) complies with the National Building Code of Canada and all applicable accessibility and energy-efficiency standards adopted by the Province;
"eligible zone" means any land within a municipality that is zoned for residential use and meets criteria prescribed by the regulations;
"framework agreement" means a long-term contract between a public buyer and suppliers with standardized price, design and terms for multiple projects;
"Minister" means the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
4 This Act applies to all municipalities in the Province.
5 (1) Subject to subsection (5), compliance with any applicable building code or servicing requirements and the regulations, a person may construct a catalogue design as-of-right in an eligible zone.
(2) Subject to subsection (5), for a catalogue design, a municipality may not require as a condition of approval for a development permit
(a) a council resolution or public hearing;
(b) a review by a planning committee or advisory board; or
(c) a conditional approval based on any subjective interpretation of compatibility, aesthetics, character or desirability.
(3) Where a building permit application form and process is prescribed by the regulations for use with catalogue designs, a municipality shall use that form and follow that process.
(4) Nothing in this Section limits the authority of a municipality to impose or enforce objective standards relating to accessibility, building code compliance, servicing or fire safety.
(5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply
(a) subject to subsection (6), in circumstances prescribed by the regulations relating to heritage properties designated under the Heritage Property Act; or
(b) where the catalogue design is to be constructed within a municipally adopted heritage conservation district.
(6) Notwithstanding clause (5)(a), where the proposed site of a catalogue design development does not have an applicable heritage designation, a municipality may not deny a development permit for a catalogue design solely based on compatibility, aesthetics, character or desirability considerations relating to any surrounding heritage-designated property.
6 (1) Where a municipality fails to amend, in accordance with the regulations, its planning documents in order to comply with this Act, the Minister may issue an order to impose compliance in accordance with the regulations.
(2) A municipality shall comply with an order issued under subsection (1).
7 For the purpose of this Act, the Minister may enter into agreements with
(a) the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to co-manage and update its list of catalogue designs; and
(b) prefabricated factory home builders located in the Province in order to consult on additional catalogue designs and establish financial support mechanisms with a view to assisting them in scaling up their operations.
8 For the purpose of this Act, the Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency may enter into framework agreements with prefabricated factory home builders.
9 (1) The Minister shall, within 12 months after the coming into force of this Act, prepare and make public a Forest-to-Homes Industrial Strategy.
(2) The purpose of the Strategy is to
(a) strengthen manufacturing of pre-fabricated housing components, mass timber products and modular building systems in the Province;
(b) increase the use of value-added forest products made in the Province in housing and public works;
(c) increase the use of standardized, repeatable building designs suitable for pre-fabrication in public works projects;
(d) assess the feasibility of embodied carbon regulations for buildings that would increase the use of Nova Scotia-sourced wood products and other low-carbon construction materials in the public and private sector; and
(e) align housing supply policy with industrial development, job creation and climate objectives.
(3) The Minister shall table the Strategy in the House of Assembly or, where the House is not then sitting, file it with the Clerk.
10 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations
(a) defining eligible Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation catalogue designs by reference to a designated list;
(b) establishing a housing design catalogue maintained by the Government of the Province in order to supplement the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation catalogue;
(c) prescribing criteria for eligible zones;
(d) prescribing requirements or additional standards related to building height, setbacks, minimum lot size, lot configuration, parking, affordability, accessibility or energy efficiency for a catalogue design development in an eligible zone;
(e) establishing minimum pre-manufactured value requirements for public buildings and public housing;
(f) prescribing full exemptions or partial reductions of development charges for prescribed catalogue design homes and homes that meet prescribed minimum pre-manufactured value thresholds;
(g) regarding the use of standardized, repeatable designs suitable for pre-fabrication in public buildings;
(h) regarding the establishment of embodied carbon requirements for buildings;
(i) establishing a pre-approved list of modular alterations to catalogue designs to allow for site-based, use-case, aesthetic or other flexibility;
(j) prescribing expedited permitting timelines for catalogue design developments;
(k) prescribing a required model development permit application form and process for catalogue designs for use by municipalities;
(l) prescribing a building permit application form and process for use with catalogue designs;
(m) establishing procedures for inspections that may be completed at prefabrication sites;
(n) prescribing requirements for amendments to municipal planning documents in order to ensure compliance with this Act, including requiring municipalities to amend their planning documents within one year of the coming into force of this Act;
(o) respecting Ministerial orders to impose compliance;
(p) prescribing circumstances for the purpose of clause 5(5)(a).
(2) The exercise by the Governor in Council of the authority in subsection (1) is a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act.
11 This Act has effect on and after January 1, 2027.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2026 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created March 3, 2026. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
