The Surplus Land for Affordable Housing Pilot Program has been launched as a part of the Municipality’s Housing Accelerator Fund initiatives. This program aims to create long-term affordability by providing surplus municipal land to non-profit housing providers.
The Call for Submission is now open, and we are accepting proposals from eligible non-profit organizations. Please see the information below on what parcels are available, how to apply, and what this means for housing in your neighbourhood.
Municipally owned surplus parcels have been selected for use in this program based on the following criteria:
- Site condition – no buildings on site, no known environmental issues
- Development potential – zoned for as-of-right residential development, access to servicing
- Demonstrated need for affordable housing in the community
- Access to amenities and transit infrastructure
In selecting sites for the Surplus Land for Affordable Housing Pilot Program, HRM intends to foster healthy, well-connected communities that meets the needs of all residents.
Please see the table below for more information on available surplus parcels.
| Civic Address | PID |
|---|---|
| 48 Pinecrest Drive, Dartmouth | 00036343 |
| 15 Laurelcrest Drive, Eastern Passage | 40507220 |
| 18 Scotia Drive, Bedford | 00428961 |
| 6850 Bayers Rd, Halifax | 00032490 |
Eligibility
Eligibility for the Surplus Land for Affordable Housing Pilot Program is restricted to non-profit and charitable organizations.
Applicants are permitted to partner with a private sector organization on the condition that the land title and administration of affordable units remains with the non-profit partner.
Submissions to the program must meet the following requirements:
- Offer new housing units at below average market rates as determined by the CMHC
- Propose development that is “as-of-right” in accordance with local zoning bylaws
- Propose project timelines that enable applicants to receive their building permit by October 2026
Submissions that require a variance or sub-division may be considered on the condition that the proposal is phased to enable building permits to be received by October 2026.
Applicant Requirements
To be considered for the Surplus Land for Affordable Housing Pilot Program, submissions must include proof of eligibility, a description of the applicant, and a description of the proposal. These requirements are summarized in the table below.
- Proof of Eligibility
- Name of registered charity/non-profit
- Indication of whether organization is registered provincially or nationally
- Copy of agreement with private sector partner if applicable
- Description of Applicant
- Summary of existing services offered by organization
- Summary of relevant organizational/staff/partner experience
- Financial statements from preceding fiscal years
- Description of Proposal
- Total number of affordable dwelling units or bedrooms for shared housing
- Proposed rent and associated unit type
- Project proforma listing all costs and sources of financing
- Summary of whether proposals will serve National Housing Strategy Priority Groups
- Summary of whether proposals exceeds minimum standards for energy efficiency and accessibility
Successful applicants will be required to sign a buy back agreement that ensures the land is used for affordable housing.
Successful applicants may apply to the Municipality for a postponement of the Buy-Back Agreement to secure financing of up to sixty-five percent (65%) of the Property’s market value as of the date of the request.
The Surplus Land for Affordable Housing Pilot Program has been developed to create affordable options for all residents across the Municipality.
Below are answers to some questions that residents may have about the program. If would like to know more about the Surplus Land for Affordable Housing Pilot Program, please email affordablehousingprogram@halifax.ca.
- Why is this program needed?
HRM is experiencing a housing crisis. While responsibility for building public housing lies with the Province, the Municipality has some tools it can use to incentivize more affordable units to be built. One of these is offering land that HRM owns but no longer needs to non-profit organizations interested in building affordable housing.
By selling municipal land for $1, HRM can remove the cost of buying land at market value, which is a large barrier for non-profits looking for sites to build affordable housing. Without having to include land costs in their budget, a non-profit can build units at a lower cost and offer lower rents to tenants.
One successful example of this is on True North Cresent in Dartmouth, where four HRM-owned properties stood vacant. In 2020 Council sold the sites to the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (AHANS) for $1 each, allowing AHANS to build 14 affordable townhouses. The 2- and 3-bedroom homes rent from between $960 to $1140 per month – far below the current $2000 to $2200 average monthly rent for similar sized units.
- How much housing will be built?
Any new housing will adhere to the local land use bylaw regulations, which also apply to the surrounding properties. In most in low density residential zones, up to 4 units are permitted.
- What are the timelines for this program?
There is a 60-day window for affordable housing organizations to submit their applications, closing in September. HRM staff will then review applications and bring a report to Regional Council in late fall 2025. Successful applicants must finalize their plans and apply for a building permit by October 2026.
- Who will be running the housing?
A non-profit organization with experience in operating affordable housing will oversee the new units.
- Will this be used to create emergency/shelter housing?
This program will only accept proposals to create permanent/long-term housing. Responsibility for providing emergency/shelter housing remains with the Provincial Government.
Staff will be hosting a series of public information meetings to discuss how the program works and provide a summary of the selected parcels. Members of the public are welcome to attend and ask questions.
Please see the table below for information on the date and location of public information meetings related to the Surplus Land for Affordable Housing Pilot Program.
| Meeting Date | Meeting Time | Meeting Location |
|---|---|---|
| July 15th, 2025 | 6:00pm-8:00pm | Zatzman Sportsplex (Nantucket Room) 110 Wyse Rd, Dartmouth, NS B3A 1M2 |
| July 22nd, 2025 | 6:00pm-8:00pm | The Halifax Forum (Maritime Hall) 2901 Windsor St, Halifax, NS B3K 5E5 |
| July 28th, 2025 | 6:00pm-8:00pm | Easter Passage/Cow Bay Lions Club 65 Hornes Rd, Eastern Passage, NS B3G 1A4 |
| August 12th, 2025 | 5:00pm-7:00pm | The Bedford Library 15 Dartmouth Rd, Bedford, NS B4A 3X6 |
Submitting your application
HRM has officially launched the Call for Submissions for the Surplus Land for Affordable Housing Pilot Program. Staff are now accepting submissions for the following sites:
The deadline for submissions is 11:59pm on September 5th, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.
A report will be brought to Regional Council in Fall 2025 to finalize the land transfer agreement.
How to Submit Your Proposal
To submit a proposal for affordable housing on a surplus site, applicants are required to complete the Call for Submissions Application Webform.
The Call for Submissions Application Webform outlines the required information applicants need to submit to be considered for the program.
In addition to the Call for Submissions Application Webform, submissions to the program must include the following documents:
- Project construction pro-forma
- Project operation pro-forma
- Financial statements from the preceding three (3) fiscal years, or statements from each year if incorporated for less than three (3) years
- Private sector partnership agreement (if applicable)
It is strongly advised that applicants review the submission criteria listed in the guidebook prior to submitting their proposal. Submissions that fail to adhere to the submission requirements will not be considered.
Submissions will be accepted for 60 days following the announcement of the Call for Submissions. The official Call for Submissions deadline shall not be extended. Late submissions will not be considered.
Before submitting your application, please review all the content in the tabs above as well as the Applicant Guidebook.