Halifax’s 2025 Regional Plan Hits a Roadblock — Here’s What It Means for Development and Housing

On August 8, 2025, Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) got an unexpected answer from the Province of Nova Scotia: No.

After five years of work, public consultation, and collaboration with provincial staff, the updated 2025 Regional Municipal Planning Strategy (commonly called the Regional Plan) was officially rejected by the Minister of Municipal Affairs. This decision means the plan — which was designed to guide sustainable growth, unlock new housing areas, and modernize development rules — is on hold.

Why the Rejection Matters

The Regional Plan is HRM’s blueprint for where and how the city grows. It determines:

• Where new housing can be built

• How dense neighborhoods can become

• Which lands get serviced for development

• Zoning and land-use regulations for residential, commercial, and industrial projects

 Without provincial approval, the old 2014 plan (last amended May 2025) remains in effect, even though Council voted in June to replace it.

The Immediate Impact for Developers and Builders

1.   New Projects May Be Stalled
If a project relied on new zoning or growth areas from the 2025 plan, it now can’t move forward under those rules. Developers might need to redesign plans to fit the stricter 2014 framework.

 2.   Housing Supply Growth Could Slow
The 2025 plan was intended to expand serviced land and increase density in strategic areas. With that on hold, housing supply could lag — especially in high-demand parts of Halifax.

 3.   Certain Approvals May Be Frozen
Land identified for residential or mixed-use development under the new plan can’t be greenlit if it’s not already permitted under the old plan.

 4.   Longer Timelines for Approvals
Municipal planning staff will now tread carefully to ensure approvals don’t conflict with the province’s stance. Expect slower processing times.

 5.   Investor Caution
Some developers and investors may pause major projects until they know what the final approved plan will look like.

Real Estate Market Effects

• Short-term: Slower new construction could tighten housing inventory, potentially driving more competition in the resale market.

• Long-term: Depending on the province’s revisions, land values could shift dramatically — with some areas gaining value and others losing development potential.

What Happens Next?

Municipal staff will re-engage with the province to understand the reasons for the rejection and work on revisions that align with provincial priorities. There’s no set timeline for when a new version will be approved.

 Until then, Halifax’s growth will be guided by the 2014 plan — a framework many argue is outdated for today’s housing and population needs.

Bottom Line for Halifax’s Growth

This decision is essentially a planning freeze for anything that counted on the 2025 rules. For developers, it’s back to the old playbook. For homebuyers and sellers, it could mean a slower trickle of new listings from new builds, adding more pressure to the existing market.

 If you’re a developer, investor, or buyer looking at Halifax’s future, now’s the time to watch the planning process closely — because when the province and municipality finally agree, the rules of the game could change overnight.

Author: Sandra Pike – Halifax Real Estate Agent, Royal LePage Atlantic