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Simple and straightforward — Find the information you're looking for quickly and easily. Welcome to the CBRM website.
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FAQ
Tax and Water
How is my tax dollar spent?
What is my tax rate?
How is my tax rate determined?
How do community groups apply for municipal grants?
What tax collection policy does CBRM have?
When can I expect my tax bill?
When can I expect my water bill?
Who do I contact regarding questions about my municipal water?
Where can I get my well water tested?
How can I apply for the low income municipal tax exemption?
How can I apply for the Commercial Development District Tax Incentive?
How do I apply for the Provincially Licensed Day Care Commercial Tax Reduction?
Who do I contact to change the ownership of my property?
Who do I contact with reference to business occupancy tax?
How would I go about changing the address on my tax and/or water bill?
Where can I direct my payment inquiries?
How can I pay my municipal tax and/or water bill?
Who do I contact to get information on the Senior Citizen property tax rebate?
Where can I call to get information on Residential Taxes, Commercial Tax, Business Occupancy or Service Rates?
How do I acquire a tax certificate?
How do I appeal my property assessment to lower my tax bill?
Deed Transfer Tax
What is the deed transfer tax rate for CBRM?
Tax Sales
What is a tax sale?
How do I acquire a property at a tax sale?
When is the next tax sale?
Property Auctions
What is a property auction?
How do I acquire a property at a property auction?
When is the next property auction?
House Numbering
How do I get a new or confirm a civic house number?
Where can I purchase a civic house number for my home or business?
CBRM - Owned Property
How can I purchase CBRM-owned property?
How can I rent CBRM-owned property?
Dog Registration
Where can I purchase a dog tag?
How often do I purchase a dog tag?
What is the fee for a dog tag?
Parking Tickets
Where can I pay my parking ticket?
Who can I contact for parking ticket information?
Transit Cape Breton
What is the bus schedule?
Where can I purchase transit bus tickets?
Seasonal Disinfection
What is Seasonal Disinfection and where does CBRM do it?
Why does CBRM do Seasonal Disinfection?
How do I contact CBRM Wastewater Operations with comments, questions or concerns about Seasonal Disinfection?
What is my tax rate?
To view the current tax rate structure click here.
For more information regarding your tax rate please call (902) 563-5025.
How is my tax rate determined?
The Planning Advisory Committee and Council have developed a tax structure. Under this system, taxes vary according to the level of municipal services available to your property and your property assessment.
Properties are charged for services based on these criteria:
Property within 200 feet of a sewer line is charged for sewer.Property within 1200 feet of a fire hydrant, measured along the road, pay for hydrants.Residential property, within 2500 feet of a bus route, measured along the road, pay the transit rate.A fire protection rate applies to all properties based on the municipal cost of the Department serving your area.
What tax collection policy does CBRM have?
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality tax collection policy can be viewed by clicking here.
When can I expect my tax bill?
All property owners and businesses received their Interim Tax Bill in April and the Final Tax Bill is issued in September.
The Interim Tax Bill is based on 50% of the previous year's taxes. Current assessment changes will not be reflected until the Final Tax bill in September.
You have until 4:30 p.m. on the due date before any interest will be charged on the tax bill. Interest will continue to be charged on tax arrears at a rate of 10% annually.
When can I expect my water bill?
Water bills in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality are sent out quarterly.
For more information regarding water billing please contact the Revenue Department at (902) 563-5025
Who do I contact regarding questions about my municipal water?
For more information regarding water problems please click here.
Where can I get my well water tested?
For information regarding the testing of well water contact:
Cape Breton Regional Hospital Lab.
1482 George Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 1P3
Phone (902) 567-8000
How can I apply for the low income municipal tax exemption?
The Low Income Tax Exemption is available to residential property owners living in their own homes. The exemption is granted based on income guidelines stipulated in the Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement Program (full Old Aged Security Pension Threshold).
Application forms will be accepted after the September bill is issued. To download a copy of the application form, vitis our forms page.
Applications can also be obtained at the Citizen Service Centre or through the mail by phoning (902) 563-5025.
The Application must be completed in full and Returned to the Citizen Service Centre (before December 31) or mailed to:
Cape Breton Regional Municipality
320 Esplanade
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 7B9
Who do I contact to change the ownership of my property?
To change the ownership of land and dwelling or land (commercial or residential) contact Land Information Management Services at phone number (902) 563-2280 or fax number (902) 563-0503.
To change ownership of mobile homes only (i.e. Mobile Park) contact the Province of Nova Scotia Assessment Office at phone number (902) 563-2150 or fax number (902)563-0513.
For inquiries regarding business occupancy tax assessment (opening and closing dates) contact, Province of Nova Scotia Assessment Office at phone number (902) 563-2150 or fax number (902)563-0513.
For inquiries regarding Assessment appeals, history and related information, contact the Assessment office at the numbers above.
To see inquiry reference guide for further information, please click here.
How would I go about changing the address on my tax and/or water bill?
For any inquiries regarding tax address or water bill name and/or address changes, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete/attach the relevant form. Forms for change of address are on the CBRM forms page.
Alternatively, please contact a citizen service representative at: (902) 563-5080 or the Revenue Department at: (902) 563-5025
Where can I direct my payment inquiries?
For any payment inquiries, please contact a citizen service representative at:
Sydney: (902) 563-5080
or the Revenue Department at:
(902) 563-5025
How can I pay my municipal tax and/or water bill?
Currently there are six ways of paying your municipal tax or water bills.
1. Cash/Cheque/Money Order
2. Pre-Authorized Payments
3. Debit
4. Installment
5. At any Chartered Bank, Bank Machine or Internet Banking
6. Mortgage Company
7. Paymentus
Visa, Mastercard etc. are presently not accepted except for events as directed by our Arena/Conference Facility - C-200
Who do I contact to get information on the Senior Citizen property tax rebate?
To get information on the Senior Citizen property tax rebate contact:
Province of Nova Scotia
Access Nova Scotia
400 Kings Road
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Phone 1-877-296-9338
Where can I call to get information on Residential Taxes, Commercial Tax, Business Occupancy or Service Rates?
To get information on Residential Taxes, Commercial Tax, Business Occupancy or Service Rates contact:
The Revenue Department at:
Civic Centre, Room 103
320 Esplanade
Sydney, NS
Phone: (902) 563-5025
How do I acquire a tax certificate?
A request for a CBRM tax certificate must be in writing and include a fee of $75.00 per certificate. Deliver or mail your request to:
Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Attn: Revenue Department (Room: 103)
320 Esplanade
Sydney, NS
B1P 7B9
How can I appeal my property assessment to lower my tax bill?
For inquiries regarding Assessment appeals contact, Province of Nova Scotia Assessment Office at 500 George Street, Sydney, N.S., phone number (902) 563-2150 or fax number (902)563-0513.
What is the deed transfer tax rate for CBRM?
Effective January 1st, 2003 - 1.5%
To view the current deed transfer tax policy for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, visit our policies page.
What is a tax sale?
Tax Sales are public auctions. Bidding starts at the amount of taxes due at the date of the sale. Bidding does not start at zero. We cannot accept partial payments or a percentage of the bid. Payment must be made in full.
A bidder must be present and can use one of the following methods of payment:
CashMoney OrderCertified ChequeLawyers Trust Cheque
If the property has six (6) years or less taxes owing, the property is subject to a six-month redemption. If the property has taxes owing over six (6) years, the deed is immediate.
If the successful bidder bids over the amount due, they have three (3) working days to submit the balance due.
You may view the Cape Breton Regional Municipality tax sales listings on our web site by clicking here.
How do I acquire a property at a tax sale?
To view information on the process of acquiring property at a tax sale, please click here.
When is the next tax sale?
Information on the next tax sale can be found by clicking here.
What is a property auction?
A property auction is the sale of properties not previously sold at three (3) prior tax sales.
How do I acquire a property at a property auction?
To view information on the process of acquiring property at a property auction, please click here.
When is the next property auction?
Information on the next property auction can be found by clicking here.
How do I get a new or confirm a civic house number?
To get a new civic house number or to confirm an existing one, please call the Cape Breton Regional Planning Department at (902) 563-5075.
Where can I purchase a civic house number for my home or business?
You can purchase civic house numbers for your home or business from a citizen service representative.
Sydney
320 Esplanade.
Phone: (902) 563-5080
How can I purchase CBRM-owned property?
To get information on purchasing CBRM-owned property contact Tara Olsvik, Legal Department at (902) 563-5045.
How can I rent CBRM-owned property?
To get information on renting CBRM-owned property, contact Tara Olsvik, Legal Department at (902) 563-5045.
Where can I purchase a dog tag?
Dog tags can be purchased at the SPCA office located at 401 East Broadway, Sydney, telephone 1-888-703-7722 or (902) 539-7722, fax (902) 539-7391, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Kennel licenses are also available at the SPCA and are valid from January 1 to December 31.
How often do I purchase a dog tag?
Dog tags must be purchased yearly and are valid from January 1 to December 31. For more information on dog tags, contact the local SPCA at telephone 1-888-703-7722 or (902) 539-7722, fax (902) 539-7391, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
What is the fee for a dog tag?
Dog tags cost $10.00 and are valid for one year.
Where can I pay my parking ticket?
You can pay parking tickets online by clicking here or at the citizen service centre:
Sydney
320 Esplanade.
Phone: (902) 563-5080
Who can I contact for parking ticket information?
To get parking ticket information, please contact the by-law division at (902)563-5091.
What is the bus schedule?
The current bus schedule can be found by clicking here.
Where can I purchase transit bus tickets?
Discount transit bus tickets can be purchased at any Shoppers Drug Mart location or at the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Citizen Service Centre.
Sydney
320 Esplanade.
Phone: (902) 563-5080
What is Seasonal Disinfection and where does CBRM do it?
Wastewater (sewage) treatment at the Dominion Wastewater Treatment Plant involves the following steps:
- Pre-treatment of wastewater to remove large items such as leaves, garbage, rags and sanitary products.
- Secondary wastewater treatment using biological processes to remove suspended solids and other oxygen depleting substances.
- The final step is inactivation of bacteria using ultraviolet (UV) light before releasing the treated water into the ocean.
Seasonal Disinfection involves turning off the UV system during the winter months from November 1st until April 30th and turning it back on in the warmer months. It is important to note that pre-treatment and secondary treatment continue all year.
Seasonal Disinfection is done only at the Dominion Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Why does CBRM do Seasonal Disinfection?
Ultraviolet Disinfection systems are large pieces of equipment that use a lot of electricity. Seasonal Disinfection was implemented to reduce plant operating costs and to decrease the carbon footprint of the facility by lowering the electricity consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
How do I contact CBRM Wastewater Operations with comments, questions or concerns about Seasonal Disinfection?
Residents can Contact CBRM to ask questions.