Nova Scotia Property Tax Rates, 2026
Residential rates by city, with the change from 2025
In 2026, residential property tax rates in the 2 Nova Scotia cities below run from 1.1350% in Halifax to 1.9360% in Cape Breton Regional Municipality. On a home assessed at $500,000, that is $5,675 to $9,680 a year. Compared with 2025, the rate went up in 1 of 2 cities; the median change was +0.9%.
Rates by city
| City | 2026 Rate | 2025 Rate | Change | Tax on $500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax | 1.1350% | 1.1150% | +1.8% | $5,675 |
| Cape Breton Regional Municipality | 1.9360% | 1.9360% | 0% | $9,680 |
Each rate is the total on a home's bill as a share of its assessed value: the city's own rate, any regional or county rate, and the education or school tax. Each city's page breaks it down and links to the city's published rates.
How homes are assessed in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia reassesses homes every year (2026 bills use January 1, 2025 values). A resident-owned home's assessment can rise only with inflation (2.6% for 2026), but the cap ends after a sale, so a buyer pays tax on the home's full market value. The tax is the assessed value times the rate, so compare bills, not only rates, between provinces.
Nova Scotia Property Tax: Quick Answers
Which Nova Scotia city has the lowest property tax rate?
Of the 2 cities on this page, Halifax at 1.1350%, then Cape Breton Regional Municipality (1.9360%).
Which Nova Scotia city has the highest property tax rate?
Cape Breton Regional Municipality at 1.9360%, then Halifax (1.1350%).
Does a lower rate mean a lower property tax bill in Nova Scotia?
Not always: the bill is the rate times the assessed value, so a city with a low rate and expensive homes can charge more per home than one with a higher rate. Nova Scotia reassesses homes every year (2026 bills use January 1, 2025 values). A resident-owned home's assessment can rise only with inflation (2.6% for 2026), but the cap ends after a sale, so a buyer pays tax on the home's full market value.
Work out your own numbers
- Property tax estimator: the tax on your home's assessed value
- Annual cost of ownership calculator: property tax with insurance, utilities and upkeep
- Understanding property taxes before you buy
- Income needed to buy a home in each city, with property tax in the monthly cost
Other provinces
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