Frequently Asked Questions
Property Assessments
A property assessment is an estimate of a property’s market value as of a certain date. Although the municipality charges property taxes, Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC) is responsible for determining your assessment. The municipality is not involved in any way.
What do I do with my assessment notice?
It is not necessary to do anything with it if you agree with the assessed value. If, however, you believe the assessed value is not a reasonable estimate then you can contact Property Valuation Services Corporation at 1-800-380-7775 or follow the instructions on the back of the notice if you wish to appeal.
Can I view my property assessment information online?
Property owners can view detailed information on their assessment by accessing their “My Property Report” on www.pvsc.ca using their Assessment Account Number (AAN) and PIN access number.
Should I expect my assessment notice to increase or decrease from year to year?
The assessed value of your property will reflect the property sales in your neighbourhood and factors which may enhance or detract from your property’s value.
I appealed my assessment last year. Is the change reflected in this year’s assessment?
The assessed values are based upon market value data as of a certain date. The value is calculated each year using a new date every year. Contact Property Valuation Services Corporation at 1-800-380-7775 to inquire how your appealed assessment last year relates to your current assessment.
How will my assessment affect my property tax bill?
The Municipality of the County of Inverness will set a tax rate each year which will be multiplied by your taxable assessed value (capped amount or market value) per $100 of assessment to determine your property tax. Your annual tax bill is generated in June and will reflect the actual current year’s tax rate multiplied by the current year’s taxable assessed value minus the Interim bill amount.
Property Taxes
When is my property tax bill due?
Property tax bills are due the last Friday in August ach year. A penalty of one percent per month is applied to outstanding amounts.
How is the property tax rate calculated?
The Municipality’s budget must be approved by Council to determine the amount of money that is required to support each service (general government, protective services, transportation, education, recreation, waste management, etc ). The rate is determined by dividing the total money required by the total taxable assessment within the Municipality of the County of Inverness. There is a general rate, as well as area rates.
Where do my property taxes go?
Property taxes and area rates (sewer, fire department services) are the main source of revenue for the municipality. To learn more about where this revenue goes, check out the Municipal Budget 2025-2026 fact sheet.
Water Utility Bill
When is my water bill due?
Water utility bills are sent out every three months, March, June, September, and December and due within 30 days. A penalty of one percent (1%) per month is applied to outstanding amounts.
How is the water utility bill calculated?
Water rates are set by the Nova Scotia Energy and Regulatory Board. View the current water rates (see page 8). Your bill is based on how much water you use during each billing cycle.
Land Registration
For all land registration matters, visit Land and property – Government of Nova Scotia
Civic Addresses and Building/Permit Inspectors
For residents of the Municipality of Inverness County, these services are provided by Eastern District Planning Commission (EDPC).
Eastern District Planning Commission’s (EDPC) role:
EDPC supports residents through various stages of the building and development process, including the following services:
- Land Use Planning: Developing and implementing Municipal Planning Strategies and Land Use Bylaws to guide community development.
- Subdivision Approval: Ensuring legal compliance for land subdivision, including lot creation and consolidation.
- Building and Fire Inspection: Conducting inspections to ensure safety and compliance with building codes.
- Civic Addressing: Assigning and managing civic addresses for properties.
To get in touch with your local planning and development staff, civic address coordinator, or building inspector, visit the Eastern District Planning Commission contact page.