The Amherst Town Council in Nova Scotia is changing its business tax rules, which will result in new commercial projects paying their full property taxes much faster. The move updates a program that has been in place since 2017 to help attract new businesses and construction to the area.
Starting May 1, 2026, the town will cut the time it takes for a new or expanded business to reach its full tax rate from 10 years down to five years. This means the discount period for new commercial construction will be half as long as it was under the previous rules.
The town is also adding a $100,000 yearly limit on how much tax money can be returned to developers through these incentive deals. Council members are set to meet at Town Hall to review these changes on March 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Business owners who already have signed tax agreements with the town will not see any changes, as those existing deals will be honored. The new rules will only apply to projects and agreements started after the May deadline.
This shift in policy will likely change how developers calculate their costs for future construction or expansion projects in the community.
