Municipal Services
Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program
- Created: Thursday, 09 October 2025 16:27
The Municipality offers a Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program to help property owners improve or establish reliable water sources on their properties.
Launched in 2017, this program allows owners of qualifying properties within the municipality to apply for financing through the Municipality to complete approved water supply upgrades.
Eligible projects may include:
- Construction of a new dug or drilled well
- Upgrades to existing wells to improve water sourcing
- Installation of cisterns or fog water collection systems
- Greywater collection or other approved water conservation and storage systems
These upgrades aim to ensure residents have safe and dependable water access while encouraging sustainable water use.
For more information about the Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program or to learn how to apply, you can view our bylaw here: https://barringtonmunicipality.com/2721-by-law-no-37-water-supply-upgrade-lending-program/file or contact the municipal office at 902-637-2015.
Snow and Ice Clearing and Maintenance
- Created: Wednesday, 03 September 2025 12:49
The Municipality of Barrington has a Snow and Ice Clearing and Maintenance By-law (By-law No. 41) to help keep our roads, sidewalks, and critical infrastructure safe and clear during the winter months.
This by-law explains what property owners are responsible for, what the Municipality can do when problems occur, and what the penalties are for not following the rules.
This by-law is important because it helps keep our community safe and accessible during the winter months. By making sure snow and ice are not pushed onto municipal roads, sidewalks, or wastewater lift stations, it reduces dangerous conditions for drivers and pedestrians, prevents accidents, and ensures sidewalks remain usable. It also allows emergency vehicles and municipal crews to do their work without being blocked, which is especially critical during storms.
Property Owner Responsibilities
- Do not push or place snow and ice from your driveway, yard, or private road onto municipal roads, sidewalks, or wastewater lift station doors.
- Keep sidewalks safe by avoiding snow or ice buildup. Icicles on eaves and gutters should not be allowed to become a hazard to pedestrians.
- If snow or ice from your property ends up on a municipal road or sidewalk, you will be asked to remove it. If it isn’t cleared, the Municipality may remove it and charge the costs back to you.
Parking During Winter Maintenance
- Vehicles cannot be parked or left on municipal roads in a way that blocks or slows down snowplows and winter maintenance crews.
- If a vehicle is in the way, the owner will be asked to move it.
- If the vehicle is not moved, or if the owner cannot be contacted, it may be towed and impounded at the owner’s expense.
- In urgent situations, vehicles may be towed without notice.
Sidewalk Closures
If sidewalks become unsafe because of snow or ice, the Municipality may temporarily close them until conditions improve.
Treated Wood Disposal Ban
- Created: Wednesday, 06 December 2023 11:38
As of July 5, 2023, treated wood is banned from disposal at C&D debris disposal cells by the Province of Nova Scotia as specified in the Solid Waste Resource Management Regulations.
For the 1st year, C&D debris facility operators will be providing education to residents and commercial haulers on why treated wood has been banned. Enforcement of the disposal ban will commence on July 5th, 2024.
Treated wood has been banned from disposal at C&D sites by the Province of Nova Scotia to help prevent contamination of groundwater and surface water, because:
- Disposal cells can have large volumes of treated wood. A typical deck on a home requires about 1 tonne of treated wood, while a disposal facility can receive 100s of tonnes of treated wood each year.
- Over time, as treated wood decays, the chemicals that are used to preserve the wood can be released.
- Municipal solid waste landfills cells are built to prevent leakage and to detect contaminated water leakage. Contaminated water is collected and is treated before discharge into the environment. C&D debris disposal cells are not built to this same standard.
It is recommended that you keep treated wood separate during a construction, renovation, or demolition project. This will make it easier to manage and may reduce your disposal costs.
If treated wood is in good condition, think about reusing it. Burning of treated wood is not permitted.
If you have to dispose of treated wood, contact us for further information at 902-637-2322, before you bring it to us. At this time, no final decision has been made but we may still accept treated wood for shipment to landfill. However, we may require you to separate out treated wood from other wood and C&D debris and/or pay an additional tipping fee.
Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO)
- Created: Tuesday, 15 August 2023 16:45
The Shelburne County Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO) plays a key role in helping our communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. REMO is a regional partnership between the Municipality of Barrington, the Town of Clark's Harbour, the Municipality of Shelburne, the Town of Shelburne, and the Town of Lockeport, operating under the Nova Scotia Emergency Management Act.
By working together at a regional level, the participating municipalities and towns are better able to coordinate resources, share information, and respond effectively when emergencies affect more than one community.
What REMO Does
Shelburne County REMO is responsible for regional emergency planning and coordination. This includes developing and maintaining emergency management plans, identifying local and regional risks, and working closely with first responders, municipal staff, provincial agencies, and community partners. REMO supports municipalities before, during, and after emergencies to help ensure a coordinated and effective response.
Emergencies can take many forms, including severe weather events, flooding, hurricanes, wildfires, extended power outages, hazardous material incidents, or other situations that pose a risk to public safety, property, or the environment.
Emergency Preparedness
Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility. While REMO works with municipalities and response agencies to plan for emergencies, residents also play an important role in being prepared. REMO supports preparedness efforts by promoting awareness, encouraging household emergency planning, and helping ensure municipalities are ready to respond when needed.
Residents are encouraged to have an emergency plan in place and to keep an emergency kit with enough supplies to support their household for at least 72 hours.
During an Emergency
When a significant emergency occurs, Shelburne County REMO may activate an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The EOC provides a central location for coordinating response efforts, sharing information, and supporting decision-making across municipalities and agencies. This helps ensure that actions taken during an emergency are timely, organized, and focused on protecting public safety.
During emergencies, residents should rely on official communication channels for accurate and up-to-date information. Public updates may be shared through municipal websites, social media accounts, local media, and official emergency alerts when required.
Recovery and Community Support
After an emergency, REMO continues to work with municipal and provincial partners to support recovery efforts. This may include coordinating damage assessments, helping communities access recovery programs and services, and supporting a safe return to normal operations. Recovery can take time, and REMO’s role is to help ensure that municipalities and residents are supported throughout that process.
Working Together
Shelburne County REMO works closely with the Nova Scotia Department of Emergency Management, fire services, police, emergency medical services, public works, utilities, and volunteer organizations. This collaborative approach strengthens regional preparedness and helps ensure a consistent and effective response across Shelburne County.
Extreme Weather Preparation
If an emergency happens, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.
Learn how quick and easy it is to become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere by using this guide to create your own emergency plan. Use the checklists to build a 72-hour emergency kit. These basic steps will help you take care of yourself and your loved ones during an emergency.
There are also emergency preparedness guides available for persons with disabilities and older adults living in Nova Scotia. These guides can help you to be ready in case a disaster or an emergency happens here. Here they are:
- Emergency Preparedness Guide for Persons with Disabilities and Older Adults in Nova Scotia
- Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs
There are also simple and inexpensive actions that can be taken to adapt to climate change and mitigate its impact on your safety and property. Here are five infographics outlining simple, easy to implement mitigation strategies to address the threat of extreme heat, flooding, and wildfires.
- Steps to Cost Effective Apartment Heat Protection
- Steps to Cost Effective Home Heat Protection
- Steps to a Cost Effective FireSmart Home
- Wildfire Ready Community
- Steps to Cost Effective Home Flood Protection
Wildfire-Ready
Here are two plain language, image-based infographics, designed to help with the implementation of practical actions tht can be taken to be wildfire ready:
Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program
In response to drought conditions experienced in our area in the fall of 2016, the Province amended the MGA to allow municipalities the power to lend money for new wells and cisterns.
We offer a Water Supply Upgrade Lending Program which allows residents to borrow money from the Municipality to construct a new dug or drilled well or upgrade an existing well that is required to source water. The maximum lending amount is $15,000 and it is repayable up to a maximum of 10 years at a 3% interest rate.
The by-law regulating the program can also be accessed here for more information: https://barringtonmunicipality.com/2721-by-law-no-37-water-supply-upgrade-lending-program/file.
Nova Scotia Guard
 |
The Nova Scotia Guard was created so that Nova Scotians can be prepared for the challenges we face today and is comprised of volunteers who are committed to supporting the work of first responders and assisting their communities when they need it the most.
No matter your skills or background, there is a role for every Nova Scotian in the Guard.
To learn more about the Guard, visit https://nsguard.ca/. |