#74 Why We Can't Build The Housing We Need

Why aren't we building more housing in Nova Scotia when we desperately need it? In this episode of Builder By Day, I explain how the building permit and development approval process actually works in Halifax Regional Municipality, from applying for a permit to navigating municipal zoning restrictions and development agreements. Using a simple example of a landowner who wants to build housing on five acres, I walk through what happens when municipal regulations don't allow the type or number of homes that could otherwise be built on the property. We look at the professional fees, financial risks, lengthy approval timelines and uncertainty that landowners, builders and developers face when trying to get permission to build.After more than 20 years in home building, real estate and land development in Nova Scotia, I've seen firsthand how these restrictions affect the cost and availability of housing.We don't have a shortage of builders willing to build housing. We have a shortage of permission to build it.