A bill that would allow municipalities to impose a levy on owners of vacant properties is something New Brunswick municipalities have sought for a long time, says Local Government Minister Aaron Kennedy.
Minister says proposed levy would be voluntary for municipalities
Hannah Rudderham · CBC News
· Posted: Nov 12, 2026 10:57 AM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
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Brent Harris, a former Saint John councillor, co-founded Vacant 2 Vibrant, a non-profit that works to acquire empty and often dilapidated residential properties and bring them back to life. He welcomed the proposed amendment. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
A bill that would allow municipalities to impose a levy on owners of vacant properties is something New Brunswick municipalities have sought for a long time, says Local Government Minister Aaron Kennedy.
The proposed amendment to the Local Governance Act is designed primarily to encourage the creation of housing, Kennedy said in an interview.
A vacant property refers to property within a local municipality that is unoccupied or unused, whether buildings or just land.
A vacant property levy would be an option available only to the 77 local governments in New Brunswick,
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