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Nova Scotia

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Some of the Nova Scotia laws that may apply when homeowners build, renovate or repair a home are listed below. Note that this listing is illustrative only and not intended as legal advice. If you are concerned about legal issues related to your home construction project, seek qualified legal advice.

Arbitration Act: Deals with arbitration of commercial matters and provides the procedure under which the arbitration takes place.

Building Code Act: Sets the standard that must be complied with in the course of construction of both commercial and residential building projects.

Commercial Arbitration Act: Deals with arbitration of commercial matters and provides the procedure under which the arbitration takes place.

Consumer Protection Act: Sets rules and regulations regarding the protection of consumers in relation to the provision of goods and services.

Creditors Relief Act: Establishes rules related to priorities in the event of fraud or improper payments, and the impact of bankruptcy and insolvency in these situations

Environment Act: Deals with environmental laws, including a homeowner's obligations to protect the environment and the consequences and impact of failing to comply with the rules and regulations.

Fire Safety Act: Sets out fire code rules and regulations and consequences of failure to comply.

Heritage Property Act: Outlines procedures to obtain approval for work on heritage properties that have be legally designated as such.

Insurance Act: Sets out rules and regulations regarding the insurance aspect of a contract that a homeowner may enter into with a contactor or a trades person, including the obligations regarding reporting of claims and the effect of failure to comply with those rules and regulations.

Labour Standards Code: Sets out minimum standards that must be met in the course of employment and in the course of termination of employment.

Mechanics' Lien Act: Sets out rules and regulations regarding protection of trades people in the event of non-payment and the ability to place liens on the property that was subject of the unpaid work.

Municipal Government Act: Establishes rules and regulations regarding the requirements for building permits and inspections.

Occupational Health and Safety Act: Sets up rules related to workplace safety, including an owner's responsibility to ensure a safe work environment and the consequences of failure to do so.

Personal Property Security Act: Sets up rules regarding the taking of security to ensure payments and priorities of payment among various classes of secured and unsecured creditors.

Sale of Goods Act: Sets out common law representations and warranties required to be provided to consumers by manufacturers of goods.

Sales Tax Act: Establishes requirement to collect and remit sales tax in connection with the purchase of goods and services.

Tortfeasors Act: Deals with situations where a homeowner may be considered negligent through the actions of a third party contractor or trades person, and the consequences of being found contributorily negligent.

Unconscionable Transactions Relief Act: Provides for a remedy in the event of fraud or unconscionable action by contractor or trades person.

Workers' Compensation Act: Sets out rules related to workplace safety, including the owner's responsibility to ensure a safe work environment and the consequences of failure to do so. Additionally, provides the framework for obtaining compensation in such cases.