Property Tax Sale

The Municipal Government Act states that any property that has taxes outstanding for more than one year is eligible for a tax sale auction. It is mandatory for the Town of Wolfville to attempt to notify the owner as well as all lien holders of the property regarding the pending sale.  If the taxes remain unpaid, the property is advertised in the local paper prior to the tax sale. 

A tax sale is a public auction with the successful bid being the highest bid at or above the advertised price. The advertised price is the total of all outstanding taxes, lienable charges, penalties, interest, and tax sale costs. 

If the property has more than six years of outstanding taxes, the successful bidder will receive a Tax Sale Deed and become the new owner of the property. If the property is less than six years in arrears a Certificate of Sale is issued to the successful bidder and the owner or lien holder will have six months to redeem the property. Only at the end of the redemption period, if the property has not been redeemed, will title pass to the successful bidder.