Municipal right of pre-emption

A pre-emption right means that the municipality has the first right to purchase real estate. If you wish to sell your home, building or land subject to a pre-emption right, you must first offer your real estate for sale to the municipality. The municipality then has the right of first refusal. Other government bodies may also hold a pre-emption right. 

What to do?

  • You notify the municipality that you wish to sell your real estate. Please include the cadastral designations and surface areas.
  • The municipality must let you know within 6 weeks whether it wishes to purchase. If the municipality does not respond within those 6 weeks, you are free to sell until 3 years thereafter.
  • If the municipality does not wish to purchase, you are permitted to sell your real estate to someone else once up to 3 years after this decision.
  • Have you reached an agreement with the municipality? Then you will enter into a purchase contract with the municipality.

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