Newfoundland and Labrador · Municipality of Conception Bay South

How to run for Council in Conception Bay South

A plain-English guide to the 2029 cycle — eligibility, deadlines, paperwork, and key local contacts for councillor candidates in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Election day: Tuesday, September 25, 2029
Population (2021)
27,168
Council seats
8 seats
Term
4 years
Wards
4

Step 1

Are you eligible?

On the day you file your nomination paper for councillor in Conception Bay South, you must be:

  • A Canadian citizen.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • A resident of Conception Bay South, OR a non-resident owner or tenant of land in Conception Bay South (or the spouse of one).
  • Not legally disqualified from running.
Common disqualifications include sitting judges, sitting MPs / Senators / MPPs (must resign before filing), municipal employees (must take an unpaid leave or resign), and people serving a sentence in a penal institution.

Step 2

What does the councillor do?

Councillors in Conception Bay South vote on by-laws, the annual budget, and local services like parks, transit, and zoning. They are the most direct point of contact between residents and city hall.

RoleSeatsTermNotes
At-Large Councillor44 yrsVoters pick up to 4 from a town-wide field.
Ward Councillor44 yrsOne per ward; ward-residency required.

Step 3

The nomination process

Filing happens at the town Returning Officer, in person during regular office hours and on nomination day until 2:00 PM. You'll need to bring:

  • Nomination paper, signed in the presence of the clerk or a commissioner of oaths.
  • 2 nominators (a proposer and a seconder) from eligible electors of Conception Bay South.
  • Government-issued photo ID showing your name and qualifying address.
  • Filing fee: $50 (cities) or $10 (towns).

Where to file

Town Hall, 1100 Conception Bay Highway, Manuels (CBS). Contact the Town Clerk's office at 709-834-6500 or `[email protected]`. By appointment during the 9 a.m.–4 p.m. window of the nomination period.

Step 4

Key dates — 2029 cycle

DateEvent
September 25, 2029Election day
October 15, 2029New term of council begins

Step 5

Campaign finance

NL has minimal province-wide campaign-finance regulation: only contributions over $100 must be disclosed, and defeated candidates do not file. St. John’s has its own stricter Election Finance By-Law.

Local

Specific to Conception Bay South

  • CBS's ward system is unusual for an NL town — the only other municipality with wards is St. John's. Most NL councils are at-large. The ward boundaries follow the historic communities (Manuels, Long Pond, Foxtrap, Kelligrews, Upper Gullies, Seal Cove) that amalgamated into CBS in 1973.
  • The town has been periodically discussed as a candidate for city status given its population, but has not pursued it.
  • Despite proximity to St. John's, CBS does not share St. John's stricter election-finance regime — corporate and union contributions are legal here.

Ballot

Other roles on the same ballot

Voters in Conception Bay South also choose:

  • Mayor — At-large, directly elected.
  • Deputy Mayor — Selected by Council from among councillors. **Not** on the ballot.

Sources

Official resources

Related guides

Also running in Conception Bay South?

Considering a different office? We have plain-English guides for every position on the Conception Bay South ballot:

This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Always confirm details with the town Returning Officer and the most recent provincial candidate guide before filing. Last reviewed 2026-05-01.

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