Department of Justice Firearms and Ammunition Dealer and Museum Business Licence
Department of Justice

Firearms and Ammunition Dealer and Museum Business: Licence

Who Needs This Licence?

Anyone in Nova Scotia who wants to:

  1. sell firearms and / or ammunition as a business.
  2. operate a firearms museum as a business.
  3. operate a gunsmithing service (do business as a gunsmith).
Issuing Department / Agency:
N.S. Department of Justice, Provincial Firearms Office
Where can you get this Licence and / or further information?
Contact: Nova Scotia Provincial Firearms Office
Public Safety and Security Division
N.S. Department of Justice
Phone: 902-424-6689 / 1-800-731-4000 extension 6505
  E-mail: nscfo@novascotia.ca
Write: PO Box 7
Halifax, NS  B3J 2L6
Fax: 902-424-4308
Application Forms & Process:
An application form can be obtained from the Provincial Firearms Office (see above). When completed, is should be mailed to the Office, along with the applicable fee (see Price, below). (Send a money order or a chqeque made out to the Receiver General of Canada.

Before a licence can be issued, the business premises have to be inspected by a Firearms Officer from the N.S. Department of Justice. (Ammunition dealers are exempted).

If all requirements are met and the application is approved, the licence will be sent to the applicant by mail.

Waiting Period:
No more than 15 working days, once all items which must accompany the application have been received, and all requirements have been met. Allow several additional days for mailing time, coming and going.
Expiry & Renewal:

A firearms business licence is valid for 3 years and can be renewed. A business that sells only ammunition licence is valid for 5 years and can be renewed. The Department will send out a renewal notice before the licence expires.
Price:  (No tax is charged)
Initial Application and Annual Renewal
  1. Selling at retail fewer than 50 firearms, other than restricted weapons:
          $125

  2. Selling at retail 50 or more firearms, other than restricted weapons:
          $250

  3. Selling at retail fewer than 50 firearms, including restricted weapons:
          $325

  4. Selling at retail 50 or more firearms, including restricted weapons:
          $450

  5. Selling at retail and wholesale restricted weapons or firearms:
          $950

  6. Manufacturing restricted weapons or firearms:
          $1075

  7. Repairing, altering or modifying restricted weapons or firearms:
          $100

  8. Taking restricted weapons or firearms in pawn:
          $210

  9. Manufacturing ammunition:
          $625

  10. Buying ammunition for selling at wholesale or selling ammunition at wholesale:
          $625

  11. Buying ammunition for selling at retail or selling at retail ammunition:
          $25

  12. Museum Possessing Firearms:
    1. 19 or less    $40
    2. 20 to 49      $60
    3. 50 or more   $150
  13. Storing firearms or restricted weapons:
          $000
Related Requirements:
  1. NS Business Registration (Registry of Joint Stock Companies
      
  2. Municipality: Proper zoning for business
     
  3. Inspection of premises by a Firearms Officer from the N.S. Department of Justice.
Additional Information:
For information on the Canadian Firearms Act and its Regulations, visit the Canadian Firearms Centre website, or call this toll-free number: 1-800-731-4000.
Legislative Authority:

Criminal Code of Canada

The federal Firearms Act & Regulations.

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