Department of Justice Security (Private) Company Permit

Department of Justice

Private Guard, Private Investigator, Armoured Vehicle License (Company)
Who Needs This Permit?
  Any person who wants to engage in, carry on, advertise or hold themselves out as carrying on the business or practice of providing private investigators, private guards or armed guards, or act as a private investigator, private guard or armed guard in Nova Scotia.
Issuing Department / Agency:
  N.S. Department of Justice, Public Safety and Security Division, Security Programs Office
Where can you get this Permit and / or further information?
 

Contact:

Security Programs Office
Public Safety and Security Division
N.S. Department of Justice
 

Phone:

902-424-2905
or toll free 1-888-760-5577

 

E-mail:

SECPROG@novascotia.ca
 

Website:

 http://novascotia.ca/just/public_safety/private_security.asp
 

Visit:

1681 Granville Street, Ground Floor
Halifax, NS
 

Write:

PO Box 7
Halifax, NS  B3J 2L6
 

Fax:

902-424-0700
Application Forms & Process:
 

Application forms can be obained from our website noted above.

Any individual, partnership or corporation may be licensed to provide private investigators and/or private guards or armed guard for hire, if the applicant meets the following requirements.

Applicants must:

  • be at least 19 years of age;
  • be a Canadian citizen or a person legally entitled to work in Canada;
  • not be an active regular member of a police service with peace officer status;
  • maintain a physical location of business in the Province;
  • have no disqualifying criminal history,
  • company name must be approved by the Department of Justice, Security Programs Office, prior to being registered with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies.

The business application must be submitted on the prescribed from.  Incomplete forms will be returned.  Applications must be accompanied by:

  • evidence of comprehensive liability insurance;
  • applicable licensing fee;
  • colored photographs or a written description of an example of each type of uniform to be used by the private guard or armoured vehicle business;
  • colored photographs or a written description of an example of each type of vehicle to be used by the private guard or armoured vehicle business;
  • a copy of the business' certificate of registration under the Partnerships and Business Name Registration Act, or certificate of incorporation under the Companies Act; 
  • a description of the scope of your business activities, which includes a copy of your business policy and training plan.

All uniforms and/or vehicles used by a business providing armed guards and/or private guards must be approved by the licensing authority and must meet all uniform and vehicle requirements.
Waiting Period:
  An original application shall be reviewed and a determination made within 10-15 business days after a complete application has been received. An application is considered complete when all materials necessary to make a determination on the application and all requested materials have been received.
Expiry & Renewal:
  Every license and renewal of a license expires on March 31 of each year unless suspended or revoked prior to expiry.  A renewal notice is sent out to the company before the license expires.
Price & Payment:  (No tax is charged)
 

Application fees for licenses are payable to the “Minister of Finance” by cheque, money order or cash (in person only)..

Application fees for licenses are processing fees and are non-refundable and non-transferrable.

Initial application and annual renewal

- application to engage in the business of providing private investigator, private guards or armed guards for hire $397.45

- application to engage in the business of providing private investigators and private guards for hire $771.25

Related Requirements:
  The company must be registered with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
Additional Information:
 

The proposed business name must be first approved by the Registrar.

Must have no disqualifying criminal history

(Armoured car companies must also adhere to the Firearms Act and apply for a firearms business).

Legislative Authority:
 

Private Investigators and Private Guards Act, Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, Chapter 356, and Regulations

Private Investigators and Private Guards Regulations

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