This consolidation is unofficial and is for reference only. For the official version of the regulations, consult the original documents on file with the Registry of Regulations, or refer to the Royal Gazette Part II. Regulations are amended frequently. Please check the list of Regulations by Act to see if there are any recent amendments to these regulations filed with the Registry that are not yet included in this consolidation. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this electronic version, the Registry of Regulations assumes no responsibility for any discrepancies that may have resulted from reformatting. This electronic version is copyright © 2009, Province of Nova Scotia, all rights reserved. It is for your personal use and may not be copied for the purposes of resale in this or any other form.
Traffic Signs Regulations made under Section 88 of the
Motor Vehicle Act
R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 293
N.S. Reg. 47/2001 (April 30, 2001)
as amended by N.S. Reg. 154/2005 (July 21, 2005)
The Minister of Transportation and Public Works pursuant to Section 88 of Chapter 293 of the Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, the Motor Vehicle Act, is pleased to revoke N.S. Reg. 65/98, and hereby determines the following with respect to traffic signs:
1 Where traffic signs are hereafter erected for the purposes for which the several signs set out in the Schedule hereto are designed, the signs shall be of the shapes and colours, shall bear the lettering or message and shall be of the minimum dimensions indicated in the Schedule for the several signs there depicted and shall otherwise comply with the specifications hereinafter set out.
2 After the lst day of June, 2001, no sign of a type depicted in the Schedule hereto shall be erected or maintained unless the sign is of the shape, colour, and dimensions and bears the message or lettering indicated in the Schedule and otherwise complies with the specifications hereinafter set out.
3 Notwithstanding Sections 1 and 2, those School Zone & End School Area signs identified as WC-1 and R-102, in the Order of the Minister of Transportation and Communications with respect to traffic signs, effective September 9, 1998, may be maintained until the 30th day of June, 2002.
[3A] Notwithstanding Sections 1 and 2, the Stop Here on Red Signal sign identified as R-104 in the regulations respecting traffic signs, N.S. Reg. 47/2001, made by the Minister of Transportation and Public Works on April 30, 2001, may be maintained until the 31st day of March, 2007.
Section 3A added: N.S. Reg. 154/2005.4 After the lst day of September 2005, no sign of a type similar to RA-5 shall be permitted to be displayed unless the sign is of the shape, colour, dimensions, and bears the symbol indicated in the Schedule and otherwise complies with the specifications hereinafter set out.
5 RA-1: "STOP" signs shall have a red background with white letters and border. Lettering on "STOP" signs shall be no less than 20 centimetres in height.
RA-2: "YIELD" signs shall have white background with red band.
RA-3: "SCHOOL CROSSWALK" signs shall be rectangular in shape with a black symbol of two pedestrians on a white background with a black border. The symbol shall be oriented to face the roadway.
RA-4: "PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK" signs shall be rectangular in shape with a black symbol of a pedestrian on a white background with a black border. The pedestrian symbol on the sign shall be oriented to face the roadway.
RA-5: "PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK" overhead sign shall be rectangular in shape with a white symbol of a pedestrian on a black background with a white border. The pedestrian symbol on the sign shall be oriented to face the roadway. The sign may be internally illuminated.
RA-8: "CROSS ONLY AT CROSSWALKS" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
RA-9: "NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
RB-1: "MAXIMUM SPEED" signs shall have a white background with black letters and numerals. The numerals show the maximum speed in kilometres per hour at which the driver of a vehicle is permitted to drive the vehicle.
RB-2: "TRUCKS MAXIMUM SPEED" signs shall have a white background with black letters and numerals. The numerals show the maximum speed in kilometres per hour at which the driver of a truck is permitted to drive the truck.
RB-3: "NIGHT SPEED" signs shall have a black background with white letters and numerals. The numerals show the maximum speed in kilometres per hour at which a driver of a vehicle is permitted to drive the vehicle at night.
RB-4: "MINIMUM SPEED" signs shall have a white background with black letters and numerals. The numerals show the minimum speed in kilometres per hour at which a driver of a vehicle is permitted to drive the vehicle.
RB-5: "MAXIMUM SPEED AHEAD" signs shall have a white background with black arrow and numerals. The numerals show the maximum speed in kilometres per hour at which a driver of a vehicle is permitted to drive the vehicle in a speed zone, in advance of which the sign is placed.
RB-11 to RB-16A Inclusive: "TURN CONTROL" signs shall be of two kinds. First, RB-11, RB-12, RB-16 and RB- 16A are "PROHIBITIVE TURN CONTROL" signs and shall have a red circle and diagonal superimposed over a black arrow on a white background. Where an RB-11, RB-12, RB-16 or RB-16A "PROHIBITIVE TURN CONTROL" sign is used, traffic approaching the face of the sign shall not turn in the direction shown by the black arrow on the sign except for public transit vehicles or authorized vehicles exempted from compliance with the sign in accordance with an "EXCEPT BUSES" sign (R-106) or an "EXCEPT AUTHORIZED VEHICLES" sign (R-107) appended to or placed beneath the "PROHIBITIVE TURN CONTROL" sign. Second, RB-13, RB-14, RB-15 and RB-15A "RESTRICTIVE TURN CONTROL" signs shall have a green circle circumscribing a black arrow or arrows on a white background. Where an RB-13, RB-14, RB-15 or RB-15A "RESTRICTIVE TURN CONTROL" sign is used, traffic shall turn or travel only in the direction or directions shown by the black arrow or arrows on the sign except for public transit vehicles or authorized vehicles exempted from compliance with the sign in accordance with an "EXCEPT BUSES" sign (R-106) or an "EXCEPT AUTHORIZED VEHICLES" sign (R- 107) appended to or placed beneath the "RESTRICTIVE TURN CONTROL" sign.
RB-17: "NO RIGHT TURN ON RED" signs, RB-17 shall be a symbolic sign with a red circle and diagonal superimposed over a black arrow. Located below the red circle shall be a black traffic signal head showing a red display. The sign shall have a white background. RB-17 shall indicate to a motorist facing a traffic signal head showing a red display that he cannot make a right turn when a red light is displayed. RB-17 may be supplemented by the R-105 "EXCEPT WITH GREEN ARROW" sign.
RB-17L: "NO LEFT TURN ON RED" signs shall have a red circle and diagonal superimposed over a black arrow. Located below the red circle shall be a black traffic signal head showing a red display. The sign shall have a white background. The sign is to indicate to a motorist facing a traffic signal head showing a red display that they cannot make a left turn when a red light is displayed. A RB-17L sign may be supplemented by the R-105 "EXCEPT WITH GREEN ARROW" sign, installed as a tab beneath or forming part of the no left turn on red sign.
RB-17L added: N.S. Reg. 154/2005.RB-21: "ONE WAY" signs shall have a white arrow on a black background.
RB-23: "DO NOT ENTER" signs shall have a red circle with a white horizontal slot in the center of the circle on a white background.
RB-24: "TWO WAY TRAFFIC" signs shall have black symbols and arrows on a white background.
RB-25: "KEEP RIGHT" signs shall have a black symbol and black arrow on a white background. Traffic proceeding beyond this sign shall travel to the right of the sign.
RB-31: "DO NOT PASS" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing two black vehicle symbols with a red diagonal stroke on a white background.
RB-31A: "DO NOT PASS HERE TO CROSSWALK" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing two black vehicle symbols with a red diagonal stroke on a white background. Below the symbol is the worded message "DO NOT PASS HERE TO CROSSWALK" with black letters on a white background.
RB-32: "PASSING PERMITTED" signs shall have a green circle circumscribing two black vehicle symbols on a white background.
RB-34: "KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
RB-36: "YIELD CENTRE LANE TO OPPOSING TRAFFIC" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
RB-41L, RB-41R, RB-42L, RB-42R, RB-43, RB-44, RB-45, RB-48: "OVERHEAD LANE CONTROL" signs shall have a white arrow or arrows on a black background. Where an "OVERHEAD LANE CONTROL" sign is erected over a marked lane for traffic, traffic shall proceed in the direction or directions shown by the arrow or arrows on the sign.
RB-46A, RB-46B, RB-46L, RB-46R, RB-47A, RB-47B, RB-47C, RB-47D, RB-47E, RB-47L, RB-47R, RB-49: "SIDE MOUNTED LANE CONTROL" signs shall have white arrows on a black background separated by white dash line. Where a "SIDE MOUNTED LANE CONTROL" sign is erected on the side of the roadway, traffic must proceed in the direction that the sign indicates for their lane.
RB-51, RB-51A, RB-52, RB-52A: "NO PARKING" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing a black letter "P" on a white background with a red diagonal superimposed over the letter "P". The signs may have one or two arrows pointing in the direction or directions in which parking is prohibited and may have words in black letter showing where parking is prohibited such as "ON PAVEMENT", "NEXT THREE KILOMETRES", "WITHIN THREE METRES OF PAVEMENT". The signs may show in black letters and numerals the hours of the day and the days of the week during which parking is prohibited and may contain in black letters words such as "BUS STOP", "TAXI STAND", "LOADING ZONE", "EXCEPT POLICE VEHICLES" or other matters deemed necessary by the traffic authority under the authority of which the sign is erected.
RB-52B: "ACCESSIBLE PARKING" signs shall have a white background with red circle circumscribing a black letter "P" with a red diagonal superimposed over the letter "P"; a white and blue handicapped person symbol and in black letters the words "ACCESSIBLE PARKING BY PERMIT ONLY". The signs may have one or two arrows pointing in the direction or directions in which parking is prohibited. The signs may show in black letters and numerals the length of time, the hours of day and days of the week during which a person is permitted to park in an "ACCESSIBLE PARKING" zone a vehicle on which is displayed an identification issued pursuant to the regulations respecting identification permits for vehicles transporting handicapped persons.
RB-53, RB-54: "PARKING PERMITTED" signs shall have a green circle circumscribing a black letter "P" on a white background. The signs may have one or two arrows pointing in a direction or directions in which parking is permitted. The signs may show in black letters and numerals the length of time, hours of the day, or days of the week for which parking is permitted.
RB-55, RB-55A, RB-56, RB-57, RB-57A: "NO STOPPING" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing a symbol of black octagon on a white background with a red diagonal superimposed over the symbol of the octagon. The signs may have one or two black arrows pointing in the direction in which stopping is prohibited and may have words in black letters showing where stopping is prohibited such as "ON PAVEMENT", "NEXT THREE KILOMETRES", "WITHIN THREE METRES OF PAVEMENT". The signs may show in black letters and numerals the hours of the day and days of the week during which stopping is prohibited.
RB-61: "TRUCK ROUTE" signs shall have a green circle circumscribing a black truck symbol on a white background.
RB-61S-A, RB-61S-B, RB-61S-C: "TRUCK ROUTE ARROWS" signs shall have a black arrow or arrows on a white background or a white arrow or arrows on a black background. The signs may have black words, letters and numerals on a white background or white words, letters and numerals on a black background, showing the hours of the day and days of the week during which trucks are allowed to operate on the highway. The signs shall be used as a tab beneath or form part of a "TRUCK ROUTE" sign (RB-61) and trucks shall proceed or travel only in the direction or directions shown by the arrow or arrows on the signs and only during the period of time shown on the signs.
RB-62: "TRUCK PROHIBITION" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing a black truck symbol on a white background with a red diagonal superimposed over the truck symbol. Where the sign is erected, trucks having a registered weight in excess of three thousand kilograms shall not use the highway except for local delivery service.
RB-63: "WEIGHT LIMIT CONTROL" signs shall have black letters and numerals on a white background. The numerals on the sign show the maximum gross vehicle weight in tonnes permitted on a highway.
RB-63A: "BRIDGE WEIGHT RESTRICTION" signs shall have black letters and numerals on a white background with a black border. The sign is used to prohibit trucks that exceed the gross vehicle weight or axle weights shown from using the particular bridge. The sign indicates the maximum allowable loading for a variety of axle weights.
RB-63A added: N.S. Reg. 154/2005.RB-65: "SNOW VEHICLE PROHIBITION" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing a symbol in black of a snow vehicle on a white background with a red diagonal superimposed over the snow vehicle symbol.
RB-66: "NO PEDESTRIANS" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing a symbol in black of a walking pedestrian on a white background with a red diagonal superimposed over the pedestrian symbol.
RB-67: "CYCLING PROHIBITED" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing a symbol in black of a bicycle on a white background with a red diagonal superimposed over the bicycle symbol.
RB-68: "SHARED SIDEWALK" signs shall have a green circle circumscribing symbols in black of a walking pedestrian and of a bicycle on a white background. The words ‘SHARED SIDEWALK" shall be black. The "SHARED SIDEWALK" sign indicates that cyclists and pedestrians are permitted to use the sidewalk as determined by the Traffic Authority for the area.
R-69: "DANGEROUS GOODS ROUTE" signs shall have a green circle circumscribing a black diamond symbol on a white background.
RB-70: "DANGEROUS GOODS PROHIBITION" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing a black diamond symbol on a white background with a red diagonal superimposed over the diamond symbol. Where the sign is erected, dangerous goods carriers are prohibited from travelling upon the street or highway.
RB-80, RB-80A, RB-81, RB-81A: "RESERVED LANE" signs shall have a symbol in black of a bus, taxi, high occupancy vehicle (‘HOV’) or bicycle, or some combination of those, on a white background with a black border, together with a white diamond symbol on a black rectangular area in the upper left-hand corner of the sign. The signs shall also have a black arrow to indicate the lane that is reserved. An HOV is a motor vehicle carrying 2 or more persons and includes, without limitation, vehicles involved in car pooling and van pooling arrangements. The number marked within the HOV symbol represents the minimum number of occupants required for the vehicle to qualify as an HOV for that particular lane. A reserved lane may be a designated lane on a freeway or other highway, or on a street, or may comprise the entirety of a road. Reserved lane signs for lanes intended to be reserved only on particular days and between particular hours shall show those days or hours in black letters and numbers. Reserved lane signs indicate that lanes are reserved for use by specific vehicles, such as buses, taxis, HOVs and bicycles. When 1 or 2 vehicle symbols are to be displayed, the RB-80 or RB-81 sign must be used. When 3 or more vehicle symbols are to be displayed, the RB-80A or RB-81A sign must be used. RB-80 and RB-80A signs must be installed directly above the lane that is reserved and RB-81 and RB-81A signs must be installed adjacent to the lane that is reserved. The symbols, dates and times displayed on the signs are determined by the traffic authority under whose authority the signs are erected.
RB-80, RB-80A, RB-81, RB-81A added: N.S. Reg. 154/2005.RB-80S1, RB-80S2: "BEGIN AND END SIGNS FOR RESERVED LANES" shall have black letters on a white background with a black border. The RB-80S1 BEGIN sign is used to indicate the start of a reserved lane, and must be installed as a tab beneath or form part of the first reserved lane sign in a series. The RB-80S2 END sign is used to indicate the end of a reserved lane and must be installed at the end of the reserved lane, usually as a tab beneath or forming part of a reserved lane sign.
RB80S1, RB-80S2 added: N.S. Reg. 154/2005.RB-90, RB-91: "RESERVED BICYCLE LANE" signs shall have a symbol in black of a bicycle on a white background with a black border, together with a white diamond symbol on a black rectangular area in the upper left-hand corner of the sign. A reserved bicycle lane sign shall also have a black arrow to indicate the lane that is reserved. A reserved bicycle lane sign indicates that the lane is reserved for use exclusively by bicycles. RB-90 must be installed directly above the lane that is reserved and RB-91 must be installed adjacent to the lane that is reserved. The position of a reserved bicycle lane sign is determined by the location of the lane for which the sign is intended. When a reserved bicycle lane is shared with buses, taxis or HOVs, the appropriate reserved lane sign (RB-80, RB-81, RB-80A, RB-81A) must be used instead.
RB-90, RB-91 added: N.S. Reg. 154/2005.RB-92: "RESERVED BICYCLE LANE ENDS"signs shall have a symbol in black of a bicycle and black letters on a white background with a black border, together with a white diamond symbol on a black rectangular area in the upper left-hand corner of the sign. A reserved bicycle lane ends sign must be installed at the end of a reserved bicycle lane to mark its end.
RB-92 added: N.S. Reg. 154/2005.RC-2: "NO FISHING FROM BRIDGE" signs have black letters on a white background.
RC-4: "STOP LINE" signs shall have black letters on a white background with a black border, together with a black arrow to show the location of the stop line. A stop line sign indicates the point at which drivers approaching a traffic control device must stop their vehicles. The sign must be used where the location of the stop line is non-standard, or where the required stopping position may not be obvious to drivers. The RC-4R version of the sign must be used when the sign is installed on the right side of the road and the RC-4L version of the sign must be used when the sign is installed on the left side of the road. The side of the road at which a sign is installed is determined by the location of the traffic lane for which the sign is intended.
RC-4 added: N.S. Reg. 154/2005.WC-1: "SCHOOL" signs shall have a symbol in black of a walking schoolboy and schoolgirl on a fluorescent yellow green background. The sign indicates the beginning of a school area.
R-100: "WRONG WAY" signs shall have white letters on a red background.
R-101: "THROUGH TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
R-102: "END SCHOOL AREA" signs shall have black letters on a fluorescent yellow green background.
R-104 repealed: N.S. Reg. 154/2005.R-105: "EXCEPT WITH GREEN ARROW" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
R-106: "EXCEPT BUSES" signs shall have black letters on a white background. The signs may be used in conjunction with a "TURN CONTROL" sign (RB-11 to RB-16A inclusive) and whenever the "EXCEPT BUSES" sign is appended thereto buses shall be exempt from the "TURN CONTROL" sign.
R-107: "EXCEPT AUTHORIZED VEHICLES" signs shall have black letters on a white background. The signs may be placed beneath "TURN CONTROL" signs (RB-11 to RB-16A inclusive). The Traffic Authority for the area shall determine the vehicle or class of vehicles that are authorized.
R-108: "TIME" signs shall have black letters and numerals on a white background. A "TIME" sign may be incorporated or placed with or appended to a "TURN CONTROL" sign (RB-11 to RB-16A inclusive) or to a "DO NOT PASS" sign (RB-31). The letters and numerals show the hours of the day and days of the week during which the sign with which the "TIME" sign is incorporated or placed applies or to which the "TIME" sign is appended applies.
R-109: "TOW-AWAY ZONE" signs shall have red letters on a white background. A "TOW-AWAY ZONE" sign may be incorporated or placed with or appended to a "NO PARKING" sign (RB-51 to RB-52B inclusive) or a "NO STOPPING" sign (RB-55 to RB-57A inclusive).
R-110: "EMERGENCY PARKING ONLY" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
R-111: "DO NOT LITTER" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing a symbol in black of a can on a white background with a red diagonal superimposed over the can symbol.
R-112: "NO SLOW MOVING VEHICLES" signs shall have a red circle circumscribing a symbol of an orange triangle with a red border on a white background and shall have a red diagonal superimposed over the symbol of the triangle.
R-113: "KEEP OFF THE MEDIAN" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
R-114: "DO NOT DRIVE ON PAVED SHOULDER" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
R-115: "DO NOT CROSS MEDIAN" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
R-116: "STREET CLOSED LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
R-117 and R-118: "ROAD CLOSED DETOUR" signs shall have black letters and a black single-headed or double-headed arrow on a white background. Traffic facing the sign shall proceed in the direction or directions indicated by the arrow
R-119 and R-120: "ALL TRAFFIC EXIT LEFT" and "ALL TRAFFIC EXIT RIGHT" signs shall have black letters and a black arrow on a white background.R-121: "VEHICLES OVER 12 TONNES REDUCE SPEED" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
R-122: "VEHICLES OVER 12 TONNES 15 km/h ON BRIDGE" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
R-123: "GROSS WEIGHT" signs shall have black letters and numerals on a white background. The sign may be used as a tab beneath the "TRUCK ROUTE" (RB-61) or "TRUCK PROHIBITION" (RB-62) signs. Where a "GROSS WEIGHT" sign is used, no vehicle with a gross weight in excess of the gross weight stated on the sign shall use the highway.
R-124: "SHUT OFF YOUR RADIO TRANSMITTER" signs shall have black letters on a white background.
R-125: "TRUCKS OVER 3000 kg REGISTERED WEIGHT REPORT TO SCALE" signs shall have black letters on a white background. The signs may have arrows or words directing trucks to the scale.
R-200: "NO LANE CHANGE AHEAD" signs shall have black letters on a white background with an upward pointing black arrow. This sign indicates an area ahead where traffic is not permitted to change from one lane to another.
R-201: "NO LANE CHANGE" signs shall have black letters on a white background. This sign indicates the beginning of the area where traffic is not permitted to change from one lane to another.
R-202: "NO LANE CHANGE" overhead signs shall have black letters on a white background with a downward pointing black arrow. Where this sign is erected over a marked lane, traffic in that lane is not permitted to travel from that lane to another lane.
R-203: "END NO LANE CHANGE" signs shall have black letters on a white background. This sign marks the end of no lane change area.
6 The colours of the borders of the signs depicted in the Schedule shall be as follows:
(a) WHITE: RA-1, RA-2, RA-5, RB-3, RB-21, RB-41L to RB-49 inclusive, RB-61S-C, WC-1, R-100 and R-102;
(b) BLACK: RA-4, RA-8 to RB-2 inclusive, RB-4 to RB-16A inclusive, RB-23 to RB-36 inclusive, RB-51 to RB-61S-B inclusive, RB-62 to RC-2 inclusive, R-101, R-103 to R-108 inclusive, R-110 to R-125 inclusive, R-200 to R-203 inclusive;
(c) RED: R-109.
7 Letters and numerals and symbols on all signs shall conform as nearly as may be, to the styles and proportions shown on the signs appearing in the Schedule. The sign dimensions shown on the Schedule shall be the minimum standard with increases above the minimum being permissible.
8 Notwithstanding the foregoing, a "NO PARKING" sign (RB-51, RB-51A, RB-52, RB- 52A, RB-52B) and a "PARKING PERMITTED" sign (RB-53, RB-54) may be placed side-by- side on one sign plate having a white background and having dimensions of not less than 60 centimetres along its horizontal axis and 75 centimetres along its vertical axis where the sign plate also has placed thereon above or below the "NO PARKING" and "PARKING PERMITTED" signs a "NO STOPPING" sign (RB-55 to RB-57A inclusive); the "NO STOPPING" sign shall have dimensions of not less than 60 centimetres along its horizontal axis and 30 centimetres along its vertical axis and where the "NO STOPPING" signs include thereon words or letters, numerals, words and arrow or arrows, the words or letters, numerals, words and arrow or arrows shall be positioned on the "NO STOPPING" sign to the right of the black octagon, red circle and red diagonal.
9 Where a maximum rate of speed or a speed limit in kilometres per hour is fixed or approved for a highway, the notification of that rate or limit may be given by a sign on which is displayed the word "MAXIMUM" or the words "TRUCK MAXIMUM" or the word "MINIMUM" and the rate expressed merely as a number without description or qualifying words.
10 Where a traffic sign depicted in the Schedule displays a time of the day, this time may be shown using either the letter "h" or the letters "min" on a sign; the letters mean "hour" or "minutes" respectively.
11 Where a traffic sign, marking or device other than one of those depicted in the Schedule is erected or placed on or near a highway for advisory or warning purposes, the sign, marking or device shall conform to the description and specifications prescribed for it by the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada, Fourth Edition September 1998, prepared by the Council on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada as the Manual is revised from time to time, insofar as the Manual is not inconsistent with the Motor Vehicle Act and regulations and is not varied by this Order.
Schedule [Click here for Schedule of Official Highway Signs (PDF document).]