1) Anyone who wants to operate, for profit or gain, a public passenger vehicle -- which includes all vehicles 9 passenger or more, excluding the driver.

2) Anyone who wants to operate, not for profit, vehicles carrying up to 16 passengers, including the driver.

These licences apply to the operation of school buses, Charter buses, highway motor coaches, Van Pool or Commuter Operator, Public Transit Operations, and ParaTransit for persons with Physical Disabilities.

N.S. Utility and Review Board

N.S. Utility and Review Board
Public Passenger Division

Phone: (902) 424-3588
Fax: (902) 424-3919
E-Mail: uarb.board@gov.ns.ca

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1692, Unit M
Halifax, NS B3J 3S3

An application is submitted to the N.S. Utility and Review Board.

Except for school bus service, applications are advertised in the Royal Gazette. In the case of Regular Route service, an advertisement in a local newspaper may be required.

After a maximum 21 day waiting period to determine public interest, the Board may require a public hearing. At the public hearing, the Applicant must attend.

After the hearing or consideration process is scheduled, a decision is given in writing usually within 60 days.

Government employees do not need to speak directly with the applicant / client prior to the application, at the time of issuance, or at the time of renewal.

Note: It is recommended that applicants apply for and receive the licence before they acquire the vehicles which they plan to operate.

Unopposed:
30 days from second advertisement.

Opposed:
Approximately 120 days after the application is made, provided that all parties are available or within 60 days of completion of hearing.

This licence is valid for 1 year from may 1 of one year to April 30 of the next, and can be renewed. The Board will send a renewal form to the licence holder before it expires.

A) Motor Carriers:
1. Every motor carrier shall pay an annual fee for each vehicle that the motor carrier is authorized to operate to the following scale:

(a) for each public passenger vehicle other than a school bus $30
(b) school buses are free

2. Where a public passenger carrier has been authorized to provide temporary service or under Section 7 of the Motor Carrier Act has been granted a temporary authority to provide a service: $100

3. Where a motor carrier has been authorized to provide a single trip service: $50 for each trip for each vehicle

4. Where an authorized public passenger carrier transfers an identification plate from one vehicle to another: $50

5. Where an authorized public passenger carrier requires the replacement of an identification plate: $10

B) Public Utilities are taxed by the N.S. Utility and Review Board based on gross income under the N.S. Public Utilities Act. This does not apply to operators under the Motor Carrier Act.

Commercial Vehicle Certificate of Registration, N.S. Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations: Registry of Motor Vehicles

International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) Licence, N.S. Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations: Provincial Tax Commission

The licence, once approved, requires the operator to meet the additional insurance and safety equipment requirements of the Act and Regulations.

It also requires the passenger vehicles operated to be inspected on a semi annual basis by an inspector of the N.S. Utility and Review Board to ensure the vehicles are safe and that they are fit for public transportation.

In addition, the Motor Carrier Administration continue on a day to day basis to monitor and enforce the provisions of the various acts and regulations applicable to the operation of public passenger vehicles.

A Government employee will not need to make an on-sight visit or inspection prior to the issuance of a licence. Prior to the plating of a vehicle, however, the Inspector must attend and conduct a physical safety inspection of each vehicle being licensed. Every six months after that, a subsequent follow up inspection is conducted. There is no charge for the safety inspection.

Addendum To Parts I and II - Revenue Expense Analysis and Service Delivery Evaluation

The purpose of this section is to aid in understanding with the revenue, expense and service delivery structure associated with Motor Carrier Licences.

To begin, a person is issued a master licence. That licence contains the terms and conditions of the licence requested including the rates, tolls and charges, routes travelled, and any specialty services offered. Each master licence is unique to the person or corporation requesting it.

Associated with the master licences are vehicles. Each vehicle has a separate licence plate which is used by the inspectors and policing agencies to identify the vehicle. While there is no annual fee for the master licence, there is an annual fee for certain types of public passenger vehicles. For example, highway coaches owned by commercial operators are charged $30 per year per vehicle. There is no fee for the inspection of school buses.

N.S. Motor Carrier Act (and Regulations), Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, Chapter 190

Motor Vehicle Transport Act (Canada), Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, Chapter 292

N.S. Public Utilities Act, Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, Chapter 380