Nova Scotians can apply online with payday lenders that hold a provincial permit. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board sets the maximum cost of borrowing and default charges, and aligned them with the federal rules on January 1, 2025.
Payday loan rules in Nova Scotia at a glance
| Cost cap | $14 per $100, set by the Utility and Review Board |
|---|---|
| Default charge | No more than $20 per loan |
| Due date | Cannot be before your next payday |
| Repayment method | A lender can require only one form of repayment |
| Pre-authorized debits | Cannot exceed what you owe on the due date |
| Online lenders | Must show name, permit number and expiry at the top of the site |
| Longest term | 62 days |
Summary only, last reviewed October 2026. Source: Nova Scotia Payday Lenders Regulations. The federal $14 per $100 cap has applied across Canada since January 1, 2025.
The permit check takes ten seconds
Nova Scotia rules require internet lenders to display their business name, permit number and permit expiry date at or near the top of the page Nova Scotia borrowers land on. Rates and fees must be shown before you apply. If you can’t find a permit number, don’t apply.
Your due date is protected
Your repayment cannot be due before your next payday, and a lender cannot debit more than the amount needed to repay the loan on that date. A lender also cannot demand more than one way of repaying, such as a post-dated cheque and a debit authorization at the same time.
Repeat loans
Nova Scotia treats a loan taken within 24 hours of repaying another as a repeat loan. If you find yourself borrowing again the day after payday, speak with a credit counsellor before you take the next one.
Payday loans across Nova Scotia: major cities
Halifax Regional Municipality, Cape Breton or the Valley, every permitted lender follows the same Board-set limits.
- Halifax
- Dartmouth
- Sydney
- Truro
- New Glasgow
- Glace Bay
- Kentville
- Amherst
- Bridgewater
- Yarmouth
- Antigonish
- Wolfville
- Bedford
- Lower Sackville
- Port Hawkesbury