Payday loans in Nova Scotia: permits, due dates and default fees
Nova Scotia’s rules are built around transparency. Online lenders have to show their permit at the top of the page, rates and fees before you apply, and your due date can never land before your next payday. Here’s how to use those rules to check a lender in seconds.
Reviewed November 2026 by the Jessica’s House editorial team against federal and provincial lending rules. About 4 minutes to read.
Short answer
Payday lenders in Nova Scotia must hold a provincial permit, and the province’s Utility and Review Board fixes the price ceiling, which has been $14 per $100 since January 1, 2025. Default charges are limited to $20 per loan, your repayment can’t be due before your next payday, and a lender can only require one form of repayment. Online lenders must display their name, permit number and expiry date near the top of their website.
| Cost cap | $14 per $100, set by the Utility and Review Board |
|---|---|
| Default charge | No more than $20 per loan |
| Due date | Can’t be before your next payday |
| Repayment method | A lender can require only one form of repayment |
| Pre-authorized debits | Can’t exceed what you owe on the due date |
| Online lenders | Must show business name, permit number and expiry near the top of the site |
| Longest term | 62 days |
Spot a permitted lender in ten seconds
Look at the top of the lender’s website. A lender allowed to serve Nova Scotians has to put its name, permit number and the permit’s expiry right there, and show its prices before the application starts. A permit buried in the footer, or missing entirely, is your cue to close the tab.
Your due date is protected
Your repayment can’t be due before your next payday, and the lender can’t debit more than you owe on that date. It also can’t demand a post-dated cheque and a debit authorization as backup. One method is the limit.
A Halifax example
Grace, a care aide in Dartmouth, is paid every two weeks. She borrows $300 on a Thursday. Her next payday is Friday of the following week, so that’s the earliest her loan can be due.
Cost: at most $42. If her debit bounces, the lender’s default charge is capped at $20 for the whole loan.
Free help in Nova Scotia
- 211 Nova Scotia: referrals to community, social and government services, any time.
- The Heating Assistance Rebate Program: help with home heating costs for eligible households.
- Income Assistance: emergency help for basic needs if you qualify.
- Non-profit credit counselling: free advice across Atlantic Canada.
Questions people ask
What is the maximum cost of a payday loan in Nova Scotia?
The Utility and Review Board caps it at $14 for each $100, matching the federal ceiling.
Can a Nova Scotia payday loan be due before payday?
No. Your repayment date can’t be before your next payday.
What does a missed payment cost in Nova Scotia?
The lender’s default charge tops out at $20 for the whole loan. Your own bank may also charge an NSF fee.
Apply with permitted Nova Scotia lenders
Permit shown, cost shown, due date protected. Applying is free.
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