Free Nova Scotia Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale
Nova Scotia's firearms are overwhelmingly hunting long guns, and the private sale of one now carries a step that predates no one's memory of "the way it used to be done." Since May 18, 2022, transferring a non-restricted firearm requires the seller to contact the RCMP Registrar, confirm the buyer's licence is valid, and obtain a REFERENCE NUMBER before the handover. The province has no firearms registry of its own; its Chief Firearms Officer administers licence conditions and issues Authorizations to Transport for restricted firearms.
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Nova Scotia Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
GST/HST may apply on firearms sales if the seller is a GST registrant. Private individual-to-individual sales are typically exempt from sales tax.
Exemption: Immediate family member transfers (spouse, child, parent, sibling) may qualify for an HST exemption with a sworn statutory declaration. Gifts between qualifying relatives also qualify.
Inspection Requirements
No safety inspection is required for private firearm sales, but both parties must comply with the Firearms Act (Canada).
Nova Scotia Gun / Firearm Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Confirm the buyer's PAL covers non-restricted firearms (RPAL if the firearm is restricted).
- Contact the RCMP Registrar to verify the licence and obtain the reference number before transferring — required since May 18, 2022.
- Write the reference number, both licence numbers, price, and date onto the bill of sale.
- Describe the firearm exactly: make, model, action, calibre or gauge, barrel length, serial number.
- Coastal reality: salt air is hard on bluing and bores — disclose condition, rust, and any refinishing honestly.
- Restricted firearm? RCMP registration to the new owner and an Authorization to Transport from the provincial CFO.
- Both parties sign and keep copies.
Common Pitfalls
- Relying on the old habit of a handshake between hunters: the verification requirement is now law for every non-restricted transfer.
- Failing to record the reference number — it is the evidence the verification occurred.
- Glossing over corrosion on a coastal gun: an honest written condition note prevents a dispute later.
- Assuming no provincial registry means no obligations: the federal ones apply in full.
Pro Tip
In Nova Scotia the gun may be a family shotgun and the buyer may be a friend — the Registrar's reference number is still the step that makes the sale lawful. Get it, and write it down.