How to Start a Brewery in Nova Scotia
Start a brewery in Nova Scotia: the federal excise licence first, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation manufacturer permit, and the municipal permits for the site.
How to Get a Liquor Licence in Nova Scotia
Get a liquor licence in Nova Scotia from the Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division: the permanent licence classes, the $872.15 eating establishment total, the six-week wait, and the NSLC supply account.
Applies in: Nova Scotia
The short answer
Nova Scotia liquor licences are issued by the Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division of Service Nova Scotia — not by the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC). NSLC issues manufacturer permits and supplies the liquor. By law, businesses, societies, and non-profits must have a Permanent Liquor Licence to sell alcohol by the glass. An eating establishment licence costs $872.15 in total for a three-year term and takes about six weeks. This guide covers the Nova Scotia classes and the Nova Scotia application only — it does not re-cover the Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, or Saskatchewan licence routes. This guide is process information, not legal advice: where a figure was not verified on an opened official page, this guide states a check instead of a figure.
1. Pick the licence type
The permanent licence is the main route for selling alcohol by the glass. The types you can apply for are eating establishment, eating establishment and lounge, lounge (if you already have an eating establishment liquor licence), beverage room, and cabaret. Liquor must be sold and served with a meal in an eating establishment. A lounge licence needs an eating establishment licence behind it, and a cabaret application must include a business plan. Beverage rooms and cabarets must meet a full meal service requirement, and the division's Food Service Policy covers outsourcing food service to meet it.
The other licence types fit different premises:
- Club Liquor Licence. Societies, non-profits, and other organizations with club facilities need a Club Liquor Licence to serve alcohol to members and their guests. No food service is required — you can serve alcohol with or without food — and serving hours are 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. any day of the week.
- Special Occasion Liquor Licence, classes 1, 2, and 3. Individuals, businesses, charities, religious organizations, and non-profit community organizations need one to serve or sell alcohol at an event. Class 1 is a private event where liquor is provided free of charge and alcohol is served, not sold. Class 2 is a private event where liquor is provided for a cost and alcohol is sold. Class 3 is a public event to raise funds for a community purpose, open to anyone, where alcohol is sold — and only a registered charity, religious organization, non-profit community organization, or athletic organization can apply for class 3. You do not need a licence to serve alcohol to guests in your home, and by law you cannot sell alcohol from your home. Each event needs a separate licence, and a special occasion licence cannot be renewed — you apply for a new one.
- NSLC manufacturer permits. A liquor manufacturer first needs a Manufacturer Permit from NSLC. With that in hand, a Liquor Manufacturer's Hospitality Room Permit lets the manufacturer sell alcohol by the glass, and a Manufacturer Offsite Retail Permit lets the manufacturer sell alcohol or provide free samples at an offsite location away from the manufacturing location — but not sell by the glass there, and products sold there cannot be opened and consumed at the offsite location. The offsite permit comes as a single event permit or an annual permit for attending a minimum of five recurring events a year, such as a farmers' market.
- Ferment-on-premises licence. Facilities that let customers produce their own beer, wine, or cider on site need a ferment-on-premises licence, a separate route from the licences above.
Pick the type that matches what the premises will actually do. A restaurant that wants a lounge needs the eating establishment licence first, and a manufacturer that wants to pour by the glass needs the NSLC manufacturer permit before the hospitality room permit.
2. Check eligibility and the criminal record check
You need to be 19 or older and authorized by the organization to apply, and the organization needs to be the owner or leaseholder of the proposed premises. That rule applies to permanent licences and club licences alike.
Permanent Liquor Licence applicants, and establishments with a Permanent Liquor Licence that are applying to have a new manager or principal person approved, may need a criminal record check as part of the licensing process. The Liquor Licensing Criminal History Application Form authorizes the Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division to complete your criminal record check, at no cost, in about two weeks. A current police check or criminal system check from the primary policing agency in your jurisdiction, conducted within the last 12 months, is accepted instead of the form. The form must be notarized by a justice of the peace or commissioner of oaths, or notarized at the division. The permanent licence application also asks for criminal history applications as part of its supporting documents, so start the check early — it runs on its own two-week clock.
3. Build the application package
Complete the application form and get it notarized by a justice of the peace, commissioner of oaths, or at the Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division. The application requires organizational chart, criminal history applications, deed or lease, purchase agreements, zoning, floor plan, menu, Food Establishment Permit, and fire official approval with occupancy. Incomplete or improperly completed forms may result in delay, and each statement made in the application is subject to verification — it is a serious offence to knowingly provide false information in any part of the application.
Two dependencies catch applicants out. The liquor licence is provided only after your Food Establishment Permit has been approved, so the food permit is on the critical path, not a parallel track. And within Halifax Regional Municipality, a $200 zoning confirmation fee must be included with the application or arranged with HRM directly. Additional zoning confirmation fees may apply elsewhere.
4. Fees and timelines
The fees below are the current published fees on the province's licence pages. The application fee for a permanent licence is non-refundable, and the three-year licence fee must be received before the licence is issued.
| Licence | Application fee | Licence fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eating Establishment Liquor Licence | $311.45 | $560.70 (3 years) | $872.15 |
| Eating Establishment and Lounge Liquor Licences | $622.90 | $1,121.40 (3 years) | $1,744.30 |
| Lounge Liquor Licence (eating establishment licence required) | $311.45 | $560.70 (3 years) | $872.15 |
| Beverage Room Liquor Licence | $311.45 | $560.70 (3 years) | $872.15 |
| Cabaret Liquor Licence | $311.45 | $1,869.00 (3 years) | $2,180.45 |
| Club Liquor Licence | $124.25 (non-refundable) | $560.70 (3 years) | $684.95 |
| Special Occasion, class 1 | — | — | $12.45 |
| Special Occasion, class 2 | — | — | $24.95 |
| Special Occasion, class 3 | — | — | $62.30 |
| Manufacturer's Hospitality Room Permit | — | — | $100 |
| Manufacturer Offsite Retail Permit, single event | — | — | $50 |
| Manufacturer Offsite Retail Permit, annual | — | — | $250 |
It should take about six weeks to get a Permanent Liquor Licence or a Club Liquor Licence, longer if more information is needed or the application was not filled in correctly. A special occasion licence takes about two weeks, and you must submit the application at least 10 business days before the event. A manufacturer's hospitality room permit takes about two weeks. The criminal record check takes about two weeks. Payment options are Visa, MasterCard, debit card, cheque, money order, and cash; a cheque or money order should be made payable to the Minister of Finance, and payment options may vary depending on how you apply.
5. Submit, and what happens next
Send the completed application, supporting documents, and payment by mail, email, or fax, or visit the Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division in person. The division lets you know if a public consultation is required, and a compliance officer inspects the premises before issuing the licence. For a club licence, all premises need to pass a final inspection. You may also have to complete an interview and provide additional information if asked by the division — the special occasion route states this directly, and the same follow-up applies in practice to permanent applications.
When the licence is issued, the division notifies both you and NSLC, and NSLC provides you with a six-digit account number to use when placing your orders. You must renew your Permanent Liquor Licence every three years, and your Club Liquor Licence every three years; you should get a renewal notice in the mail before the renewal date, but it is your responsibility to renew on time. A manufacturer's hospitality room permit must be renewed by 31 December each year, as must an annual offsite retail permit; a single event offsite permit cannot be renewed, but you can apply for a new one.
After the licence is in place, the division's other approvals still apply: approval to renovate an establishment with a liquor licence or change the floor plan, approval to move a licence to a new location, approval to transfer a licence to new owners, a caterer extension for an eating establishment serving alcohol at an offsite event it is catering, and a class 4 special occasion licence for a temporary physical extension of licensed premises. Apply for those before you act, not after.
6. Ordering stock from NSLC
Once licensed, you order through NSLC using the six-digit account number the corporation provides when the licence is issued. You need your Special Occasion Liquor Licence number when buying alcohol for an event. Manufacturers buy and sell under a different set of rules: the NSLC manufacturer permit is what lets a manufacturer produce and retail, and the hospitality room and offsite retail permits sit on top of it. Do not order stock before the licence is issued — the account number, and the right to buy, arrive with the licence.
Serving hours
The hours are set by the Liquor Licensing Regulations, section 53, and your licence states the hours that apply to you — liquor may only be sold and served during the hours your licence authorizes. The maximum hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. every day for an eating establishment, lounge, beverage room, class A club, or class B cabaret licence. A class A cabaret licence runs later, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. A class B club licence and a special premises licence have no maximum hours. The Executive Director may temporarily extend the hours under section 54. After the authorized hours end, customers must leave within 30 minutes — except in an eating establishment or a class B club, where they may stay as long as the licensee considers appropriate. Liquor bought before closing may be finished before they leave. Take-away and delivery sales of beer, wine, ready-to-drink beverages, and cider stop at 10:00 p.m. even when the licence runs later.
What the opened pages do not state
The opened pages do not state the fee for an NSLC Manufacturer Permit itself, or a processing time for it, so neither is printed here — the $100 hospitality room permit and the $50 and $250 offsite retail permits all require a manufacturer permit first, and you will need to ask NSLC about that permit's cost and timing. They do not state a processing time for a Manufacturer Offsite Retail Permit, so none is given. They do not publish the fee for a caterer extension to an eating establishment licence, so none is given. The opened pages do not state a processing time for a licence transfer or relocation, so neither is printed here.
Related guides:
- How to Start a Restaurant in Halifax — the Halifax restaurant path, including the food permit the liquor licence depends on and the $200 HRM zoning confirmation fee.
- How to Get a Liquor Licence in Manitoba — Manitoba's LGCA service and manufacturer licences, for comparison with Nova Scotia's division-issued licences.
- How to Get a Liquor Licence in Alberta — Alberta's AGLC licence classes, a different provincial system.
- How to Get a Liquor Licence in Ontario — Ontario's AGCO licence route, another provincial model.
- How to Get a Liquor Licence in Quebec — Quebec's RACJ permit route, another provincial model.
- How to Start a Brewery Business in Canada — the national brewery picture, including the federal excise licence that comes before any provincial permit.
- How to Start a Restaurant Business in Canada — the national restaurant picture, including food premises and municipal rules.
Getting a liquor licence in Nova Scotia, in six steps
- Pick the licence typePermanent, club, special occasion, or a manufacturer permit from NSLC — each one fits a different kind of premises.
- Complete the criminal history checkThe division completes the check from its own form at no cost, in about two weeks. A police check from the last 12 months is also accepted.
- Build the application packageNotarized form plus organizational chart, criminal history applications, deed or lease, zoning, floor plan, menu, Food Establishment Permit, and fire official approval with occupancy.
- Pay the fee and submitAn eating establishment licence costs $872.15 in total for three years. Within Halifax, add the $200 zoning confirmation fee.
- Pass the inspection and any consultationThe division tells you if a public consultation is required, and a compliance officer inspects the premises before the licence is issued. Allow about six weeks.
- Order through NSLCWhen the licence is issued, NSLC provides a six-digit account number to use when placing orders.
Questions people ask
Who issues liquor licences in Nova Scotia?
The Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division of Service Nova Scotia issues the licences, not the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC). NSLC issues manufacturer permits and supplies the liquor: when a licence is issued, the division notifies NSLC, which provides a six-digit account number to use when placing orders.
What liquor licence types does Nova Scotia have?
Permanent Liquor Licences for eating establishments, eating establishments with a lounge, lounges, beverage rooms, and cabarets; Club Liquor Licences for societies, non-profits, and other organizations with club facilities; Special Occasion Liquor Licences in classes 1, 2, and 3 for events; and NSLC manufacturer permits, including a hospitality room permit for selling by the glass and an offsite retail permit for selling at an offsite location.
How much does a liquor licence cost in Nova Scotia?
An Eating Establishment, Lounge, or Beverage Room Liquor Licence costs $311.45 to apply plus $560.70 for the three-year licence, $872.15 in total. An eating establishment with a lounge costs $1,744.30 in total, and a cabaret licence costs $2,180.45. A Club Liquor Licence costs a $124.25 non-refundable application fee plus a $560.70 licence fee for three years. Special occasion licences cost $12.45 for class 1, $24.95 for class 2, and $62.30 for class 3.
How long does a Nova Scotia liquor licence take?
About six weeks for a Permanent Liquor Licence or a Club Liquor Licence, longer if more information is needed or the application was not filled in correctly. A Special Occasion Liquor Licence takes about two weeks, and you must apply at least 10 business days before the event. A manufacturer's hospitality room permit takes about two weeks. The criminal record check takes about two weeks.
Do I need a criminal record check for a Nova Scotia liquor licence?
Permanent Liquor Licence applicants, and establishments with a Permanent Liquor Licence that are applying to have a new manager or principal person approved, may need a criminal record check. The Liquor Licensing Criminal History Application Form authorizes the Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division to complete the check, at no cost. A current police check or criminal system check from the primary policing agency in your jurisdiction, conducted within the last 12 months, is accepted instead. The form must be notarized by a justice of the peace or commissioner of oaths, or notarized at the division.
How do I buy liquor once I am licensed in Nova Scotia?
Through the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC). When the licence is issued, the division notifies both you and NSLC, and NSLC provides you with a six-digit account number to use when placing your orders. You must renew a Permanent Liquor Licence or a Club Liquor Licence every three years; a manufacturer's hospitality room permit and an annual offsite retail permit must be renewed by 31 December each year.
Sources
- Government of Nova Scotia, Apply for a Permanent Liquor Licence — the licence types, the 19-or-older and owner-or-leaseholder rules, the application steps, the six-week timeline, the fee table, the three-year renewal, and the NSLC six-digit account number.
- Government of Nova Scotia, Club Liquor Licence — the club licence for societies, non-profits, and other organizations, no food service required, serving hours of 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., the $124.25 application fee and $560.70 three-year licence fee, the six-week timeline, and the final inspection.
- Government of Nova Scotia, Special Occasion Liquor Licence (class 1, 2 and 3) — the three classes, the class 3 eligibility rule, the 10-business-day application deadline, the two-week timeline, the $12.45, $24.95, and $62.30 fees, and the licence number needed when buying alcohol for the event.
- Government of Nova Scotia, NSLC Liquor Manufacturer's Hospitality Room Permit — the manufacturer permit prerequisite, the $100 permit and renewal fees, the two-week timeline, and the 31 December renewal date.
- Government of Nova Scotia, NSLC Liquor Manufacturer Offsite Retail Permit — the offsite sales and sampling rules, the $50 single event and $250 annual fees, the five-recurring-events minimum for an annual permit, and the 31 December renewal date.
- Government of Nova Scotia, Criminal record check: Permanent Liquor Licence — the division completing the check from its form at no cost in about two weeks, and a police check from the last 12 months accepted instead.
- Government of Nova Scotia, Permanent Liquor License Application (form v.6, 01/2026) — the supporting documents including organizational chart, criminal history applications, deed or lease, zoning, floor plan, menu, Food Establishment Permit, and fire official approval with occupancy, and the $200 zoning confirmation fee within HRM.
- Government of Nova Scotia, Liquor Licensing and Compliance — the full licence catalogue, including the caterer extension, the class 4 special occasion licence, the Food Service Policy for beverage rooms and cabarets, and the transfer and relocation policies.
- Government of Nova Scotia, Liquor Licensing Regulations — the maximum serving hours by licence class in section 53, temporary extensions in section 54, the 30-minute clearing rule in section 55, and the 10:00 p.m. take-away and delivery cut-off in section 58C.