Brokerage Licensing

Revised May 5, 2026

Forms for this section

This page covers brokerage licensing, including: opening a brokerage, branch offices, and closing a brokerage.

Opening a Brokerage

To open a brokerage in Nova Scotia, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Meet Eligibility Requirements

You must:

• Hold a broker licence, or plan to hire a licensed broker to manage the brokerage
• Have a service address in Nova Scotia

Step 2: Choose a Brokerage Name And Obtain The Registrar’s Approval

Your brokerage name must follow the Commission’s naming rules. It must not be:

• the same as another brokerage
• immoral, obscene or scandalous;
• capable of leading someone to falsely believe that the business is a non-profit group, connected to a public authority or connected to another (for example, affiliated); 
• identical to or easily confused with the name of another business; or
• misleading (for example, it must accurately describe the business’s activities).

You must submit your proposed name and signage to the Registrar for approval. To do so, email the Registrar your brokerage’s name and digital mock of signage, with “Brokerage Name/Signage for Approval” in the subject line.

If operating as a franchise, you must also obtain written permission from the franchisor.

The Commission recommends considering choosing a shorter brokerage name. The full name, exactly as it appears on the licence, must be used in all advertising by the brokerage and its licensees (including for sale/for lease signs).

Step 3: Register with The Nova Scotia Registry Of Joint Stock Companies

Once your name is approved by the Registrar, register your brokerage with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies. The registered name must match the approved brokerage name. Find an office near you.

Step 4: Set Up A Trust Account

You must open an interest-bearing trust account at a Nova Scotia financial institution..

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Complete the Brokerage Licence Application Form and submit it with all required documents.

Required documents:

• Proof of registration with Joint Stock Companies
• Proof of franchise agreement (if applicable)
• Proof of trust account (bank letter or statement)

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Once your complete application has been recieved and approved, you will be invoiced for payment by email. When you recieve the invoice, log into the NSREC Licensee Portal to pay your licence fees.

Branch Offices

A branch office is defined in the Commission’s Bylaw as "an office licensed by the Commission as a branch office that is located apart from the main office and includes: (a) any enclosed, self-contained, commercial space, leased or owned, from which real estate services generally may be offered or provided; (b) any facility that may be deemed to be a branch office by the Commission."

All permanent business locations where licensees work—including satellite offices, kiosks, and project offices—must be registered as branch offices. Each branch office must have a service address in Nova Scotia.

Opening a Brokerage Branch Office

To open a branch office, complete and submit the Branch Office Licence Application to the Commission.

Once your application is reviewed and approved, an invoice will be issued by email. After receiving the invoice, log into the NSREC Licensee Portal to pay the required fees.

How to Close a Brokerage

Follow these steps to properly close a brokerage:

Step 1: Terminate All Licensees

Terminate the licences of all individuals (or they may terminate themselves), including any Approved Sales Corporations. This is done by submitting a Notice of Termination to the Commission. 

Step 2: Terminate The Brokerage Licence

The broker or broker owner can submit a Notice of Termination for the broker licence to the Commission, which then effectively terminates the brokerage licence as well. 

Step 3: Remove All Advertising

All advertising must be removed as soon as licences are terminated. This includes signage, websites, and social media. Some platforms take time to process updates, so plan accordingly to remain compliant with the Real Estate Trading Act and the Commission By-law.

Step 4: Complete A Closing Audit

Once the broker licence is terminated, the compliance team will schedule a closing audit. This review covers the period from the last inspection to the date the brokerage ceased operating or all trust funds were disbursed.