Passenger Vehicle for Hire Licences

Licensed passenger vehicles for hire, such as taxis, luxury vehicles, local shuttles, local tour vehicles or rideshares, must meet provincial safety standards and municipal licensing and service standards to ensure a safe and fair experience for both operators and passengers.

Vehicles and operators must be licensed by the Municipality before they can transport passengers for a fee within the jurisdiction of the Municipality.

Applications must be submitted in person at the Bylaw Enforcement Office. Before visiting, you are encouraged to call 902-563-5091 to confirm a staff member is available to assist you.

Read the Information for Passengers.

• The Passenger Vehicle for Hire Operator Licence must be displayed in the vehicle where it is clearly visible to passengers and available for viewing upon request by a customer.
• A copy of the Schedule C - Schedule of Taxi Fares of By-law P-500 must be available for passengers at any time upon request.
• In the Sydney Service Area, a properly functioning and sealed taximeter must always be mounted to the vehicle and visible to passengers.
• Smoking or vaping is strictly prohibited by anyone inside a licensed vehicle.

As a passenger, you can expect:

• Upon request, your taxi operator can provide their CBRM operator licence to confirm their identity and the validity of their operator’s licence.
• All licensed operators have completed a Criminal Record Check, a Vulnerable Sector Check and a Driver’s Abstract.
• Vehicles undergo an annual mechanical inspection by an official provincial inspection station and are also inspected yearly by CBRM Enforcement Officers. Vehicles are subject to compliance checks at any time.
• Every licensed taxi is required to display:
  • The company name and deck light mounted on top of the vehicle.
  • A vehicle placard and/or Vehicle Licence Card inside the vehicle.

Passengers are encouraged to confirm that they are using a licensed vehicle before beginning their trip and note the deck light number and company name of the taxi they are using.

To report concerns about an operator or licensed vehicle, contact the By-law Enforcement Office by calling 902-563-5091 or emailing taxicomplaints@cbrm.ns.ca

Please note that phone and email inquiries are not monitored 24/7. Messages will be returned as soon as possible.

*Criminal matters and/or motor vehicle violations must be reported to the Cape Breton Regional Police Services at 902-563-5151 for non-emergency or 911 in the event of an emergency.