Nova Scotia Sheriff Eviction and Order Enforcement

A Director's Order Is Not the Last Step

You have your Director's Order from the Residential Tenancies Program. The tenant is required to vacate by a specific date. But the order does not carry automatic enforcement power. If the tenant still does not leave, you need to take the order through the court system and into the hands of Sheriff Services before anyone physically removes a tenant from the premises.

Only Sheriff Services — operating under the Nova Scotia Department of Justice — can execute an eviction after a Small Claims Court judgment and Order for Vacant Possession. A landlord who blocks a tenant's free access or changes an entry lock during occupancy without mutual consent contravenes the Residential Tenancies Act; Section 23 makes contravening the Act an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to $1,000.

The Enforcement Pathway

Step 1 — Wait out the appeal window. Either party has 10 days from the date of the Director's Order to file an appeal with the Nova Scotia Small Claims Court under RTA Section 17C. If the tenth day falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the deadline is the next business day. Do not proceed with enforcement until this deadline closes.

Step 2 — Convert the order. If no appeal is filed, you can request the Residential Tenancy Officer to make the Director's Order an Order of the Small Claims Court. This conversion gives the order the enforcement power of a court judgment.

Step 3 — Engage Sheriff Services. With the Small Claims Court order in hand, the court issues an enforcement document. Sheriff Services schedules and executes the eviction. This involves an execution deposit and service fees.

If the Tenant Appeals

Filing an appeal does not necessarily stop the eviction — an automatic stay of enforcement is not guaranteed. The appellant must formally request a stay from the Small Claims Court if they want to pause the process while the appeal is heard.

The appeal is filed at the local Small Claims Court registry. The appellant pays the court filing fee and serves the Notice of Appeal on all respondents. The Small Claims Court then conducts its own review of the dispute.

Timeline Expectations

From a Director's Order to physical enforcement by the Sheriff:

• 10 days, with the deadline extended to the next business day if the tenth day falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, for the appeal window to close.
• Variable time for the court to process the conversion.
• Variable scheduling with Sheriff Services.

In straightforward cases, expect several weeks from the Director's Order to the Sheriff's visit. Contested appeals can extend this significantly.

A Director's Order Does Not Suspend Your Obligations

While waiting for enforcement, you remain bound by all landlord obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act: quiet enjoyment, repairs, safety standards, and essential services. A pending eviction does not give you permission to neglect the property or pressure the tenant.

Map the Full Enforcement Path

The Ending a Tenancy in Nova Scotia guide covers the complete post-order enforcement roadmap — from the appeal window through Small Claims Court conversion to Sheriff execution — so you know every step between a Director's Order and vacant possession.

See more Nova Scotia guides →