Province · Sheet L-608
Boom trucks in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia licenses crane operators by class, and the classes name the boom truck. Here are the classes, the power-line distances, the codes the province adopted and the one published rate guide.
Summary, not legal advice
This page summarizes Nova Scotia's crane operator licence page, the Crane Operators Regulations, the Occupational Safety General Regulations and the bulletin on adopted crane codes, as we read them on October 5 and 6, 2026; the consolidations are unofficial. The regulations, the utility and your employer's procedures govern the work. Call the utility before working near a line.
Nova Scotia writes a licence class for each capacity band and a short power-line table. Driving rules beyond the licence class were not researched, and the only rate guide is an association's suggestion.
R 03 mWho may operate a boom truck here
Nova Scotia requires a Certificate of Competency and a Crane Operator Licence, under the Technical Safety Act and the Crane Operators Regulations, to operate a mobile crane, boom truck, overhead travelling crane or tower crane1. A boom truck is a lifting device on a commercial truck chassis with a carrying deck (or a semi tractor trailer truck), with a telescoping or articulating boom and a rated lifting capacity of more than 4.5 tonnes (5 tons)2. Licences come in classes by lifting capacity:
| Class | Lifting capacity | Licences that cover it |
|---|---|---|
| Class 4 | A boom truck with an articulating boom and no winch for lifting the load, over 4.5 tonnes and under 18 tonnes1 | Crane operator 4, 3, 2 or 12 |
| Class 3 | A boom truck or mobile crane, over 4.5 tonnes (5 tons) and under 18 tonnes (20 tons)1 | Crane operator 3, 2 or 1 |
| Class 2 | 18 t to under 91 t1 | Crane operator 2 or 1 |
| Class 1 | 91 t (100 tons) or more | Crane operator 1 |
Example. A knuckle boom with no winch for lifting the load and a lifting capacity of 10 tonnes is Class 41, covered by a Class 4 or Class 3 licence. A telescopic boom truck of the same capacity is Class 31, which a Class 4 licence does not cover2. A unit rated at exactly 18 tonnes is in Class 2, and the rate guide below labels trucks in "ton", so do not assume a "17 ton" truck is under 18 tonnes. A unit at or below 4.5 tonnes is not a boom truck in these regulations, but it is still a hoist, which a competent person must operate3.
Getting the licence. A Class 3 certificate of competency takes 2000 hours of practical experience on a class 3 crane and a Class 4 certificate 500 hours on a class 4 crane, each under direct supervision; the exam pass mark is 65%2. A trainee may work without the licence only under a licensed operator who has charge of the crane at all times2. The chief inspector may recognize a sufficiently equivalent qualification from another jurisdiction, and an interprovincial certificate counts as the matching certificate2. Fees were not researched. See operator certification by province.
R 06 mStandards and inspection
Nova Scotia adopted the June 1, 2020 edition of CSA Z150 and the October 1, 2017 edition of CSA Z150.3 as crane operator codes, in force February 7, 20234. Z150 is the mobile crane code; Z150.3 covers articulating boom cranes mounted on commercial trucks or trailers5, which the current Z150 leaves to it6. CSA has since published the 2026 edition, Z150:266; Nova Scotia names the older editions, so it is not Nova Scotia law. Table 1 of CSA Z150:20 caps a boom truck's load rating, with stabilizers fully extended and set, at 85% of the tipping load7; the chart is the number to plan on.
Inspection sits in the Occupational Safety General Regulations, which treat a crane as a hoist. A competent person must inspect a hoist at least once a year, and a mobile or overhead crane with a capacity of greater than 5 t also needs an engineer's certificate every year3. Whether a boom truck is a "mobile crane" there, a term defined by whether CSA Z150 applies, we could not confirm, so ask for the certificate. The owner keeps a logbook, and the manufacturer's load chart where required, with the crane2. See load charts and boom truck inspection.
R 09 mPower lines
The Workplace Health and Safety Regulations leave their crane and electrical Parts as placeholders that point to the Occupational Safety General Regulations8, where section 126 sets the distances. They apply to any person or object, so the boom, hoist line, rigging and load all count: no work may bring one closer than 3.0 m to an energized overhead line of 750 V up to 69,000 V3.
| Line voltage | Minimum distance |
|---|---|
| Under 750 V | 1 m3 |
| 750 V up to 69,000 V | 3.0 m3 |
| Over 69,000 V up to 138,000 V | 5.0 m3 |
| Over 138,000 V | 6.0 m3 |
If the person doing the work does not know the voltage, the distance is 6.0 m3. Before work that could come closer than the table distance, the employer must contact the utility that owns or operates the line and make sure it is insulated or guarded, or provide equivalent protection3. A signaller is required where the operator cannot see clearly where the boom or load may come within the distance, or where the hoist is closer than its boom length to the line3.
Example. The utility says the line beside the lot is 25 kV: boom, line and load stay at least 3.0 m apart. At exactly 69,000 V or 138,000 V the text puts the line in the lower band; the power-line lookup shows the larger distance at an edge, and so should you. We found no separate distance for driving under a line, so ask the utility. If nobody can tell you the voltage, do not start the lift. See power lines and boom trucks.
R 12 mDriving and carrier rules
Nova Scotia sets the driver's licence class by weight, not by axles. Class 3 permits any single vehicle in excess of 14,000 kg (30,864 lb as written); Class 5 permits a single vehicle not in excess of 14,000 kg G.V.W.9. The regulation does not name a boom truck, so ask which class the truck's weight needs. Air brakes need an endorsement on top: a valid Class 1 to 6 licence and a written air brakes test9.
Not researched: National Safety Code carrier thresholds, commercial vehicle inspection, permits and seasonal weight restrictions. The Class 1 to 4 crane operator licences above are not driver's licence classes, though both are numbered; a boom truck needs a driver who may legally drive it and a licensed crane operator, who may or may not be the same person. See licences and the NSC.
R 15 mPublished rental rates: the NSRBA 2024 guide
We found no Nova Scotia government rate schedule for boom trucks. The Nova Scotia Road Builders Association (NSRBA) publishes 2024 Suggested Rental Rates for Construction Equipment, dated May 14, 2024, the newest edition posted on nsrba.ca on October 5, 2026; it is non-mandatory. Its hourly rate adds operator, fuel and running repairs to the monthly ownership rate divided by 176 hours10. For a telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truck, rates run from $105 an hour for the 8 ton line to $195 for the 25 ton line, fueled and operated10:
| Source | Capacity | Operator | $/h | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSRBA10 | 8-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $105.00 | 2024 |
| NSRBA | 9-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $110.00 | 2024 |
| NSRBA | 12-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $125.00 | 2024 |
| NSRBA | 15-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $140.00 | 2024 |
| NSRBA | 17-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $165.00 | 2024 |
| NSRBA | 25-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $195.00 | 2024 |
These are the guide's "ton" labels, not converted, and we rate our reading of the six lines medium confidence. Published rates are benchmarks for public works, not quotes; ask which edition a quote uses and whether operator and fuel are included. See boom truck rental rates.
R 18 mThe market here
Job Bank puts the median wage of boom truck crane operators in Nova Scotia at $41.20 an hour, from $25.00 to $50.0011; the national median is $42.7711, both on a 2023–2024 reference period. A wage is not a billed rate: an hourly rate also carries the truck, the crane, inspections and overhead. Statistics Canada counts for Nova Scotia were not in our rows, and no official statistic isolates boom trucks.
R 21 mGST/HST on rentals and leases
HST in Nova Scotia fell to 14% on April 1, 202512; New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island charge 15%12. For a rental of three months or less, the place of supply is the province where the supplier delivers the truck13.
Example. On a $1,000.00 rental invoice, 14% HST is $140.00; delivered to a New Brunswick site, 15% is $150.00. Registrants recover HST through input tax credits14. See CCA and tax if you own the truck.
R 24 mPlanning a lift and requesting a quote here
A Nova Scotia request is easier to price with:
- The load's weight plus rigging, and the radius and height of the heaviest pick. Ask the supplier for the chart capacity at your radius.
- Telescopic or articulating, and whether a knuckle boom has a winch for lifting the load, which Class 4 turns on (over 4.5 and under 18 tonnes)1.
- Operated (operator included) or bare (operator not included). With a bare hire, confirm your operator holds the licence class that fits1.
- Any overhead line and its voltage; the town, ground under the outriggers, access and dates.
Request a quote; it only goes to a company with your consent. With your consent, your request goes to one company that rents, sells or finances boom trucks in your area. That company may pay BoomTrucks.ca for the referral. We do not rent, sell or lease equipment.
Size the job with the boom truck size estimator, then request a quote. Next door: New Brunswick.
At a glance: every row behind this page
The research rows this page draws on, as recorded on 2026-10-06. Each links to its source.
Who may operate
- Nova Scotia: a Certificate of Competency and Crane Operator Licence (Technical Safety Act and Crane Operators Regulations) is required to operate a mobile crane, boom truck, overhead travelling crane or tower crane.1
- Nova Scotia Class 3 crane licence covers a boom truck or mobile crane with lifting capacity over 4.5 tonnes (5 tons) and under 18 tonnes (20 tons); Class 2 covers 18 t to under 91 t and Class 1 covers 91 t (100 tons) or more.1
- Nova Scotia Class 4 crane licence covers a boom truck with an articulating boom and no winch for lifting the load, lifting capacity over 4.5 tonnes and under 18 tonnes.1
- Nova Scotia Crane Operators Regulations s.2(1), s.3(a), s.19: a 'boom truck' is a lifting device mounted on and powered by a commercial truck chassis with a carrying deck designed to carry a payload (or a semi tractor trailer truck), with a rated lifting capacity of more than 4.5 tonnes (5 tons) and a telescoping or articulating boom; a boom truck is a regulated crane, and no one may do the regulated work, or employ or permit another person to, without the class of crane operator licence (and any endorsement) that authorizes it, except a trainee under s.27 or a holder of a certificate continued under s.20.2
- Nova Scotia Crane Operators Regulations s.26(1): a crane operator 3 licence authorizes any class 3 or 4 crane other than a lattice boom crane; a crane operator 4 licence authorizes only a class 4 crane; a crane operator 2 licence authorizes any class 2, 3 or 4 crane and a crane operator 1 licence any class 1, 2, 3 or 4 crane (lattice boom cranes need an endorsement). Under s.8(1) class 3 and class 4 cranes are under 18 tonnes (20 tons).2
- Nova Scotia Crane Operators Regulations ss.36(1), 37, 41(2), 43, 45: a crane operator 3 certificate of competency needs 2000 hours of practical experience on a class 3 crane and a crane operator 4 certificate 500 hours on a class 4 crane (a class 4 lift counts as 4 hours, up to 8 hours a day), each under the direct supervision of a licensed crane operator; a training program the chief inspector accepts may count as up to 1500 hours; the examination needs grade 10 math or an accepted equivalent and the passing grade is 65%.2
- Nova Scotia Crane Operators Regulations s.47: the crane operator chief inspector may grant a licence to an applicant who holds a qualification from another jurisdiction that is sufficiently equivalent, with sufficiently equivalent practical experience and education; an interprovincial certificate of qualification is equivalent to the certificate of competency that authorizes the same regulated work (s.47(3)); an applicant from a jurisdiction that grants no certificates may be required to undergo a prior learning assessment (s.47(2)).2
- Nova Scotia Crane Operators Regulations s.27: a trainee does not need the class of licence if the trainee is under the direct supervision of a crane operator who has charge of the crane at all times and the work is within the supervisor's licence class; a trainee who is not an apprentice must be registered with the chief inspector before training, and the owner must submit a training plan to the chief inspector.2
Standards and inspection
- Nova Scotia adopted CSA Z150 (2020-06-01 edition) and CSA Z150.3 (2017-10-01 edition) as Crane Operator codes under the Technical Safety Standards Regulations, in force February 7, 2023.4
- Nova Scotia Occupational Safety General Regulations: 'hoist' is defined (s.2(p)) to include cranes; s.56(a) requires a hoist to be operated by a competent person; s.73(4) requires, in addition to the s.72 inspection, that a competent person inspect a hoist at least once a year and, for a mobile or overhead crane with a capacity of greater than 5 t, that an engineer's certificate be obtained annually. 'Mobile crane' is defined (s.2(ua)) as a mobile crane to which the latest CSA Z150 applies; whether a boom truck falls within it was not confirmed.3
- Nova Scotia Workplace Health and Safety Regulations (N.S. Reg. 52/2013): Part 10 (Cranes, Hoists and Mobile Equipment) and Part 15 (Electrical Safety) are placeholder headings with no content, and each says to see the Occupational Safety General Regulations for the current regulations on that subject.8
- Nova Scotia Crane Operators Regulations ss.14-16: the owner of a regulated crane must provide a logbook kept with the crane or where the operator and an inspector can easily reach it; must provide a load chart specific to that type of crane, kept with the crane, if the manufacturer requires one; and must ensure the operator has access to the crane manual.2
Power lines
- Nova Scotia Occupational Safety General Regulations s.126(3): where work is done in close proximity to an energized overhead power line or power line equipment rated at less than 750 V phase to phase, the employer must ensure the work is done no closer than 1 m.3
- Nova Scotia Occupational Safety General Regulations s.126(4) table: no work may bring a person or object closer than 3.0 m to an overhead energized power line or power line equipment rated at 750 V and up to 69,000 V phase to phase.3
- Nova Scotia Occupational Safety General Regulations s.126(4) table: the distance is 5.0 m for a line or equipment rated greater than 69,000 V and up to 138,000 V phase to phase.3
- Nova Scotia Occupational Safety General Regulations s.126(4) table: the distance is 6.0 m for a line or equipment rated greater than 138,000 V phase to phase; the table lists no upper voltage.3
- Nova Scotia Occupational Safety General Regulations s.126(2): no person may carry out work that may bring a person or object closer than 6.0 m to an overhead energized power line or power line equipment whose voltage is not known to the person carrying out the work.3
- Nova Scotia Occupational Safety General Regulations s.126(5)-(6): before work that may bring a person or object closer than the s.126(3) or (4) distance, the employer must contact the authority (an electrical utility whose primary business is generating or distributing electricity) that owns or operates the line and ensure the line is adequately insulated or guarded, or provide an alternative protection of equivalent level; s.126 does not apply to work by a person employed, contracted or authorized by the authority, or where the employer has met the advance conditions in s.126(6)(c), which include a written certification from an engineer or the manufacturer that a person or object may be brought closer.3
- Nova Scotia Occupational Safety General Regulations s.57: the employer must designate a competent person as signaller where the operator of a hoist cannot see clearly where the hoist or its load may encroach the s.126 minimum distance, or where a hoist is positioned closer than the length of its boom to an overhead energized power line; the signaller must warn the operator each time the hoist or load may encroach that distance or the hoist is closer than its boom length to the line.3
Driving and carrier rules
- Nova Scotia Classification of Drivers' Licenses Regulations: a Class 3 licence permits any single vehicle in excess of 14,000 kg (30,864 lbs.) and any combination in excess of 14,000 kg G.V.W. (other than semi-trailer or tractor trailer combinations) with a towed vehicle not over 4500 kg (10,000 lbs.) G.V.W.; a Class 5 licence permits any single vehicle not in excess of 14,000 kg G.V.W. and such a combination with a towed vehicle not over 4500 kg. The regulation states these classes by weight, not axle count.9
- Nova Scotia Classification of Drivers' Licenses Regulations s.2(f): an endorsement valid for a vehicle equipped with air brakes may be added to a licence on holding a valid Class 1-6 licence and passing a written air brakes knowledge test; Classes 1 to 5 each say they do not permit the operation of vehicles with air brakes without the appropriate endorsement.9
National Safety Code carrier thresholds, commercial vehicle inspection, permits and seasonal weight restrictions were not researched for Nova Scotia.
Published rental rates
| Source | Capacity | Operator | $/h | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSRBA10 | 8-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $105.00 | 2024 |
| NSRBA | 9-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $110.00 | 2024 |
| NSRBA | 12-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $125.00 | 2024 |
| NSRBA | 15-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $140.00 | 2024 |
| NSRBA | 17-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $165.00 | 2024 |
| NSRBA | 25-ton telescopic straight-boom hydraulic boom truckFueled and operated; non-mandatory guide | Operated | $195.00 | 2024 |
- NSRBA's suggested rates are a non-mandatory guide; its hourly rate adds operator, fuel and running repairs to the monthly ownership rate divided by 176 hours, with fuel costed at $1.50 per litre.10
The market
- The median wage for boom truck crane operators in Nova Scotia is $41.20 per hour (low $25.00, high $50.00).11
GST/HST
- HST in Nova Scotia fell to 14% on April 1, 2025.12
Questions people ask
Do you need a licence to operate a boom truck in Nova Scotia?
Which CSA standards apply to boom trucks in Nova Scotia?
The province adopted CSA Z150 (2020 edition) and CSA Z150.3 (2017 edition) as crane operator codes, in force February 7, 20234. The 2026 edition of Z150 is not Nova Scotia law.
How close can a boom truck work to a power line in Nova Scotia?
How much does it cost to rent a boom truck per hour in Nova Scotia?
The NSRBA's 2024 suggested rates for a telescopic boom truck run from $105 an hour (8 ton) to $195 (25 ton), fueled and operated10. They are an association's suggestions, not quotes.
What driver's licence does a boom truck need in Nova Scotia?
Sources
- Crane Operators: classifications and licence requirementsGovernment of Nova Scotia (Labour, Skills and Immigration - Technical Safety Division) · Page (undated); verified 2026-10-05
- Crane Operators Regulations, N.S. Reg. 13/2011 (Technical Safety Act)Government of Nova Scotia (Office of the Registrar of Regulations) · Unofficial consolidation of N.S. Reg. 13/2011 (in force 2011-04-01); the Registry's list shows no amendment; verified 2026-10-06
- Occupational Safety General Regulations, N.S. Reg. 44/1999 (Occupational Health and Safety Act)Government of Nova Scotia (Office of the Registrar of Regulations) · Unofficial consolidation amended to N.S. Reg. 53/2013; the Registry's list shows no later amendment; verified 2026-10-06
- Safety Bulletin 0000020 - Technical Safety Standards Regulations: Adoption of Updated Crane Operator CodesGovernment of Nova Scotia (Labour, Skills and Immigration) · Issued 2023-02-28; codes in force 2023-02-07; verified 2026-10-05
- CSA Z150.3:17 (R2022) Safety code on articulating boom cranes (product page: scope)CSA Group · 2017 edition reaffirmed 2022 (store lists it as withdrawn); verified 2026-10-05
- CSA Z150:26 Safety code on mobile cranes (product page: preface and scope)CSA Group · 2026 edition (sixth edition); verified 2026-10-05
- CSA Z150:20 Safety code on mobile cranes - publisher preview pages (Table 1)CSA Group (preview hosted by Normsplash) · June 2020 edition (R2025); 2026 edition not checked for this table; verified 2026-10-05
- Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, N.S. Reg. 52/2013 (Occupational Health and Safety Act)Government of Nova Scotia (Office of the Registrar of Regulations) · Unofficial consolidation amended to N.S. Reg. 163/2025 (effective 2025-09-01); verified 2026-10-06
- Classification of Drivers' Licenses Regulations, N.S. Reg. 174/1982 (Motor Vehicle Act)Government of Nova Scotia (Office of the Registrar of Regulations) · Unofficial consolidation amended to N.S. Reg. 163/2024 (effective 2024-08-13); verified 2026-10-06
- 2024 Suggested Rental Rates for Construction EquipmentNova Scotia Road Builders Association · 2024 edition dated 2024-05-14 (newest posted on nsrba.ca, read 2026-10-05)
- Boom Truck Crane Operator in Canada: Wages (NOC 72500)Government of Canada, Job Bank (ESDC) · reference period 2023-2024; wages updated 2025-11-19
- GST/HST calculator (and rates)Canada Revenue Agency · rates effective 2025-04-01; page modified 2025-04-01; verified 2026-10-05
- GST/HST Memorandum 3-3-3, Place of Supply in a Province - Tangible Personal PropertyCanada Revenue Agency · April 2026; verified 2026-10-05
- Input tax credits - GST/HSTCanada Revenue Agency · page modified 2024-11-19; verified 2026-10-05