Explosives Regulations and the Industry

Licences for Storage

Licences for the storage of explosives and explosive articles

Forms and Guidelines

Magazine Licence

A magazine licence is required to store all explosives for sale or use. These licences are issued by the five regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Saint-Hyacinthe and Halifax. A vendor magazine licence is required to store blasting explosives, propellants, fireworks and pyrotechnics for sale when so required by the Explosives Regulations. A user magazine licence is required to sotre explosives for use in specific circumstances (e.g., a Zone user licence allows the licensee to move with operational requirements and a Special user licence allows the licensee to share a magazine with others). Perforating, Seismic, Heliportable and Track Drill user licences relate either to oil exploration or production. All fees are based on a 12-month renewal cycle. Electronic copies of noted forms are available and can be obtained by contacting the nearest regional office or e-mailing the Licensing and Compliance Group.


Top of Page
 

Explosives User Magazine Licence (Type U)

This type of licence is required to store blasting explosives and any other type of industrial explosives for use if:

  • any quantity stored is for commercial use;
  • the quantity stored for private use exceeds 75 kilograms or 100 detonators; or
  • the period of storage of any quantity exceeds 90 days.

The fee for an Explosives User Magazine Licence is $140 per magazine, minimum fee of $280.

The fee for a Zone Explosives User Magazine Licence is $200 per magazine, minimum fee of $400.


Top of Page
 

Explosives Vendor Magazine Licence (Type V)

This type of licence is required to store blasting explosives and other types of industrial explosives for sale if:

  • any quantity is kept by the vendor in storage magazines; or
  • any quantity is sold on consignment, whether or not stored at any time by the vendor.

The fee for this type of licence is:

  • $25 per 1000 kilograms net explosives quantity of high explosives and
  • $275 per initiation systems magazine.


Top of Page
 

Fireworks Magazine Licence (Type X)

This type of licence is required to store:

  • consumer fireworks for sale or use, if quantities exceed 1000 kilograms gross weight;
  • display fireworks for use, if quantities exceed 125 kilograms gross weight or if they are for direct or consignment sale in any quantity;
  • rocket motors (motors exceeding 80 Newton-seconds total impulse) for direct or consignment sale in any quantity;
  • low-hazard, practical purpose pyrotechnics (distress flares, wildlife control devices, etc.) for use or sale, if quantities exceed 1000 kilograms gross weight;
  • high-hazard, practical purpose pyrotechnics (theatrical effects, line throwing rockets, etc.), if quantities exceed 125 kilograms gross weight or if they are for direct or consignment sale in any quantity.

The fee for a Fireworks User Magazine Licence is $70.

The fee for a Fireworks Vendor Magazine Licence is:

  • $140 for retail outlets
  • $350 for distributor establishments
  • $700 for distributor establishments and repacking explosives


Top of Page
 

Propellant Magazine Licence (Type P)

This licence is required to store propellant powder, primers and small arms ammunition if:

  • the quantity of powder stored for personal use exceeds 75 kilograms;
  • the quantity of powder stored for sale exceeds 12 kilograms net explosives weight or 10 000 primers; or
  • the storage of ammunition exceeds 225 kilograms net explosives quantity.

The fee for a Propellant User Magazine Licence is $70.
The fee for a Propellant Vendor Magazine Licence is:

  • $140 for retail outlets
  • $350 for distributor establishments
  • $700 for distributor establishments and repacking explosives