E-bike laws in Nunavut

If an e-bike is over the limits

Not stated in the law: see sources.

Fines and penalties

• Iqaluit's All Terrain Vehicle By-law No. 557, which lists "a pedal bike with motor attachment" as an all-terrain vehicle, sets voluntary penalties of $100 for an unregistered ATV, $50 for no valid licence plate, $200 for no insurance, $50 for no working head or tail lamps between sunset and sunrise and $50 for inadequate brakes. Source: City of Iqaluit All Terrain Vehicle By-law No. 557, ss. 3, 5-7 and Schedule B (checked Nov 1, 2026)

Good to know

• The Traffic Safety Act defines a "bicycle" as a device with any number of wheels that a person sits astride and that is propelled by human muscular power through pedals. Bicycle riders must stay off sidewalks, keep right, ride single file, keep a hand on the handlebars, ride astride the seat and carry no more people than the bike is built for; an adjacent bicycle path must be used. Source: Traffic Safety Act (formerly Motor Vehicles Act), R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. M-16 as it applies in Nunavut, s. 1 ("bicycle", "moped", "motorcycle", "motor vehicle"), ss. 36, 66, 233, 243, 246 (consolidation current to 2019-12-06; later amendments S.Nu. 2020 c.15, 2021 c.10, 2021 c.20, 2025 c.15, 2026 c.7 checked: none touch bicycles or mopeds) (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• The same Act defines a "moped" as a vehicle with 2 tandem wheels or 3 wheels (each over 250 mm), a seat at least 650 mm high, that can be driven by pedals, by motor or by both, with a motor of 50 cc or less or an electric motor that cannot take it above 70 km/h. Mopeds are not excluded from "motor vehicle", and motor vehicles need a licensed driver (s. 66) and insurance (s. 36). The motorcycle helmet rule (s. 243) does not cover mopeds, because "motorcycle" excludes them. Source: Traffic Safety Act (formerly Motor Vehicles Act), R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. M-16 as it applies in Nunavut, s. 1 ("bicycle", "moped", "motorcycle", "motor vehicle"), ss. 36, 66, 233, 243, 246 (consolidation current to 2019-12-06; later amendments S.Nu. 2020 c.15, 2021 c.10, 2021 c.20, 2025 c.15, 2026 c.7 checked: none touch bicycles or mopeds) (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• The All-terrain Vehicles Act's definition of "all-terrain vehicle" includes "a pedal bicycle with motor attachment", and all-terrain vehicles are excluded from the Traffic Safety Act's "motor vehicle". All-terrain vehicles may not be driven on a roadway or shoulder outside a municipality or regulated area except to cross or in limited cases; the Act's age (14), helmet and registration rules apply to those on 3 or 4 wheels; municipalities can make bylaws on registration, licensing, age, safety and insurance. Source: All-terrain Vehicles Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. A-3 as it applies in Nunavut, ss. 1-5, 9.03-9.08 (consolidation current to 2012-03-13; later amendments 2013 c.20, 2017 c.20, 2020 c.15, 2023 c.17 checked: definition unchanged) (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• Iqaluit: the Traffic Safety By-law No. 894 (2020) uses the All-terrain Vehicles Act definition and says no one may operate an all-terrain vehicle on a roadway or publicly accessed area without a valid plate, registration and liability insurance, or without a prescribed helmet. The older All Terrain Vehicle By-law No. 557 names "a pedal bike with motor attachment" as an all-terrain vehicle, requires riders under 14 to have an adult on board, and bans all-terrain vehicles from sidewalks, parks, playgrounds and school grounds. Sources: City of Iqaluit Traffic Safety By-law No. 894 (2020), definitions and s. 14 (scanned PDF, read with OCR) (checked Nov 1, 2026) ; City of Iqaluit All Terrain Vehicle By-law No. 557, ss. 3, 5-7 and Schedule B (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• The Government of Nunavut's Driver's Manual (PDF file dated 2005) mentions "power bicycles" only in a list of motor vehicles that do not need two headlights, and says moped operators need a Class 5 driver's licence. It predates the Act's current "bicycle" and "moped" definitions (2017 amendments). Source: Nunavut Driver's Manual (Community Government and Transportation; file dated 2005, posted 2022-12) (checked Nov 1, 2026)
• Many websites say the territories follow federal e-bike rules (500 W, 32 km/h). Transport Canada says the federal "power assisted bicycle" definition has not been in force since February 4, 2021, and Nunavut's law has not adopted those limits. Sources: Importing non-regulated vehicles (power-assisted bicycles section) (checked Nov 1, 2026) ; Traffic Safety Act (formerly Motor Vehicles Act), R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. M-16 as it applies in Nunavut, s. 1 ("bicycle", "moped", "motorcycle", "motor vehicle"), ss. 36, 66, 233, 243, 246 (consolidation current to 2019-12-06; later amendments S.Nu. 2020 c.15, 2021 c.10, 2021 c.20, 2025 c.15, 2026 c.7 checked: none touch bicycles or mopeds) (checked Nov 1, 2026)

What we couldn’t confirm

We leave a rule blank rather than guess. These points still need an official source:

• Which category an e-bike falls into (Traffic Safety Act "bicycle" or "moped", All-terrain Vehicles Act "pedal bicycle with motor attachment", or none): the "bicycle" definition does not say whether motor help is allowed, and no statute, regulation or Government of Nunavut page says. Ask the Government of Nunavut Motor Vehicles office.
• max_power_w, max_assisted_speed_kmh, max_weight_kg, pedals_required, throttle_allowed: Nunavut law sets no e-bike limits (the law says nothing).
• licence_required, registration_required, insurance_required, helmet_required, min_age, passengers, where_allowed, over_limit: each depends on the unresolved category above.
• The official consolidations are out of date (Traffic Safety Act to 2019-12-06, All-terrain Vehicles Act to 2012-03-13); the listed later amendments were read and do not touch these definitions, but regulations made since were not all checked.
• Iqaluit By-law No. 557 (2005) may have been partly replaced by By-law No. 894 (2020), which repeals only By-laws 319 and 799; other communities' bylaws were not checked.