Restaurant ordering in Halifax: what the numbers say
Halifax grew 9.1% between 2016 and 2021, faster than the national average of 5.2%. Growth like that brings new customers every year, so it pays to collect their contact details with each direct order and build a list you own.
Halifax covers 5,476 km² at only about 80 people per km², so many addresses sit far from any restaurant. Draw delivery zones around the neighbourhoods you can actually reach in time, and promote pickup to everyone else.
Delivery zones across Halifax
You can draw separate zones and fees for the parts of Halifax you serve. Restaurants here often think in terms of areas like these:
- Downtown
- North End (Agricola and Gottingen)
- Quinpool Road
- Spring Garden Road
- Dartmouth
- Bedford
- Clayton Park
Local facts for Halifax restaurants
Halifax Regional Council made the donair the city’s official food in December 2015, after an 8–7 vote.
The Halifax Farmers’ Market was created in 1750 and is described as North America’s longest continuously running farmers’ market; it has been at the Seaport since 2010.
Sources: CBC News (December 2015); Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market.
Nearby cities you can reach
Halifax is a regional centre. The nearest large municipality is Moncton (187 km), so most of your orders will come from within Halifax and the communities around it.
Sales tax on online orders in Nova Scotia
Restaurant meals in Nova Scotia carry the harmonized sales tax (HST). The rate has been 14% (5% federal plus 9% provincial) since 1 April 2025, according to the Canada Revenue Agency. For rebates on small purchases and the full rules, see sales tax in Nova Scotia.
Chefzi shows tax on the checkout and receipt using the rates you set.
One system for Halifax restaurants
- Online ordering on your own site with no commission per order; guests order in the browser, with no app to download.
- POS and kitchen display, so online orders are never retyped.
- Table reservations and a loyalty program.
- Delivery by your own staff or by Uber Eats and DoorDash couriers.
- A staff order-taking app on Google Play (App Store coming soon).
- Card payments go straight to your restaurant. Menu setup and onboarding are free, plans are month-to-month, and pricing is $17 or $35 CAD a month. See pricing.
Nova Scotia rules for Halifax restaurants taking online orders
- Food Establishment Permit: you need a permit before you operate (Nova Scotia, Food Establishment Permit). A permit cannot be transferred to another person or establishment (s. 7) and must be posted (Nova Scotia Food Safety Regulations).
- Food hygiene training: the operator must complete a food hygiene training program. If the operator is away, a trained staff member must be present (s. 28; Nova Scotia Food Safety Regulations). Proof of training must be on site for the pre-opening inspection (Nova Scotia, guide to opening a food service establishment).
- Tax: orders carry 14% HST (Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST rates).
How Chefzi works for Halifax restaurants
Pricing is a flat monthly fee: see plans in CAD. Moving from GloriaFood? Read our GloriaFood migration guide.
- Your own ordering page and app, with your name and menu, and no commission per order.
- Delivery, pickup and table ordering from one menu.
- Orders go to a tablet or printer in your kitchen.
- Customer list and offers you control, for repeat orders.
- Card payments paid out to your own account.
Frequently asked questions
Does Chefzi take commission on orders in Halifax?
No. Chefzi charges a flat monthly fee. Card processing fees still apply to card payments, as with any payment provider.
Do I need a new permit if I buy an existing Halifax restaurant?
Yes. A Nova Scotia food establishment permit cannot be transferred to another person or establishment (Food Safety Regulations, s. 7).
Do I need my own drivers in Halifax?
No. Deliver with your own staff or book Uber Eats and DoorDash couriers from Chefzi, and offer pickup as well.
Do my customers need to download an app?
No. Customers order on your website, in the browser. The Chefzi app on Google Play is for your staff to take orders.
How much does Chefzi cost in Halifax?
$17 CAD (Cash and pickup) or $35 CAD (Card payments) per location per month. Setup is free and plans are month-to-month.