The list of Nova Scotia by-elections includes every by-election held in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
By-elections occur whenever there is a vacancy in the House of Assembly, although an imminent general election may allow the vacancy to remain until the dissolution of parliament.
Between 1840 and 1927 incumbent members were required to recontest their seats upon being appointed to Cabinet.
Although the error was corrected in 1864, it reappeared the following year and has since been perpetuated.
Consequently, to be strictly accurate, the present Assembly [convened in 1982] should be regarded as the 52nd, rather than the 53rd Assembly of the Province."