Gift card laws in Canada and the US

This guide is not legal advice. It is a plain summary of what each official text said when we read it on Oct 18, 2026. Laws change, and each one has details and exceptions this page leaves out. Read the official source for your province or state, and ask a lawyer about your own cards.

What most places agree on

• A gift card a guest pays for is their money until they spend it. Most places limit or ban expiry dates and fees on it.
• Free promotional and loyalty cards usually follow looser rules.
• Whatever your terms are, they must be told to the buyer when they buy, and many places require them on the card itself.

Canada, province by province

Gift card rules in Canada are provincial. For the territories, the Government of the Northwest Territories says it does not regulate gift cards, and we found no gift card rule in the consumer protection acts of Yukon or Nunavut. Check with the territory before you rely on that.

Alberta

Consumer Protection Act, Gift Card Regulation (Alta. Reg. 146/2008)

• A gift card bought for money may not have an expiry date.
• The only fees allowed are a one-time activation fee when the card is bought, a fee to replace a lost or stolen card, and a fee to customize it.
• The terms, including how to check the balance and the return policy, must be printed on the card and its packaging, and the buyer gets a receipt.
• The government’s page says promotional cards, loyalty cards and cards for a specific service with no dollar amount are not covered.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: Alberta King’s Printer: Gift Card Regulation; Government of Alberta: information about gift cards

British Columbia

Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, Part 4.1, and the Prepaid Purchase Cards Regulation

• A gift card or gift certificate may not have an expiry date; one that has one can be used as if it had none.
• No fees, except to replace a lost or stolen card or to customize it.
• At the sale, the buyer must be told every restriction and condition and how to check the balance.
• Cards for a specific good or service, charitable cards, and promotional cards given free or below full value may expire.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: BC Laws: Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, Part 4.1; BC Laws: Prepaid Purchase Cards Regulation

Manitoba

The Consumer Protection Act, Part XX, and the Prepaid Purchase Cards Regulation (M.R. 98/2007)

• A gift card may not have an expiry date; it is good until fully used or replaced.
• No inactivity fee, and no other fee except to replace a lost or stolen card or to customize it.
• The holder must be told every restriction and how to check the balance.
• Cards for a specific good or service, and cards given for nothing, may expire.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: Manitoba Laws: The Consumer Protection Act; Manitoba Laws: Prepaid Purchase Cards Regulation

New Brunswick

Gift Cards Act and its General Regulation (2008-152)

• A gift card may not have an expiry date; it is good until fully used or replaced.
• A card may not be sold for less than its value, and no fees are allowed except to replace a lost or stolen card or to customize it.
• At the sale, every term and how to check the balance must be disclosed in writing.
• Charitable cards, cards for a specific good or service, and promotional cards may expire.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: New Brunswick Acts and Regulations: Gift Cards Act; New Brunswick Acts and Regulations: General Regulation 2008-152

Newfoundland and Labrador

Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act, Gift Card Regulations (NLR 14/11)

• A gift card may not have an expiry date; one that has one can be used as if it had none.
• No fees, except to replace a lost or stolen card or to customize it.
• Any expiry date, any fee, the return policy and how to check the balance must be printed on the card.
• Charitable and promotional cards are the exceptions.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: House of Assembly: Gift Card Regulations

Nova Scotia

Consumer Protection Act, Gift Card Regulations (N.S. Reg. 325/2009)

• A gift card may not have an expiry date; one that has one can be used as if it had none.
• A card may not be worth less than was paid for it, and no fees are allowed except to replace a lost or stolen card or to customize it.
• Any expiry date, any fees, the return policy and how to check the balance must be printed on the card.
• Charitable and promotional cards are the exceptions.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Nova Scotia Registry of Regulations: Gift Card Regulations

Ontario

Consumer Protection Act, 2002, O. Reg. 17/05, sections 23 and 25.1 to 25.5

• A gift card bought for money may not have an expiry date; one that has one is treated as if it had none.
• A card may not be worth less than was paid for it, and no fees are allowed except to replace a lost or stolen card or to customize it.
• The agreement must set out every restriction, limitation and condition on using the card.
• Cards for one specific good or service, and charitable cards, are not covered.
• The Consumer Protection Act, 2023 has passed but is not yet in force; these rules apply until it is.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: Ontario e-Laws: O. Reg. 17/05; Government of Ontario: buying or using gift cards; Ontario e-Laws: Consumer Protection Act, 2023

Prince Edward Island

Gift Cards Act and its General Regulations (EC346/10)

• A gift card may not have an expiry date; it is good until fully used or replaced.
• A card may not be sold for less than its value, and no fees are allowed except to replace a lost or stolen card or to customize it.
• Every term and how to check the balance must be disclosed in writing.
• Charitable cards, cards for a specific good or service, and promotional cards may expire.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: Government of PEI: Gift Cards Act; Government of PEI: Gift Cards Act General Regulations

Quebec

Consumer Protection Act, sections 187.1 to 187.5, and its regulation, sections 79.1 to 79.6

• A prepaid card may not expire on a date or with time, unless it gives unlimited use of a service.
• The Office de la protection du consommateur says a card for a specific good or service, such as a meal, cannot expire either.
• No charge may be made for issuing or using a store’s own card.
• Before the sale, the buyer must be told the conditions of use and how to check the balance.
• A balance of CA$5 or less is refunded in cash when the guest asks.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: LégisQuébec: Consumer Protection Act; LégisQuébec: Regulation respecting the application of the Consumer Protection Act; Office de la protection du consommateur: cards for a meal or a service

Saskatchewan

The Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act, Part VI, and its Regulations, Part IV

• A gift card may not have an expiry date; one that has one is treated as if it had none.
• No inactivity or dormancy fee, and no other fee except to replace a lost or stolen card or to customize it.
• At the sale, the buyer must be told every restriction and how to check the balance.
• Charitable cards and cards given for nothing are the exceptions.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: Publications Saskatchewan: The Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act; Publications Saskatchewan: The Consumer Protection and Business Practices Regulations; Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority: gift cards

United States: the federal rule, then states

A federal rule covers store gift cards in every state, and a state can add stricter rules of its own. We list the states whose rules we could confirm on an official legislature or government site. Other states have their own rules, including unclaimed property rules for balances that are never spent.

Federal (every state)

Regulation E, 12 CFR 1005.20, from the Credit CARD Act of 2009

• A store gift card bought for money may not expire sooner than five years after it was sold or money was last loaded onto it, and the card must show the date the money expires, or that it does not.
• A dormancy, inactivity or service fee is allowed only after a year with no use of the card, at most once a month, and only if the card says so.
• Fees and expiry terms must be shown before the sale, printed on the card itself, and cannot be changed after the sale.
• It does not cover free loyalty, award or promotional cards, cards not sold to the general public, or gift certificates issued only on paper.
• A state law can add to these rules but cannot allow less.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: eCFR: 12 CFR 1005.20, requirements for gift cards and gift certificates; eCFR: 12 CFR 1005.12, relation to state law; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Regulation E, 1005.20

California

Civil Code sections 1749.45 to 1749.6

• A gift certificate may not have an expiry date or a service fee, including a dormancy fee, apart from one narrow exception for small balances on reloadable cards.
• From April 1, 2026, a card worth less than US$15 can be cashed out for its value.
• Free promotional or loyalty certificates, and certificates issued for perishable food products, may carry an expiry date printed in capital letters on the front. The law does not say whether a restaurant meal counts as a perishable food product.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: California Legislative Information: Civil Code 1749.45 to 1749.6

Colorado

Colorado Revised Statutes 6-1-722

• A gift card may not carry a service, dormancy, inactivity, maintenance or any other fee.
• A card with US$5 or less left can be cashed out when the holder asks.
• This section sets no expiry rule; the federal rule still applies.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Colorado General Assembly: C.R.S. Title 6 (2024 printout), 6-1-722

Connecticut

General Statutes 42-460, 42-461 and 3-65c

• A gift certificate may not have an expiry date.
• No dormancy or inactivity fee, or any similar charge.
• A balance under US$5 after a purchase is refunded in cash when the holder asks, and the buyer gets a receipt.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: Connecticut General Assembly: chapter 743cc (42-460, 42-461); Connecticut General Assembly: chapter 32 (3-65c)

Illinois

Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, 815 ILCS 505/2SS

• A gift certificate may not expire sooner than five years after it was sold, and may not carry a fee after the sale.
• Its value may not be reduced for not being used.
• The section does not apply to gift certificates issued for a food product, or to free promotional ones. It does not say whether a restaurant meal counts as a food product.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Illinois General Assembly: 815 ILCS 505/2SS

Maine

Maine Revised Statutes, title 33, section 2067

• No time limit may be put on using a gift card.
• No fees, except a transaction fee when the card is first sold, disclosed in writing beforehand.
• A balance under US$5, redeemed in person, is refunded in cash when the holder asks, unless the card started at US$5 or less.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Maine Legislature: 33 M.R.S. 2067

Massachusetts

General Laws chapter 200A, section 5D, and chapter 266, section 75C

• A gift certificate is good for at least seven years after it is sold, and its date of sale and expiry must be on it. Without them it never expires.
• Once a card that cannot be reloaded is at least 90% spent, the holder may take the rest in cash; a reloadable card with US$5 or less left can be cashed out.

Official sources, read Oct 18, 2026: Massachusetts Legislature: chapter 200A, section 5D; Massachusetts Legislature: chapter 266, section 75C

Minnesota

Minnesota Statutes 325G.53

• A gift certificate may not have an expiry date or a service fee of any kind, including a dormancy fee.
• Free loyalty or promotional certificates are not covered.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Minnesota Revisor of Statutes: 325G.53

Montana

Montana Code Annotated 30-14-108

• A gift certificate is good until it is used and does not expire.
• Its value may not be reduced by any fee, including a dormancy fee.
• If it started above US$5 and has less than US$5 left, the holder can ask for the rest in cash.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Montana Legislature: MCA 30-14-108

New York

General Business Law section 396-i

• A gift card may not expire sooner than nine years after it was sold or money was last loaded, and its expiry terms must be clearly shown on it.
• No fees of any kind on a store’s own gift card, and its value may not go down over time or for not being used.
• A balance under US$5 can be cashed out when the holder asks.
• The seller must show a notice that terms and conditions apply to gift cards, and a gift card scam warning where cards are sold.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: New York State Senate: General Business Law 396-i

Oregon

Oregon Revised Statutes 646A.274 to 646A.278

• A gift card may not have an expiry date, lose value over time, or carry a fee, including an inactivity, maintenance or service fee.
• Once a card has been used at least once, a balance under US$5 can be cashed out.
• A card sold below face value may expire, with the date printed on it, after at least 30 days.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Oregon Legislature: ORS chapter 646A

Rhode Island

General Laws section 6-13-12

• A gift certificate may not have an expiry date, a time limit or a monthly or yearly service or maintenance fee.
• After a partial use, the seller gives a new certificate for the rest, or cash when less than US$1 is left.
• The seller records each sale and gives a numbered receipt for a certificate over US$50.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Rhode Island General Assembly: 6-13-12

Texas

Business and Commerce Code chapter 604

• An expiry date or fee must be clearly disclosed when the card is sold and printed on the card; a card sold without it is good until used.
• A periodic fee must be reasonable, disclosed, and not charged before the card’s first anniversary; the federal rule is stricter.
• A balance under US$2.50 after a purchase is refunded when the guest asks, unless the card started at US$5 or less and cannot be reloaded.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Texas Constitution and Statutes: Business and Commerce Code chapter 604

Vermont

Vermont Statutes, title 8, sections 2701 to 2709

• The paid value of a gift certificate is good for at least five years after it was sold or money was last loaded, and its dates must be on it. Without them it does not expire.
• Dormancy, issuance, redemption and other service fees are not allowed.
• A balance under US$1 is paid in cash when the holder asks.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Vermont General Assembly: title 8, chapter 81

Washington

Revised Code of Washington chapter 19.240

• A gift certificate may not have an expiry date, any fee, or a dormancy or inactivity charge.
• A balance under US$5 after a purchase is paid in cash when the holder asks.
• Only award or loyalty certificates, and ones donated to charities, may expire, with the date clearly shown.

Official source, read Oct 18, 2026: Washington State Legislature: RCW 19.240

How Mezbano fits

In Mezbano, a paid card has no expiry date unless the brand’s owner sets one, and the setting warns to check the law first. Promotional cards a store gives away expire after three months, unless the brand sets another number. Mezbano charges the guest no fee on any card. What you print on a card or a sign, how you handle small balances, and what you tell buyers are yours to decide under the rules above.