On this page you will find information and related relevant links to the campground regulations in Canada broken down by province because we want to help you become a successful camp host.
This page is currently a work in progress and will be updated as the information becomes available to us.
Overview:
- Land Use Planning and Development
- Canadian Campground Regulations by Province
- Agri-Tourism
- Related Links
Land Use Planning and Development
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Quebec
- Ontario
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
Campground Regulations
Alberta
Alberta Private Campgrounds are allowed to remain open COVID-19
COVID-19 INFORMATION GUIDANCE FOR PRIVATE AND MUNICIPAL CAMPGROUNDS
British Columbia Regional Districts
| Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako |
|---|
| ●”Really no campsites if it is a commercial operation and the property is not zoned for it. There is a provision in our zoning bylaw for parking a maximum of two camping vehicles on a parcel for recreation purposes for a maximum period of 6 months in any given year, provided that the Camping Vehicle remains capable of being moved, is not affixed to the ground in any way and is not affixed to any Structure such as a canopy, deck, or porch.” ●Land Use Planning Zoning by law ●Campgrounds and primitive campgrounds are permitted in some zones. If you wish to find out the zoning of a specific property you can use their web mapping site at: Mapping :: RDBN ●if a property is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, they also have land use regulations. You can find more information here: Permitted Uses in the ALR – ALC (gov.bc.ca) |
| Regional District of Kootenay Boundary |
|---|
| Land use Policies, Zoning and By laws |
| Regional District of East Kootenay |
|---|
| ●“Usually the definition of a campground in our zoning bylaws identifies a campground as a parcel of land with any combination of 3 or more tents, RVs, park model trailers or cottages. Park model trailers and cottages are only permitted in campgrounds. Therefore, you might be permitted up to two tents or RVs (or combination of) on a parcel without being considered a campground.” ●Campground Regulations “(2) Minimum Campsite Size (a) Each campsite shall be not less than 140 m2 in area, clearly distinguishable from adjacent campsites on a campground plan, and accessible from the internal road system of the campground. Campsites shall not be directly accessible from a highway” ●Zoning by laws ●Jaffray, Tie Lake and Rosen Lake Land Use Bylaw No. 1414, 1999 ●Property within the Agricultural Land Reserve must also comply with Agricultural Land Commission Regulations. |
| City of Nanaimo |
|---|
| ●Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 No person shall occupy a campground for more than 90 days per calendar year, with the exception of the campground owner or manager. No accessory building or structure shall be placed on a camping space. The minimum average camping space shall not be less than 100m2 |
| REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NANAIMO |
|---|
| ●BYLAW NO. 500 – CAMPGROUND REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS LAYOUT STANDARDS 1.1 Camping Spaces 1) Every camping space shall have a minimum area of not less than 110 m2. 2) Every camping space shall have a maximum slope of 5%. 3) No camping space shall be located within: a) 3.0 m of an internal access road; and b) the setback areas in the applicable zones established pursuant to Part 3.4 of this Bylaw. 4) Each camping space shall have one conveniently located parking space adjacent to the internal access road and may be sited in the area allotted for the 3.0 m setback. 5) No recreation vehicle or tent shall be located elsewhere in a campground than on a camping space. 6) Only one recreational vehicle or tent shall be located on a camping space. |
| REGIONAL DISTRICT OF CENTRAL OKANAGAN |
|---|
| ●Please note campgrounds are not allowed in the Regional District unless zoned as a permitted use. ●ZONING BYLAW NO. 871 |
| Regional District of North Okanagan |
|---|
| ●No campsites on properties that do not permit campgrounds in their Zoning by laws unless it is a farm in the ALR. ●Zoning Bylaw No. 1888, 2003 DIVISION THIRTEEN – CAMPGROUND REGULATIONS Camping Spaces Each camping space within a campground shall: a. have a minimum area of 84 square metres (904.2 square feet) and be clearly identified by a number or similar designation; and b. accommodate only one (1) trailer or tent; and c. be no closer than 3 metres (9.842 feet) to a roadway; and d. be no closer than 7.5 metres (24.61 feet) to the boundary of the campground; and e. have one (1) conveniently located parking space adjacent to the roadway, all or part of which may be within the setback required under Subsection c. above. ●ALC Agricultural Land Commission INFORMATION BULLETIN 06 The maximum amount of campsite on ALC Zoned property is 10 – dependent on the size of the property and the farm activity. |
| Peace River (Regional District) |
|---|
| ●The renting out of campsites is considered a campground regardless of the number of campsites. ●PEACE RIVER REGIONAL DISTRICT Private Campground Guidelines ●Zoning / OCP Boundary Map All Areas ●Zoning Bylaw – Chetwynd Rural Area E ●Zoning Bylaw – Dawson Creek Rural Area D, Area E ●Zoning Bylaw – Fringe Areas surrounding Chetwynd, Dawson Creek and Fort St John All Areas ●Zoning Bylaw – Lemoray area to the PRRD western boundary Area E ●Zoning Bylaw – North Peace Area Area B |
| THOMPSON-NICOLA REGIONAL DISTRICT BYLAW NO. 1209 |
|---|
| ●PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT ●DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FORM ●A Bylaw to regulate the development and operations of campgrounds 2.0 CAMPGROUND DESIGN AND LAYOUT STANDARDS 2.1 The minimum area for each campsite shall be as follows: (a) 80 square metres for any tenting site; (b) 100 square metres for any recreational vehicle site accommodating recreational vehicles less than 40 square metres in area; and (c) 200 square metres for any recreational vehicle site accommodating recreational vehicles greater than 40 square metres in area. |
| Regional District of Okanagan‐Similkameen |
|---|
| ●Campsite Permits ●Campground Regulations Bylaw No. 2779, 2018 7.1.2 Campsite Space .1 Each campsite within a campground shall: a) be clearly distinguishable from adjacent campsites on a campground plan; b) be accessible from the internal road system of the campground; and c) not be directly accessible from a highway. Area “A” Zoning Bylaw Area “C” Zoning Bylaw Area “D” Zoning Bylaw Area “E” Zoning Bylaw Area “F” Zoning Bylaw Area “G” Zoning Bylaw Area “H” Zoning Bylaw Area “I” Zoning Bylaw |
| Squamish-Lillooet (Regional District) |
|---|
| ●Land Use and Zoning Bylaws ●Any form of campground is permitted only in zones where “campground” is listed as a permitted use. ●Area A Zoning ●Area B Zoning ●Area C Zoning ●Area D Zoning |
| Strathcona Regional District – Land use Zoning and by laws |
|---|
| ●No campsites on properties unless campgrounds are permitted in the Zoning by laws ●The north and west of our regional district has no zoning, therefore campgrounds would be permitted, subject to provincial and/or federal rules. Generally the Province requires a Licence of Occupation for campgrounds on Crown lands. The east and south fall under various zoning bylaws which permit campgrounds under various Commercial zones, with setbacks, densities etc. that vary depending on the bylaw. |
Nova Scotia
●A Guide to Starting and Operating a Campground Business in Nova Scotia
Site Capacity/Sizes
●While federal and provincial park planning standards call for a development standard of between four and eight sites per acre (gross), this is often difficult to achieve in a private campground because of the economics of operating a campground.
●Regulations under the Nova Scotia Tourism Accommodations Act & Regulations require a minimum of 111.5 square metres (1,200sq. ft.) for tenting sites, and a minimum of 223 square metres (2400 sq. ft.) for sites for other than tenting (e.g. recreational vehicles). These sizes are for the sites alone – when other land requirements are added, such as for roads, buildings, playgrounds and a buffer zone between sites, the total requirement per site will be significantly higher. For example, for tenting sites, when other land requirements have been added, the total could reach some 400 square metres (4,000 sq.ft.). This latter figure could be used for total land estimating purposes
Agri-tourism
Alberta:
Opportunities in Ag Tourism Ventures
The purpose of this fact sheet series is to help producers and processors understand the key elements needed to manage a business. The fact sheets also discuss some of the essential components used to develop a business plan and assess the profitability of a business venture.
British Columbia:
- British Columbia: Farm Diversification through Agri‐tourism
- British Columbia agricultural land reserve use regulation
Manitoba:
Manitoba: Producers Can Profit with Agritourism