Overview

You may want to use wood from Crown land for personal uses, such as:

  • campfires and home heating
  • small building projects and landscaping
  • hobbies, arts and crafts
  • a Christmas tree

Using wood for non-commercial purposes from Crown land is known as personal use harvesting.

Depending on the type and amount of personal use harvesting you want to do, you may need an authorization.

When you don’t need an authorization to harvest for personal use

Each year, your household can use some wood from Crown land for your personal use without an authorization. You do not require an authorization for:

  • collecting a maximum of 10 cubic metres or four full stacked cords of downed wood (dead wood that is on the ground)
  • cutting one Christmas tree that is a maximum of 2.5 metres high (north of the French and Mattawa rivers only)
  • transplanting up to five trees that are a maximum of 1.4 metres high
  • cutting branches from standing trees, if the branches are a maximum of 7.5 centimetres in diameter and where the removal of the branches will not kill the tree
  • collecting wood for a campfire (downed wood or cut standing dead trees) while lawfully camping or recreating on Crown land, for immediate use

Even though you don’t need an authorization for these activities, you must follow the requirements listed in:

You are exempt from these requirements if you are harvesting for personal use according to a right protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (Aboriginal or treaty rights).

Requirements to follow when harvesting or personal use without an authorization

While harvesting wood without an authorization on Crown land, you must:

  • be at least 16 years of age, or under the direct and immediate supervision of a person who is at least 16 years of age
  • only harvest on Crown land (find Crown land using the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas)
  • be lawfully camping to harvest for personal use while camping
  • not sell, trade or barter harvested wood, trees, branches or products made from them
  • not transport personal use wood outside of Ontario
  • not damage living trees or parts of living trees other than the trees or branches being harvested for the purposes listed in the previous section “when you don’t need an authorization to harvest for personal use”
  • not use heavy equipment, such as tractors or skidders
  • not harvest in water, such as lakes, streams, rivers or ponds
  • not harvest in active forest operations where forestry staff or equipment are present, or where posted signs say that forest operations are scheduled
  • not gather downed wood that has been stacked by forest industry operators
  • not build new trails or roads, or extend or enhance existing trails or roads
  • not leave material on road surfaces, in road rights-of-way or ditches

You are exempt from these requirements if you are harvesting for personal use according to a right protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (Aboriginal or treaty rights).

There may be additional rules, regulations and/or prohibitions that apply to these activities, for example under the Endangered Species Act or Public Lands Act.

Contact your local ministry work centre if you have questions.

Where you can harvest for personal use without an authorization

There are limits on where you can harvest wood for personal use.

You can harvest wood for personal use on Crown land that is within the Northern Boreal or Managed Forest Zone, shown on the map on this page.

In the Southern Ontario/Great Lakes Zone, you can only harvest wood for personal use on Crown land if you are:

  • collecting campfire wood while lawfully camping on Crown land (find Crown land using the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas)
  • harvesting for personal use according to a right protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (Aboriginal or treaty rights)

You cannot harvest for personal use:

  • in provincial parks and conservation reserves
  • on private land
  • on First Nations reserves
  • on federal land
  • on Crown land occupied by others (for example, a land use permit or lease)

If you are not sure where you can harvest, contact your local ministry work centre.

Forest administrative zones map

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This map shows the province of Ontario and the boundaries of the three forest administrative zones: Northern Boreal, Managed Forest Zone and Southern Ontario/Great Lakes.

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When you need an authorization to harvest for personal use

If you want to do any personal use harvesting that is beyond or not listed in the above sections, you need to:

  • apply for an authorization
  • pay in advance for the wood that you harvest

The maximum amount that an individual can be authorized to harvest for personal use each year is:

  • 20 cubic metres of standing or downed wood
  • 20 transplanted trees (under 1.4 metres in height)

We will not authorize any personal use harvesting in the Southern Ontario/Great Lakes Zone.

How to apply for an authorization

To apply for an authorization, submit an application online using the Natural Resources Information Portal. From the portal, select “Access” under the forestry business line to get the form to apply for a personal use harvesting authorization.

As part of your application, you will need to describe:

  • which tree species you wish to harvest
  • where you are proposing to harvest

You can use the Tree Atlas to find out information about tree species and/or the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas to help you identify the location you are proposing to harvest within.

If your application is approved, your authorization will describe the terms and conditions of the harvest.

If you need an alternative format to apply

Contact the local ministry work centre where you wish to harvest wood for personal use if you need the application form in an alternate format.

Aboriginal and treaty rights

If you harvest for personal use pursuant to a right protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (Aboriginal and treaty rights), then you are not required to apply for an authorization. However, you can choose to apply for one if you wish. To apply:

  1. Follow the application process described under “How to apply for an authorization” on this page.
  2. Check the “pursuant to a right” box on the application form.

The terms, conditions and payment may be different.

Best practices when harvesting for personal use

  • Do not enter areas where commercial forest operations are underway.
  • Wear safety gear and operate tools and equipment safely.
  • Be aware of all activities, roads and trails in the area where you are harvesting.
  • Before harvesting, make sure you’re aware of, and following, the rules and regulations under other applicable legislation, such as the Endangered Species Act and Public Lands Act.
  • Calculate the volume of wood before you harvest. Record and track how much your household has harvested throughout the year.
    • For example: 5 cubic metres (solid wood) is approximately 2 full cords (stacked wood 4ft by 4ft by 8ft).
  • Do not damage exploration workings or surveyed boundary markers that are identifying mining lands.
  • Consider harvesting wood close to home to avoid transporting wood over long distances. This helps prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases that could harm our forests. Report invasive species sightings.
  • Clean your vehicle and gear, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), trailers and chainsaws before heading to the harvest site. Make sure your gear is free of plant material and seeds, including mud, to help prevent the spread of invasive species. Read the Ontario Invasive Plant Council’s Clean Equipment Protocol (PDF) for more information.
  • Build safe campfires and know how to prevent forest fires.
  • Be a safe and responsible driver. Avoid parking on highways and follow parking rules when parking along roadways.