Who can make a request to use public land? An adult A public or private organization A private enterprise

How to make a request to use land?

To rent, purchase, or obtain another right to use public land, a request to use public land must be made:

• by telephone, by communicating with a Department regional office. An employee will explain the steps of the process;
• in person, by visiting a Department regional office. A Department employee will assist the applicant in the process;
• in writing, by sending the Department a letter describing the request or by filling out the form "Request to use public land" (in French) (PDF Format, 36 Kb). The applicant will receive an acknowledgment of receipt. The request will be processed by a Department employee.

You can also make a request to regional county municipalities who have an agreement with the Department.

Rental

Special conditions applicable to rental

Generally speaking, rental of public land for vacation purposes is by random draw in areas surrounding the most populous municipalities. The draws are announced by the Department in fall of every year.

Elsewhere in Québec, in areas with lower populations, the first applicant procedure (first come, first served) is most common. To find out more, contact one of the Department's regional office.

Rental costs

The annual cost for renting a lot is currently 6% of the value of the lot. However, the minimum annual rent of a lot for vacation purposes is set at $271.

When making a request, the client must pay:

• an application fee of $26 (GST and QST not included).

After analysis of the file, if the request is accepted, the client must pay:

• a processing fee of $313 (GST and QST not included);
• a $729 land development fee (GST and QST not included)
• surveying fees, in some cases;
• the first year's rent.

Every year, the lessee will receive a payment notice for the annual rent, which must be paid in a single instalment:

• by ATM, Internet or in most of financial institutions;
• by credit card using the Internet payment service "Leasing public land" (Available in French);
• by cheque payable to the Ministre des Finances du Québec;
• in cash.

Mortgage Financing

To facilitate mortgage financing of buildings on public lands, the Department made a change to its standard lease by adding a waiver clause to promote accession. By virtue of this clause, the Department recognizes the full ownership of the building by the lessee, even though the land belongs to the government.

All leases issued after November 15, 2006, contain an accession clause. If you have a lease issued prior to this date and you would like a new lease that incorporates this clause, you must contact one of the Department’s regional branch offices and pay a $104 administrative fee. However these provisions do not apply to shelter leases.

Lease Transfer

Lease Transfer Request (in French) (PDF Format , 36 Ko)

Lessees of recreational lots allocated through a random draw after October 1, 2010, may not transfer their rights in the lease for five years following the date of the first lease, unless one of the three following transfer conditions is met:

• The lessee has constructed a building worth at least $10,000 on the rented land.

• The building on the rented land was sold through a sale by court order, tax sale, or the exercise of a mortgage right.

• The transfer was made in favor of the lessee’s legal or common law spouse, father, mother, brother, sister, or child, or following the lessee’s death.

Fees of $104 (GST and QST not included) are required.

Purchase

Special conditions applicable to sales

Generally speaking, public land can be purchased in areas adjoining private property. The opinions of territorial partners must be taken into account and so must zoning plans. Elsewhere in Québec, the Department promote rental of public land.

Purchasing costs

When making a request to purchase public land, the client must pay:

• an application fee of $26 (GST and QST not included).

After analysis of the file, if the request is accepted, the buyer must pay:

• a processing fee of $313 (GST and QST not included);
• the price of the property.

The buyer must also take into account the following service fees:

• the chartered appraiser's fee, if appraisal is required;
• the land surveyor’s fee, if surveying is required;
• the notary’s fee, for drawing up the sales contract.

The fee to register the notarized contract at the Bureau de la publicité des droits (land registry office) must also be paid.

Other types of rights

There are many other types of rights to use public land. The main types are easements and authorizations to develop trails.

Depending on the type of right, certain fees and terms and conditions may apply. There are no free grants of public land to individuals. To obtain additional information about other types of rights to use public land, please visit the page Land rental and other rights or one of the Department's regional office.

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