The short answer
In British Columbia you can camp on unoccupied Crown land without a permit or fee for up to 14 consecutive calendar days, as long as you leave no permanent structures and handle fires safely, according to the province's public access guide. Most of BC is Crown land, but not all of it is open to camping.
Where you can't camp
- Protected areas, including provincial parks (they have their own camping rules)
- Municipalities
- Leased land
- Land where it would interfere with an existing granted right
- Land Act reserves
- Places posted as no camping, and areas that are application-only
What the rules ask of you
- Stay no more than 14 consecutive days at one site
- Leave no permanent buildings or structures
- Look after the land, wildlife and other users, and pack out what you bring
Crown land is not private land or First Nations land. Those need the owner's or nation's permission.
Fires
A campfire (the rules call it a Category 1 fire) can be no bigger than 0.5 m high and 0.5 m wide. Build it on level ground away from tents and trees, clear it down to bare dirt, and keep a shovel, axe or 8 litres of water within reach. Never leave it unattended. During a campfire prohibition you can use only an approved stove, and bans change quickly, so check the BC Wildfire Service fire bans and restrictions the day you leave. Full open fire rules. To report a wildfire, call *5555 on a cell phone or 1-800-663-5555.
How do you know a spot is Crown land?
That is the hard part. Maps show land status, but roads, closures and restrictions change. Campable checks the exact spot, the road in and the fire bans and closures in force for your dates, and says so when it can't confirm.
Rules change. Confirm with Recreation Sites and Trails BC or the land manager. This is not legal advice.
Check the exact spot. Campable checks the land, the road in and today's fire bans and closures for your dates.