Land use - golf courses
Last updated on February 12, 2024The Province may authorize the development of golf courses on Crown land.
Applicants may be individuals, companies, non-profit organizations, or local governments.
On this page
Applications are subject to the eligibility conditions, pricing and special requirements summarized below. If the golf course development is part of an all season resort please review the All Seasons Resort policy.
Application documents
In addition to reading the information on this webpage, the following documents should be reviewed prior to submitting your application:
- Commercial - General Policy (PDF, 201KB)
- Sample Site Maps
- All Seasons Resort Policy (if applicable) (PDF, 532KB)
The following documents must be completed prior to submitting your application:
- Crown Land Application (including site map)
- Golf Course Requirements Checklist/Management Plan (PDF, 216KB)
- Detailed Contour Map (provided by the applicant)
- State of Title Certificate
Who may apply?
The following persons and groups are eligible to seek tenures under the communication sites program:
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada aged 19 years or older
- Corporations registered in British Columbia or incorporated under the laws of Canada
- A registered partnership, or
- A co-operative incorporated in accordance with the Co-operative Association Act
Types of tenures
The preferred method of disposition of Crown land for golf course developments is direct sale.
Crown land may also be available by lease, with annual rent based on a negotiated percentage of gross revenues from the operation, including restaurants and other ancillary facilities, but excluding revenues from the sale of liquor.
The standard term for a golf course lease is 30 years, with a provision for tenure replacement at mid-term.
Fees and costs
You will be required to pay an application fee when you submit your application, as identified in the Crown Land Fees schedule (PDF, 49KB).
Leases are priced to reflect market conditions and are normally the greater of either:
- 5% of the gross revenue plus tax, or
- $675 annually plus tax
A lesser rate may be available for a developing facility during the first three years of the lease term.
Special requirements
The most common reason for delay is submission of an incomplete application, which is then returned to the applicant.
If your application is accepted, you will be notified if Advertising is required. Please wait for confirmation before advertising.
If you have questions regarding any part of the application process, a specific file or a proposal about a specific area, please contact FrontCounter BC.