Mushroom foraging laws in British Columbia
Compiled from official sources; not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm with the land manager or the agency before you pick.
Summary
According to the BC government, mushroom picking is allowed on provincial Crown land without a permit, but it is illegal in provincial and national parks. Picking is also not allowed in several other protected or conservation areas, and Crown land can be closed at any time. The park regulation bans possessing or removing any 'natural resource' in a park without a park officer's authorization.
Public land
Allowed on provincial Crown land. According to the BC government, picking is not allowed in provincial or national parks, Conservation Lands (including Wildlife Management Areas), Department of National Defence lands, protected areas such as ecological or special reserves, or recreation sites and trails. Permission is needed on private land, leased public land and First Nations reserve lands. In parks, the Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulation (s. 32) bans damaging, possessing or removing any 'natural resource' without a park officer's authorization; the regulation does not define that term, so the government's statement that picking is illegal in parks is the clearest word on mushrooms.
Permits
No permit is needed to pick on provincial Crown land, according to the BC government. Crown land may be closed to picking at any time; the government suggests calling FrontCounter BC (1-877-855-3222) before you go. In parks, a park officer's authorization is required.
Limits
The BC government sets no quantity limit; it advises picking only what you will use.
Selling
The BC government says individuals and commercial picking operations may harvest mushrooms on Crown land if they follow Crown land legislation and respect private owners and First Nations; we found no BC licence or permit for commercial picking. BC's Food Premises Regulation (s. 11) requires food premises to get food from approved sources and does not name wild mushrooms specifically; check with your health authority before selling to restaurants or stores.
Sources
- BC Government - Mushroom picking
- BC Ministry of Forests - Picking Mushrooms in Areas Burned by Wildfires (fact sheet)
- Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulation, B.C. Reg. 180/90 (BC Laws)
- Food Premises Regulation, B.C. Reg. 210/99 (BC Laws)
Last verified: November 11, 2026
Public land in British Columbia · Species recorded in British Columbia