Mushroom foraging laws in Nova Scotia

Summary

According to Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources, small-scale foraging of plants and fungi by hand for personal use on Crown land does not require a permit, and resale is not permitted. These Crown land rules do not apply to provincial parks, where the Provincial Parks Regulations ban cutting, damaging or removing any plant, shrub, flower or tree without the minister's permission.

Public land

Crown land: small-scale foraging of plants and fungi (excluding timber) by hand for personal use is listed as a low-impact activity that does not require a permit. Provincial parks: the department's guidance says its Crown land rules do not apply to parks; the Provincial Parks Regulations (s. 22) ban cutting, damaging or removing any plant, shrub, flower or tree, and removing any object of natural curiosity, without the minister's permission. The regulations do not mention fungi. Federal lands follow their own rules.

Permits

Crown land: no permit for small-scale personal-use foraging. Provincial parks: the minister's permission is needed to remove plants.

Selling

The department's guidance defines personal use as not for selling and says resale of materials is not permitted.

Sources

• Nova Scotia Natural Resources - What you can do on Crown lands without a permit
• Provincial Parks Regulations (Nova Scotia Office of the Registrar of Regulations)

Last verified: November 11, 2026