Mushroom foraging laws in Ontario
Compiled from official sources; not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm with the land manager or the agency before you pick.
Summary
Ontario Parks says foraging for any plant or fungus is prohibited in provincial parks, and the park regulation bans removing plants or natural objects without written authorization. We found no Ontario government page that sets a permit rule for personal picking on Crown land, though some conservation reserves allow non-commercial mushroom picking. Check with the land manager before you pick.
Public land
Provincial parks: prohibited. Ontario Parks says foraging for any plant or fungal species is not allowed, and the regulation bans removing any plant or natural object without the superintendent's written authorization (the regulation does not define 'plant', so Ontario Parks' statement is the clearest word on fungi). Conservation reserves: some management statements, for example Garson Forest, allow non-commercial picking of berries and mushrooms if the site's values are not harmed, so read the statement for the specific reserve. General Crown land: we found no official Ontario statement either way. Federal lands follow their own rules.
Permits
Provincial parks: only with the superintendent's written authorization (O. Reg. 347/07, s. 2(2)); Ontario Parks does not offer a picking permit for foraging. General Crown land: no official statement on a permit for personal picking was found.
Selling
Ontario's Food Premises regulation (O. Reg. 493/17, s. 29) says food liable to government inspection must come from an inspected source. It does not name wild mushrooms, so confirm with your local public health unit before selling to restaurants or stores.
Sources
- Ontario Parks - The effects of foraging at Ontario Parks (official, informal blog)
- O. Reg. 347/07 Provincial Parks: General Provisions (e-Laws)
- Garson Forest Conservation Reserve Management Statement (Ontario.ca)
- O. Reg. 493/17 Food Premises (e-Laws)
Last verified: November 11, 2026