Reporting an offence on public land

The gouvernement du Québec oversees the sustainability of public land by being fair towards all users. Development and enhancement of or free access to public land must not be compromised by illegal occupation or use.

Every permanent use of public land requires authorization from the gouvernement du Québec or a delegate RCM.

If you witness illegal occupation of public land, please contact the delegate RCM concerned, or the gouvernement du Québec public land service centre.

You may also report an illegal occupation by completing the report form  (in French only). All information will remain strictly confidential.

Illegal occupants have no privileges. Unauthorized permanent use of public land may lead to administrative or, in some cases, legal proceedings.

The following structures must not be erected without permission:

• camps
• cottages;
• trailers or non-functional vehicles used as lodging
• other permanent structures

During hunting and fishing seasons, structures erected by public land users must be temporary and collapsible, and must be removed after the activity.

To erect a permanent structure legally, you must obtain a vacation lease, by taking part in a random draw or by acquiring an existing lease.

The gouvernement du Québec or delegate RCM follows up on cases of illegal occupation submitted to it as a result of reports or site verifications carried out on the territory.

Below are the steps taken to clear the site:

1. Posting: A notice of confiscation is posted on the illegal building.
2. Voluntary clearing: The building’s owner has seven months to clear and restore the site. After that period, if the illegal occupant has not cleared the site, the gouvernement du Québec may take possession of the building, improvements and furniture for which the owner is unknown.
3. Dismantling: The gouvernement du Québec is authorized to clear the building, improvements and furniture and to carry out the site restoration.

The law prohibits the disposal or storage of waste materials on public land. Waste must be disposed of in a place where waste storage, treatment or elimination is authorized by the government.

If you find waste materials on public land, please contact the public land service centre. All information will remain strictly confidential.

All users of public land must comply with the law that prohibits the disposal or emission of waste materials in unauthorized places.

To enjoy public land legally, please plan your outings by reading the rules applicable to the site you intend to visit, and take your garbage to a designated garbage disposal location.

If waste materials are left illegally on public land, the person responsible for the site (owner, tenant or other) is required to take all necessary steps to ensure that the materials in question are stored, processed or eliminated at an authorized site.

If you witness an offence relating to the use of public land, please contact the gouvernement du Québec public land service centre. All information will remain strictly confidential.