Small seasonal campsite on your own land
Turn spare rural land into a few tent and camper pitches, rented by the night through the summer.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small campsite with a handful of pitches on land you own or lease, such as a farm, lakeside lot or woodland. Basic facilities usually include a fire pit at each site, picnic tables, drinking water, toilets and a simple booking page.
Your first three steps
- Call your municipality's planning office to ask whether a campsite is allowed on your land and what permits it needs
- Map out 3 to 6 pitches, a toilet and water plan, and a fire safety plan, then price them against nearby campgrounds
- Get commercial general liability insurance and list your pitches on a booking platform or a simple website
Who pays
Families, couples and road-trippers looking for a quiet alternative to busy provincial parks, plus event guests who need somewhere to stay nearby.
How it makes money
Nightly or weekly pitch fees, with extras such as firewood, ice, bundled activities or a late-checkout fee. Income is concentrated in the warmer months and on weekends.
Skills that help
- Friendly, welcoming host
- Basic maintenance and grounds upkeep
- Simple online booking and bookkeeping
Watch out for
- Zoning and land-use rules: many rural areas restrict commercial camping, so check with your municipality first
- Provincial or local health rules for drinking water, toilets and wastewater, and any campground licence or tourism registration (check your province)
- Commercial general liability insurance, since guests and campfires carry real risk
- Fire bans and wildfire season rules, which can cancel bookings at short notice
- GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold, and a short season with little winter income
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: small seasonal campsite on your own land
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a small campsite in Canada?
Startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000 CAD, depending on your land, number of pitches, water and toilet facilities, and booking setup. These are estimates, so get local quotes before you commit.
How much can a small campsite earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on the number of pitches and how busy your season is. Plan for at least 10 hours a week. The season is short, with little winter income.
What rules should I check before opening a campsite in Canada?
Check zoning and land-use rules with your municipality, since many rural areas restrict commercial camping. Also check provincial or local health rules for water, toilets and wastewater, any campground licence, liability insurance, fire bans, and GST/HST registration.
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Photo: MAKY_OREL on Pixabay