Small motorhome stop on your own land
Turn spare land into a handful of overnight sites with power and water for motorhomes and RVs.
- C$5k-25k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small park of roughly 3 to 10 gravel sites on land you already own or have the right to use, such as a farm, acreage or lakeside lot. Each site has power and water, and there is a way to dispose of waste water. Guests book online or by phone and stay a night or more.
Your first three steps
- Call your municipality to ask whether zoning allows overnight RV sites on your land and what permits you would need
- Price out gravel pads, power posts, a water supply and a dump or waste water solution, and get an electrician's quote
- List two or three sites on camping and RV booking platforms and a local map listing, then ask early guests for reviews
Who pays
Travelling motorhome and RV owners, retirees on road trips, and families on holiday looking for a quieter alternative to big parks.
How it makes money
A nightly fee per site, with extras such as firewood, weekly or monthly rates, or a small charge for power. Income is mostly in the warm months.
Skills that help
- Friendly, welcoming host
- Basic handyman and groundwork
- Simple bookings and bookkeeping
Watch out for
- Zoning and land use rules, including any limits on farmland, check with your municipality and province
- Whether your province or municipality requires a campground or tourist accommodation licence
- Septic, water and waste water rules, check with your provincial environment ministry and local health unit
- Electrical work normally needs a licensed electrician and a permit or inspection, check locally
- Commercial general liability insurance, and tell your insurer about guests on your land
- Short winter season in most regions, so plan income around it
- Registration for GST/HST and any local accommodation taxes, check with the CRA and your municipality
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: small motorhome stop 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 set up a small motorhome stop?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how many sites you build and the power, water and waste water you provide. Get local quotes, as electrical work normally needs a licensed electrician and a permit or inspection.
How much can a few motorhome sites earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on your number of sites, pricing and location. The estimates assume at least about 5 hours a week. Most regions have a short winter season, so plan income around it.
What rules should I check before hosting motorhomes on my land?
Check zoning and land use rules, including any limits on farmland, and whether a campground or tourist accommodation licence is needed. Also check septic, water and waste water rules, liability insurance, and GST/HST and local accommodation taxes.
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