Can I buy land here?

Most of Canada lets anyone buy land, but some provinces add a tax, a yearly charge, a size limit or an approval for buyers who live elsewhere or aren't Canadian. Answer a few questions to see which apply to you. These are the same rules AcreScout applies to every listing on its map.

Every rule we track, by province

Rules checked against the government sources linked below on 2026-09-29. The ordinary land transfer tax that every buyer pays isn't listed here: see the land transfer tax calculator. This is a starting point, not legal advice: confirm with a lawyer in the province before you buy.

Everywhere in Canada

Ownership limit. Canada: non-Canadians can't buy a home in a census metropolitan area or agglomeration until the federal ban expires on 2027-01-01 (vacant land and rural areas are exempt). Some people are exempt too, such as temporary residents with a study or work permit who meet set conditions and refugee claimants; a lawyer confirms whether an exemption applies.
Who: Buyers who aren't Canadian citizens or permanent residents. When the land has a home on it; the home is in a census metropolitan area or agglomeration (a city or town of 10,000+ and the area around it). Until 2027-01-01. Source

British Columbia

One-time tax. BC: +20% additional property transfer tax for foreign nationals on residential property in this region.
Who: Buyers who aren't Canadian citizens or permanent residents. When the land is in the Metro Vancouver, Capital, Fraser Valley, Central Okanagan or Nanaimo regional district. Source
Yearly tax. BC: speculation and vacancy tax area - vacant residential land owes 1%/yr of assessed value, less the BC resident credit, unless exempt.
Who: Canadians living in BC. When the land is in a BC speculation and vacancy tax area (most larger cities and their suburbs). Source
Yearly tax. BC: speculation and vacancy tax area - vacant residential land owes 1%/yr of assessed value unless exempt (3% in 2026 and 4% from 2027 if most of your income isn't taxed in Canada).
Who: Canadians living outside BC. When the land is in a BC speculation and vacancy tax area (most larger cities and their suburbs). Source
Yearly tax. BC: speculation and vacancy tax area - foreign owners owe 3%/yr (2026) and 4%/yr (2027 on) of assessed value on vacant residential property unless exempt.
Who: Buyers who aren't Canadian citizens or permanent residents. When the land is in a BC speculation and vacancy tax area (most larger cities and their suburbs). Source

Alberta

Ownership limit. AB: non-Canadians may own at most 20 acres (2 parcels) of land outside cities, towns and villages.
Who: Buyers who aren't Canadian citizens or permanent residents. When the land is over 20 acres. Source

Saskatchewan

Ownership limit. SK: non-Canadians may own at most 10 acres of farm land (Saskatchewan Farm Security Act).
Who: Buyers who aren't Canadian citizens or permanent residents. When the land is over 10 acres. Source

Manitoba

Ownership limit. MB: non-Canadians may own at most 40 acres of farm land unless the Farm Industry Board grants an exemption.
Who: Buyers who aren't Canadian citizens or permanent residents. When the land is over 40 acres. Source

Ontario

One-time tax. ON: +25% non-resident speculation tax for foreign nationals on land with 1-6 homes (vacant and farm land exempt).
Who: Buyers who aren't Canadian citizens or permanent residents. When the land has a home on it. Source

Quebec

Approval needed. QC: if this is in the agricultural zone, buying 4 ha or more needs authorization from the CPTAQ, Quebec's farmland protection commission, unless you are a citizen/PR who has lived in Quebec 1,095 of the last 1,461 days (48 months).
Who: Everyone except citizens and permanent residents living in Quebec. When the land is 4 ha (9.9 acres) or more. Source

New Brunswick

Yearly tax. NB: land you don't live on pays the provincial rate (about 0.56% of assessment, halved in 2022-23) on top of the local rate.
Who: Every buyer. Source

Nova Scotia

One-time tax. NS: +10% non-resident deed transfer tax on residential-class land, vacant land included (not charged to a buyer who moves to NS within 12 months of the transfer and sends proof; owed with interest if they don't).
Who: Buyers who don't live in Nova Scotia. When the land is residential class (lots under 20 acres, or any land with buildings). Source
Check this. NS: if PVSC, the NS property assessor, classes this land residential (not resource), +10% non-resident deed transfer tax (not charged to a buyer who moves to NS within 12 months of the transfer and sends proof).
Who: Buyers who don't live in Nova Scotia. When the land is 20 acres or more with no buildings (it may be resource class instead; PVSC decides). Source

Prince Edward Island

Approval needed. PEI: Lands Protection Act approval from IRAC (the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission) needed for over 5 acres or 165 ft of shore unless you are a citizen/PR who has lived in PEI (your principal residence) 365 of the last 24 months and files your tax return in PEI.
Who: Everyone except citizens and permanent residents living in Prince Edward Island. When the land is over 5 acres or has ocean frontage. Source
Yearly tax. PEI: non-residents pay provincial property tax of $1.70 per $100 with no resident credit.
Who: Buyers who don't live in Prince Edward Island. Source

Newfoundland and Labrador

No extra rules for non-resident or non-Canadian buyers that we track.

Territories

No extra rules for non-resident or non-Canadian buyers that we track.

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