Land exchange

For a person to exchange their land, one must be the registered owner of the property being offered and have clear title to it. 

The land offered for exchange must offer significant resource features to the Crown, such as:

• special wildlife or wetland habitats
• recreational opportunities
• coastal habitats
• ecologically significant areas or access to Crown Lands or water-based resources
• have market values within 10% of the lands to be exchanged
• have merchantable timber values within 10% of that of the lands to be exchanged
• have no associated restrictions imposed on the transfer, which the department is not prepared to accept
• have no known or suspected significant environmental liabilities or contamination

Crown Land can be eligible for exchange for private land when:

• crown land that does not have any known ecological, scientific, or cultural significance
• is not required for access to other Crown land or resources
• is not required for departmental programs
• has less than 50% of their boundaries in common with other Crown lands will be considered

The appraisal of both Crown and private parcels of land is at applicants expense. Applicants may be required to have timber cruised or have land surveyed which are both at the cost of the applicant.

The land offered for exchange should help consolidate Crown Land, reduce boundary line maintenance or meet at least one of the following criteria:

• have more than 50% of their boundary in common with Crown Land
• border on Crown Lands and utilize boundaries not requiring periodic maintenance (e.g. roads, rivers) such that the length of boundary requiring maintenance is reduced
• adjoin other privately owned land located within a major block of Crown Lands such that the acquisition would lead to future consolidation of land units
• have clear title that is free of encumbrances and can be obtained by the Crown under the Land Titles Act.

To be eligible, applicants must be at least 19 years of age and registered owner of the property being offered in exchange for Crown land.

If it’s a business, it must be registered with Corporate Affairs in New Brunswick.

All fees are non-refundable + HST.