Policies and rules for campers

The mission of Parks New Brunswick is to provide inclusive, protected Natural and cultural destinations that inspire wellness, enjoyment, and education for all.

The vision of Parks New Brunswick is that all people are stewards of New Brunswick’s permanently protected Natural and cultural destinations.

The Parks Act and its regulations form the foundation of these policies.

• No person shall occupy a campsite in a provincial park unless they are the holder of a valid campsite permit.
• Designated park staff will issue a campsite permit to a person upon receipt of the prescribed fee.
• Designated park staff may refuse to issue a campsite permit to any person in accordance with policy.
• The park manager, or designated park staff, may limit the occupancy of a campsite to such numbers of persons, motor vehicles, tents, trailers or other shelter accommodations as they consider appropriate.

• A security officer may, by verbal or written notice, cancel a campsite permit and within one hour from the giving of such notice the occupier of the campsite shall vacate the site.
• The park manager may also designate park staff other than security officers to carry out the procedures for cancellation and eviction as required for operational purposes.
• In some instances, the action of park users is a threat to the safety of other park users or their enjoyment of the park and its facilities. These circumstances can be cause for cancelling a permit and for evicting people from a park.

• A 24-hour removal of the person(s) may be initiated by a security officer if in their opinion the matter at hand is serious enough to warrant the removal of the person(s) responsible for the occurrence.

• A minimum of 95% of available camp sites at New Brunswick Provincial Parks can be reserved.
• Reserved campsites are designated in each provincial park campground.
• A non-refundable reservation fee of $10.00 will be charged for each reservation made.
• Reservations guarantee specific campsites through the online reservation system.
• Each booking must be registered to someone staying on that specific campsite.
• On–site “first-come first-serve” bookings can be made for up to a maximum of seven (7) nights.
• Check-in time is 2:00 pm daily for campsites.
• Check-in time is 4:00 pm daily for roofed accommodations.
• Check-out time is 12:00 pm daily.
• Guests are not allowed in the campground after 11 pm. If a visitor wishes to stay overnight on a client’s campsite, an overnight visitor fee will be applied.
• A person must be at least 16 years of age to occupy a campsite by themselves. Exceptions are made if the party is accompanied by a person who is 19 years of age or over.
• A maximum of six people is permitted to stay on any campsite, with the exception of families and pursuant to Policy: overcrowding.
• A maximum of three pieces of shelter are permitted on any campsite, with only one of the shelters being a tent / trailer / motor home. One (1) additional shelter for accommodation may be permitted by the park manager, for families, depending on the size of the campsite. 
• Group camping sites can only be reserved by calling the park directly. 

• Reservations can be made online at nbparks.ca, by calling the Tourism Communication Centre at 1-800-561-0123 and at provincial parks during the campground operating season.
• Reservations can be made up until 8:00 pm AST on the day of arrival.
• Accepted payment methods:
  • Online: E-gift card, Visa, MasterCard, Visa Debit or American Express
  • At the park: gift certificates, Debit, Visa, MasterCard, Visa Debit, American Express, cash, or travelers’ cheques
• Personal cheques will not be accepted for payment.
• Collect telephone calls will not be accepted.
• Refunds can only be applied to the original credit card used to create the reservation. If the original credit card is not available, either a gift card to the original booking holder or a cheque refund may be issued. A cheque refund will be issued by Head Office and requires an internal invoice request.
• Reservations will be kept until 12:00 pm AST on the day following scheduled arrival. After this time, the reservation will automatically be cancelled, and full amount of the reservation will be retained by the park.

• A change fee of $8.00 will be charged for all reservation modifications. The only exception being the extension of a stay.
• Arrival date changes made after 11:59 pm AST two days prior to the arrival date will be charged a fee of one (1) night’s camping. 

• A reservation can be cancelled until 11:59 pm AST two days prior to the arrival date. A cancellation fee of $8.00 will apply.
• If a cancellation is made after 11:59 pm AST two days prior to the arrival date, and before 12:00 pm on the day after scheduled arrival, the customer will be charged one night of camping fees. The additional $8.00 cancellation fee will not be charged in this situation.
• If no cancellation notice has been received after 12:00 pm on the date after scheduled arrival, the customer is deemed a no-show. The reservation will be automatically cancelled, and the customer will be charged for the full amount of their reservation.
• All questions relating to no-show reservations and fees are to be referred to the park management.
• Clients will be advised of the cancellation policy when they make their reservation. 

• Domestic animals in provincial parks must be leashed, always caged, or tied.
• The owners of domestic animals are liable to be charged under the provisions of the Parks Act and Regulations if the domestic animal in their care makes excessive noise or disturbs other people.
• The owners of domestic animals are responsible for immediately cleaning up the animal's waste and disposing of it in a designated waste station.
• Dogs or other domestic animals will not be permitted: 
  • on swimming beaches whether supervised or unsupervised
  • in the waters of a swimming area
  • upon walkways leading to the beach or in adjacent picnic areas
  • in playgrounds
• At no time are domestic animals permitted in buildings or any type of accommodation other than those identified by appropriate signage placed at the most common approach to these areas.
• Horses or ponies will not be permitted in provincial parks except on trails or in special areas designated for that intent.
• CNIB guide dogs and “companion dogs” (dogs trained to assist disabled persons) will be permitted in all areas.
• At no time are animals to be left unattended in vehicles. 

• No person in a provincial park shall disturb any other person by disorderly conduct, loud or unnecessary noise, swearing or the use of obscene language.
• For the benefit and enjoyment of park users and particularly campers, "Quiet Hours" will be enforced from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am.
• The use of generators, loud radios or other loud noise that may disturb the peace is prohibited during these hours and is pursuant to Policy: Generator use
• To further the quiet enjoyment of our provincial parks, all day use areas will close at dusk or at the discretion of the park manager. 

• The use of metal detectors will not be allowed on provincial park property without the approval of the park manager. 

• Campfires must never be left unattended.
• Group fire pits of an approved design will be only provided in group areas at the discretion of the park manager.
• Fires will only be permitted on a beach after approval is given by the park manager for special events, etc. 
• Fires will only be permitted in a fireplace provided for that purpose or in an area designated by a park manager, as suitable for an open fire for a special occasion.
• Ashes or coals removed from fire pits must be watered down prior to being disposed of in an area designated for that purpose by park staff.
• Campfires may be restricted in the event of a closed or restricted burn period as imposed by the Department of Natural Resource and Energy Development.
• Campfires will be restricted in the event of a fire ban as imposed by the Department of Natural Resource and Energy Development.
• In the event of a fire ban, propane or alternative fuel fires will be allowed if they are in a design approved by the Forest Fire Control Act.
• Park staff may restrict campfires if, in their opinion, it creates a hazard to the public using the campground. 

• The park manager may designate areas restricting the use of personal generators.
• The use of personal generators within provincial parks is prohibited between the hours of 9:00 pm to 9:00 am.
• Generator (volume/noise) is restricted to 85 decibels as measured from not less than 10 meters.
• Any exceptions needing to be addressed i.e. medical reasons will be at the discretion of the Park Manager.
• Guests and park staff must ensure that all personal generators are in an area clear of fuels, dry grass or other combustible objects.
• Guests and park staff must ensure that no extension cords cross access paths.
• Personal generators must only be refueled once the engine has cooled.
• Personal generator use may be prohibited pending the forest fire ban as imposed by the Department of Natural Resource and Energy Development, and pursuant to Policy: Campsites and fire pits.
• Park staff may restrict personal generator use if, in their opinion, it creates a hazard to the public using the campground.

The operation of motorized snow vehicles, off-road vehicles or all-terrain vehicles is prohibited within New Brunswick Provincial Parks other than in areas designated for the use of such vehicles.