Cottaging in Provincial Parks


Winnipeg Office Relocated

New address:
Manitoba Parks
Cottaging & Commercial Operations
258 Portage Ave - 4th Floor (Box 51)
Winnipeg MB,  R3C 0B6
parkdistricts@gov.mb.ca
204-945-8872

NOTE: Walk-up service is unavailable at 258 Portage Ave; please contact us to make an appointment. We are unable to accept payments made by cash or credit at 258 Portage. Cheques will be accepted.

Full in-person service for permits and development applications, including payments by cash and debit/credit can be made at 1007 Century Street.

Manitoba Provincial Park Cabin Owners Association - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)


On April 25, 2023, the Manitoba government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Manitoba Provincial Park Cabin Owners Association to advance and modernize a collaborative approach to address the interests of approximately 6,200 cottage owners within Manitoba’s provincial parks.

The MOU is intended to provide Manitoba and the MPPCOA with a framework for advancing discussions in the development of a fee structure for the collection of land lease fees and a service fees model, whereby cottagers pay a fair, equitable, transparent and sustainable share of lease and service fees in relation to all other park users. These discussions are ongoing.



Developing Your Vacation Home

When considering new development on a vacation home lot located within the Provincial Park System, please review the development guidelines found in The Cottager's Handbook for Manitoba Provincial Parks - 3rd Edition.

If your vacation home lot is located within the Hecla Historic Village, a separate Resident's Handbook outlines conditions for the development of your lot that includes design and development guidelines that are unique to this area, reflecting the history of previous island settlements. These guidelines are found within the following Handbook:

A Site Plan Permit is required for the construction of a new building, alteration or addition to an existing building or structure, on a lot or on a public reserve area within a Provincial Park. To obtain a site plan permit, you must submit a Site Plan Permit Application to Manitoba Parks. For more information on the application process, please see the application guide below


The Department has revised its current Site Plan Permit Application form. The new application form can be found within the Development Application Package below.


Building Permit Applications – Inspection Technical Services Manitoba

As the jurisdiction having authority, Manitoba Parks determines when a building permit is required. Inspection Technical Services (ITS) Manitoba, issues building permits on behalf of Manitoba Parks. In general, a building permit is required if your structure is greater than 108 square feet. Building permit applications may also require a Letter of Assurance form (Part A and B). Should you have any questions or wish to obtain more information about a Building Permit Application, Letter of Assurance or Plumbing Permit Application, you may call ITS at 204-945-3322 or visit online at the following link: Province of Manitoba | mr - Inspection and Technical Services

ITS Permit form are available online via the following link:  Province of Manitoba | Labour | Labour, Consumer Protection and Government Services | Bulletins, Guides and Forms

NOTE: If your vacation home lot is located within Poplar Bay Provincial Park, please note that the Winnipeg River Planning District issues a Building Permit for development in this area and not Inspection and Technical Services.

If you are considering a new installation or alteration to an existing Onsite Wastewater Management System (OWMS), please check the OWMS Program website to find information on regulatory requirements, design and installation standards, and registration forms. You can also contact your local Environment Officer if you have any questions or require assistance. Information regarding the use or care of your OWMS can be found on the website and in the Homeowner's Manual for Onsite Wastewater Management Systems


More Information for Developing on the Public Reserve

On lakefront lots, owners and occupiers have the ability to submit application for a Site Plan Permit to construct a number of structures on the public reserve, such as a boathouse, a boat-port, storage shed, gazebo, pump-house, docks, boatlifts and rail systems.

When considering developing a public reserve, incorporating natural vegetative features into your shoreline such as planting deep rooted native grasses, shrubs and trees to help naturalize the shoreline, and to improve the natural bank stability is encouraged. Maintaining a buffer zone as a "no-mow" area will allow the plant roots to penetrate the soil and provide long-term shoreline protection.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada have also established timing windows to conduct work in or around water. Timing windows are one of the many measures used to protect fish and fish habitat when carrying out a project near water. It is recommended that you follow this measure to avoid harm and to reduce impacts to fish and fish habitat.

The use of wood treated with creosote or pentachlorophenylin in construction near water is a violation under The Environment Act. Copper chromium arsenate, the most commonly used material in treated wood products, is a preferred product.

For more information, please visit the following: