Commercial timber permits

Background

Commercial Timber Permits (CTPs) are timber dispositions issued pursuant to section 22 of the Forests Act, and sections 37 to 41 of the Timber Management Regulation authorizing a person to harvest Crown timber.

Timber permit size

The size can vary. Generally, Commercial Timber Permits are less than 5000 m3 of timber. They are allocated for both coniferous (such as spruce and pine) and deciduous (such as aspen) timber in Alberta.

Commercial vs Community timber permits

Commercial Timber Permits provide timber access to operators that are not part of the Community Timber Program. This permit is allocated by competitive auctions and tenders, or non-competitively by direct sales. It includes coniferous and/or deciduous timber. Operators who are successful getting Commercial Timber Permits pay the dues rate set in the Timber Management Regulation.

Community timber permits are issued by direct award to local eligible small operators. The timber dues for coniferous community timber permits and deciduous community timber permits are set at a fixed timber dues rate as per the Timber Management Regulation.

For additional information, see: Timber dues and crown fees.

Reforestation obligations

Timber permit holders pay a reforestation levy or fee to an authorized association for reforestation. Timber permits held by a Forest Management Agreement or Timber quota holder must follow the respective reforestation requirements.

The government sets reforestation standards. It also receives annual reforestation results for all timber dispositions. These results are monitored to ensure reforestation is successful.

For more information, see:

• Forest management agreements
• Timber quotas
• Reforestation standards

How to get a permit

Under the authority of Section 38 of the Timber Management Regulation, Commercial Timber Permits are allocated by competitive auctions or tenders, or non-competitively by direct sales.

• The government advertises the sales at least 2 weeks in advance on the department website and through local newspapers where applicable. The sales are usually between August to October.
• Commercial Timber Permits require the holder to meet significant forest management standards and achieve a high level of environmental protection. Therefore, potential bidders must be aware of the significant liabilities that will accrue to the successful bidder.
• All bidders are strongly encouraged to use professional consulting foresters to advise them prior to submitting a tender, especially if they are not experienced in harvesting operations in Alberta.

Eligibility

Bidders may be either individual persons or corporate bodies.

A bidder who is an individual must:

• be at least 18 years of age
• have resided in Alberta for at least 6 months preceding the tender
• not be in default under the Forests Act (hereinafter the 'Act') or any regulations under the Act; this includes being current on any debt or liability to the Crown in right of Alberta and to the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta

A bidder that is a corporate body must:

• be in good standing with Alberta Corporate Registry
• not be in default of the Act or any regulations under the Act; this includes being current on any debt or liability to the Crown in right of Alberta and to the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta

Commercial timber permit sales process diagram