The opportunity. Every year, Quebec's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests holds a draw for vacation lots on public land. In 2026, 125 lots are offered for lease (in French) in various regions of Quebec. Registration runs from October 7 to November 2, 2026 inclusive.
What you get. It's a lease, not a purchase: the lot is rented under a lease renewed every year. The lots are about 4,000 m², wooded and, with some exceptions, reachable by road. This lease is what allows you to build a cottage: any construction on public land requires authorization, and occupying it without a lease leads to legal proceedings. The lot may be used only for vacation purposes.
Who can enter. You must be 18 or older on November 2, 2026. According to the official draw page, you register on the Sépaq website or by phone at 1-800-665-6527, with a non-refundable fee of $37.94 ($33 plus GST and QST) per draw code. Only one registration is allowed per draw code, and each participant can lease only one lot from the draw per year. The online map shows the location and features of each lot.
After the draw. The Sépaq runs the electronic draw in the days after registration closes. Each participant receives their rank by email within 48 hours. The MRCs or the ministry then invite people, in rank order, to an allotment meeting where attendance is mandatory. A good rank guarantees nothing: it all depends on how many lots there are and how many people entered. Other fees apply if you do get a lot.
Good to know. The lease doesn't exempt you from hunting, fishing and trapping rules, or from municipal bylaws. For questions about the draw, the ministry can be reached at 1-866-248-6936.
