BC Timber Sales - Policy, legislation and information updates
Last updated on April 14, 2025
This page provides links to resources that govern the BC Timber Sales program, including policy, key pieces of legislation, associated regulation, and information updates.
On this page
Important notices
The following are important notices relevant to all business areas and registrants.
Important notices - all business areas - all registrants
- March 31, 2025 BC Timber Sales Agreements Acceptable Forms of Deposit (PDF, 163KB)
- April 12, 2024 Guidelines for Professional Coordinating Member Roles/Responsibilities - Forest Road Crossings (PDF, 320KB)
- April 12, 2024 Notice to Clients - BC Wildfire Service Policy 9.12 - Open Fire (DOCX, 65KB)
- February 23, 2024 Road Use Permit Mandatory for FSR Users (PDF, 105KB)
- February 2, 2022 Memo - RUP Amendment & Termination Submissions move to NROS March 2022 (PDF, 205KB)
- October 27, 2021 - All Licensee letter NROS RUP Application training (PDF, 1.3MB)
- November 18, 2021- Road use permit electronic application information summary (PDF, 186KB)
- Natural Resource Online Services (NROS) Portal Road use permit (RUP) Applications:
- Tenures Branch Letter to all forestry licensees regarding NROS RUP Applications - August 11, 2021 (Release Two in letter applies to Road Use Permits. Questions should be directed to the contact identified in the letter.)
- NROS RUP Training Video (YouTube)
- All Registrants Notice - Amendment of the BC Timber Sales Regulation - Category 2 Forest Licence March 26, 2021 (PDF, 198KB)
- All Registrants Notice - Advisory Bulletin No. 2020-09-11 - Special Tree Protection Regulation (PDF, 1.2MB)
- All Registrants - Notice of Intent to cancel service on Official Notices System (ONS) June 15, 2020 (PDF, 129KB)
- All Registrants Notice - Electronic bidding Pilot Extension June 28 2020 (PDF, 95KB)
- All Registrants Notice - Amendments to the Wildfire Regulation June 2020 (PDF, 309KB)
- All Registrants Notice - April 1 2019 policy changes (PDF, 149KB)
- All Registrants Notice - Fee-in-Lieu Changes (Coast Only) July 8, 2019 (PDF, 111KB)
Important notices - business area specific
​The following notices are business area specific. If you don’t find the information you are looking for or have questions specific to your area, please contact us.
Babine (TBA)
No updates or information releases at this time.
Cariboo-Chilcotin (TCC)
No updates or information releases at this time.
Seaward-tlasta (TST)
No updates or information releases at this time.
Chinook (TCH)
Chinook Business Area Newsletter:
- April 2025 - Vol 7, Issue 1 (PDF, 3MB)
- September 2024 - Vol 6, Issue 2 (PDF, 1MB)
- April 2024 - Vol 6, Issue 1 (PDF, 1 MB)
- November 2023 - Vol 5, Issue 2 (PDF 1.4MB)
Find more specific information and updates on Mt Elphinstone, Roberts Creek and Stephens Creek at Sunshine Coast Operating Area: Community engagement
Kamloops (TKA)
As per the Integrated Pest Management Act of British Columbia, Section 61(1), BC Timber Sales is developing an Integrated Pest Management Plan to ensure effective and safe vegetation control on crown land in the North Thompson region. The public is invited to review and comment on this plan, which will be active from 2024-2029.
Kootenay (TKO)
Okanagan-Columbia (TOC)
- Road Use Permit Amendments and Terminations will Continue to be Submitted to Forest Districts until early March 2022 (PDF, 202KB)
- Factsheet - Reducing wildfire risk near Ellison Provincial Park (PDF, 401KB)
- TA0499 Licence Location Map (PDF, 453KB)
- FAQ: Rose Swanson Mountain – Proposed BC Timber Sales Development (PDF, 168KB)
- Rose Swanson Sensitive Area FSP Amendment - Proposed Results and Strategies - Sept. 13, 2021 (PDF, 395KB)
- Final Map - Appendix I-1: Rose Swanson Sensitive Area FSP Amendment Zones 1 and 2 - April 2023 (PDF, 919KB)
- Amendment #5 Visuals Fire Salvage (PDF, 240KB)
Peace-Liard (TPL)
No updates or information releases at this time.
Prince George (TPG)
Spruce beetle management
The spruce beetle outbreak in the Omineca Region started in 2013 and has impacted areas of BC Timber Sales’ Prince George and Mackenzie operations.
Learn how BCTS is monitoring and managing the outbreak.
Skeena (TSK)
No updates or information releases at this time.
Strait of Georgia (TSG)
Snowden Forest:
- Notice: 2024 to 2025 Snowden trail closures (PDF, 75KB)
- 2024-2025 Snowden BCTS operations map (PDF, 6MB)
Harvest plan maps:
- No updates at this time
Other documents:
- Snowden guiding principles (PDF, 322KB)
- Appendix 1 Snowden Advisory Group terms of reference (PDF, 1.4MB)
- Appendix 2 Snowden recreation sensitivity map (PDF, 1.9MB)
- Appendix 3 Snowden Advisory Group values map (PDF, 808KB)
- Appendix 4 Snowden BCTS long term plan (PDF, 653KB)
- Snowden trail map (PDF,1.6MB)
Stuart-Nechako (TSN)
No updates or information releases at this time.
Policy changes and advisory bulletins
The following policy bulletins and information give direction on conducting business with BC Timber Sales (BCTS).
Contact BCTS head office if you have questions about BCTS policies.
Policy changes
- September 1, 2022: TSL Deposit Administration Policy 19.1 (PDF, 642KB)
- August 23, 2021: BCTS Coastal Legacy Trees Best Management Practices (PDF, 165KB)
- January 1, 2021: Timber Processing Report Form for Category 2 (PDF, 216KB)
- October 11, 2017: All Registrants e-Bidding / No Bid Deposit Policy Letter (PDF, 1MB)
- January 19, 2017: Changes to ISO14000 Registration of BCTS EMS - Client Letter (PDF, 58KB)
- May 2, 2016: Letter to Registrants - No Bid Deposit Pilot Project Policy (PDF, 445KB)
- April 2, 2015: Memorandum of Understanding - Forests For Tomorrow (FFT) and BCTS (PDF, 95KB)
- August 3, 2011: Interpretive Bulletin - on the Application of the Wildfire Regulation for the Forest Industry (PDF, 1MB)
Advisory bulletins
- April 14, 2025 - Understanding the Category 4 Performance Obligation (PDF, 210KB)
- August 22, 2024 Advisory Bulletin - BCTS Implementation of OG Deferrals (PDF, 165KB)
- May 24, 2024 Advisory Bulletin - Timber Sale Licence Fire Hazard Assessment and Abatement (PDF, 132KB)
- February 27, 2024: Advisory Bulletin - Category 4 Value-added Performance Obligation (PDF, 200KB)
- May 9 2023: Advisory Bulletin - Forest Professional Certification Requirement (PDF, 321KB)
- September 11, 2020: Advisory Bulletin - Special Tree Protection Regulation (PDF, 1.2MB)
- ​​Specified Tree Reporting Information and Exemption Submission Form, and
- Additional information regarding Special Tree Protection Regulation available at Tenures Branch - Forest Tenure Administration
- June 26, 2019: Advisory Bulletin - Q&As Regarding Security Deposit Information Request (PDF, 84KB)
- December 12, 2018: Advisory Bulletin - Timber Cruising Standards for Interior Burnt Stands (PDF, 247KB)
- February 6, 2017: Advisory Bulletin - Timber Sale Licence Standing Deposits (PDF, 157KB)
- June 1, 2017: Advisory Bulletin - Category 2 TSL Administration and Enforcement (PDF, 285KB)
- July 8, 2016: Advisory Bulletin - Cruise Based Timber Sale License (PDF, 219KB)
- September 1, 2015: Advisory Bulletin - Having a Plan (PDF, 108KB)
- February 1, 2015: Advisory Bulletin - Performance based registration and TSL deposit rules Q and A (PDF, 363KB)
- January 30, 2015: Advisory Bulletin - BCTS Regulations Amendment - Overdue Account Limit / Inactive Registrants (PDF, 101KB)
- January 23, 2015: Advisory Bulletin - Partnership Agreement with FPInnovations (PDF, 217KB)
- February 14, 2012: MFLN - Timber Pricing Operations - Timber Measurement Information (PDF, 1.2MB)
- June 23, 2011: Advisory Bulletin - Arm's Length Relationships (PDF, 66KB)
- June 22, 2011: Advisory Bulletin - Stumpage Liability and Lump Sum Timber Sale Licenses (PDF, 35KB)
- March 23, 2011: Advisory Bulletin - (External) - Compliance with the Employment Standards Act (PDF, 70KB)
- March 22, 2011: Advisory Bulletin - (External) - Industrial Camp Standards (PDF, 54KB)
- March 23, 2009: Advisory Bulletin - Innovative TSL Initiative (PDF, 42KB)
- Jan 7, 2009: Advisory Bulletin - 3-sale Limit Determination (PDF, 40KB)
- June 25, 2008: Advisory Bulletin - Shared Use Road Maintenance Policy (PDF, 41KB)
- May 15, 2008: Advisory Bulletin - Multiple Employers on Timber Sale Licenses (PDF, 32KB)
- July 11, 2007: Advisory Bulletin - Timber Sale License Extension Fee Calculation (PDF, 32KB)
- Nov 21, 2006: Advisory Bulletin - Prohibited Activities in the Tendering and Bidding Process (PDF, 29KB)
Legislation
Related Links
Contact information
For questions about business area updates and information releases contact:
For general questions about BC Timber Sales and policy, contact us:
250-356-1918