A Crown Reserved Road (CRR) is a narrow strip of land, usually 20.1 metres (66 feet) in width, located between or within granted or reconveyed Crown lands and reserved by the Crown for access to and from other granted lands or Crown lands. In some cases, portage roads, forest roads, old military roads and some old public highways may be a CRR. In many cases, no actual roads were ever built on the reserved lands, but they are still considered to be reserved roads under the Crown Lands and Forests Act.
Crown Reserve Road – Frequently Asked Questions
During the original surveying and granting of Crown lands it was the practice of the Surveyor General’s Office to identify and reserve roads at regular intervals between or within grants. The intent was to provide access for the Crown or private citizens. In many cases the reserved roads are no longer needed for access.
If you are not occupying the CRR, you do not need to do anything. If you think you are occupying the CRR (house, garage, shed or other structure), you may apply for a Crown Reserve Road Disposal.
A Crown Reserved Road Disposal is a process where the province gives up its title to the reserve via a grant or discontinuance.
Crown Reserved Roads are only sold to the adjacent owners, in which cases a grant is issued.
Grant: A grant is the process by which the title to a portion or all of a Crown Reserved Road is transferred to one or more adjacent owners.
Crown Reserved Roads are only discontinued under limited circumstances as determined by the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development (DNRED). The preferred disposal method is a grant.
Discontinuance: Discontinuance is the process by which the Crown terminates its ownership of a Crown Reserved Road in favour of the individuals in actual occupation.
Yes, after having your application approved and being authorized to do so by the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development.
Construct a Road: Permission can be given to build a road on a Crown Reserved Road.
CRRs are disposed of via a grant or a discontinuance as determined by the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development.
- All applicants applying for a disposal must be over the legal age of 19 years and/or a company registered to do business in New Brunswick and an adjacent landowner of the Crown Reserved Road.
- Anyone over the legal age of 19 years and/or a company registered to do business in New Brunswick can apply to construct on a Crown Reserved Road.
The property must be surveyed by a New Brunswick land surveyor at the applicant’s cost. Sometimes the original subdivision of Crown lands can be found on the most recent plans the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Developments (DNRED) has in file.
No, a Crown Reserved Road is a parcel of public land.
Yes, but with proper authorization. To harvest wood on Crown land, you must obtain a permit from the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Developments (DNRED).