Written by Gurjit Ghai, REALTOR®
Rexara Realty Inc.·Published: August 28, 2026·Buying Farmland
Freehold (or fee simple) land is land you own outright, meaning you hold the title and the full bundle of property rights, subject to zoning and regulations. Most farms you would buy in BC are freehold. Crown land is public land owned by the province, and you generally cannot buy it as farmland; instead you might hold a lease, licence, or tenure that gives you a right to use it (grazing, hay cutting, and so on) for a term.
The practical difference for a buyer is that freehold farmland is a deeded asset you can buy, sell, mortgage, and pass on, while a Crown tenure is a use-right that is administered by the province, has a term, and is subject to renewal and conditions. Some ranches combine deeded freehold with Crown grazing tenure, and the two are valued and transferred very differently.
I help clients understand exactly what comes with a property, what is deeded freehold and what is a Crown tenure, because buying a ranch that is mostly Crown tenure is a very different purchase than one that is mostly deeded land. Read our Buying a Farm guide for the due-diligence checklist.
Important: This answer is general professional guidance for educational purposes and is not legal, tax, financial or regulatory advice. ALR rules, water licensing, zoning and farm-classification requirements can change and depend on your specific property. Always verify with the relevant BC authorities and qualified professionals before making decisions.
Gurjit Ghai, REALTOR®
Personal Real Estate Corporation
Brokerage: Rexara Realty Inc.
Gurjit Ghai is a BC real estate professional specializing in agricultural land, ALR properties, and farm operations across British Columbia. He helps buyers and sellers navigate water rights, soil capability, farm classification, and the unique due diligence that farmland transactions require.