Access to land title and survey records in BC is possible through the following channels:
These sources have access to LTSA electronic documents through the BC OnLine or GATOR systems. These online systems require fee-based user accounts and passwords.
Fees are payable to obtain copies of land title and survey records, as set out in the LTSA's customer fees listing. For transactions carried out in-person, fees are payable by debit card, cash or cheque. Cheques are payable to the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia. Additional fees are payable to private sector service providers, if you use their services.
Legal Descriptions or Parcel Identifier Numbers
Legal descriptions or Parcel Identifier Numbers (PIDs) are often required to access land title and survey records. Legal descriptions and PIDS can be found on a property's tax assessment notice and on certain land title records. Provided that a civic street address is known for the property, legal descriptions and PIDs may also be available by contacting BC Assessment Authority.
To access specific documents, please refer to the sections below.
Title Searches
To conduct a title search, you will need to supply one of the following pieces of information to one of the channels listed at the top of this page:
- Legal description of the parcel of interest
- Nine-digit parcel identifier number (PID)
- Current title number
Titles cannot be searched using a civic street address.
Land Title Documents
Each registered land title document is assigned a document reference number which when registered is recorded on the property's title in the LTSA's ALTOS system. The document number is the access point for its retrieval.
A land title document's registration number is found in the top margin of the first page of the document. A document's registration number may also be found on the title search or certificate of title for the land in question. For a transfer document, the registration number is the title number indicated on a title search or certificate of title. All other registered land title documents are listed on the title search or certificate of title under the heading "Charges, Liens and Interests".
Once a land title document's registration number has been identified, it may be retrieved online through any of the channels listed above. If a specific document is unavailable through the online system, it may be obtained in person at a Land Title Office or through a Title Search/Registry Agent services company.
Survey Plans
Survey plans of private land that have not been scanned must be obtained at the specific Land Title Office that houses the original record. Crown land survey plans that have not been scanned are available only from the Authority's Surveyor General's Office.
Online Cadastre enables users to obtain a free 'view only' representation of cadastral information.
To retrieve a survey plan for viewing or copying, a plan number is required. For private land, the survey plan number is part of the property's legal description. For Crown land, the survey plan number can be found on the GATOR system by lawyers, notaries, land surveyors and title search agents.
Field Books
Field books may be accessed by sending your order to the LTSA's Records Distribution Services, Surveyor General Division. A photocopy of the field book information will be mailed to you or a .PDF image may be created and sent to you by e-mail.
To retrieve a field book for viewing or copying, you will need to know the property's legal description.
Crown Grants
To view Crown grant documents:
- Hire a lawyer, notary public, land surveyor, or title search company
- Order a paper copy from the LTSA's Surveyor General Division
To view or obtain a copy of a specific Crown grant, you will need to know the property's legal description (see above) or the Crown grant document number.
If you are interested in background file information that relates and gives rise to a particular Crown grant, you should contact the provincial Ministry that was responsible for authorizing the Crown grant. The Ministry name and the property's file number will be shown on the Crown grant.
