A property survey in Canada measures your property’s size, spread, and sprawl. It’s a formal inspection. The authorities visit, work with the inch tapes and coordinates, figure out the expanse of your property, and set a clear legal boundary between what’s yours and what’s not. Also known as land surveying, the exercise forms a legal document that clearly demarcates your land and provides you with legal ownership of the area.
As philosophical as it may sound, the modern world cannot do without boundaries. In a world like this, property surveys have become very important. In this blog, we’ll dwell more on the need and importance of these surveys. We’ll find out how you can build a detailed map of your land using the resources available in your neighbourhood. And with this blog, we’ll make sure that your neighbours never trespass, heckle or encroach on your land. Let’s dive in and make things legal, clear and better.
Do I Really Need This Survey?
In short, yes. In detail, absolutely yes. Here is the simple reason: whenever we invest, we make it a point to follow things to avoid any possible obstacles in the future. No investment is heavier than land, and no happiness is better than owning a home. To protect both of these, you need to get a property survey done. Firstly, the survey will give you legal ownership and authority over your land. It will make it loud and clear what portion of a land is owned by whom. Secondly, this legal authority will help you settle all your ownership issues once and for all. So, the next time someone bothers you about your land’s boundaries, you simply flick a government-stamped document on the table, and the noise will quieten..
There is another perspective to this. Since a property survey in Canada is a legal process, it plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with local building codes and regulations. The document is also an important part of the numerous transactions involved in the real estate world, including property buying, selling and development. We’d not just say it must be done. We’d say that the sooner it is, the better..
How is a Property Survey Conducted?
A land surveyor conducts the property survey in Canada. Once the surveyor is hired, the following steps are involved in conducting a survey:
Checking Ownership History
The first step of the process is to conduct a thorough background check of the property’s deed and title. The land surveyor uses the local databases to obtain the necessary details about the past land and property records. The primary aim is to establish the credibility of a property’s legal description and to find any discrepancies involved. Property survey in Canada also covers elements like easement and rights-of-way to help clarify how the common areas, like alleys, roads, etc, of a land would be used by neighbours.
Going On-Ground
The land surveyor now gets to the fieldwork. It’s time to get their hands in the mud with all the equipment and measurements. The corners are denoted with GPS coordinates, and the length in between is measured. Each land boundary and the constructions made on it will be carefully measured. The land surveyor will gauge everything that belongs to your property and determine where it starts and ends. These measurements are taken while keeping the due guidelines in mind. For instance, the same measuring tool will be used for all the measurements to keep coherence and uniformity in the survey.
Creating the Map
Once the research is complete, the final map will be created. This map will demarcate the legal boundaries and solidify all the measurements in a document. In addition to the boundaries, the map typically contains measurements between boundary points, identification of any easements or rights-of-way, and locations of structures and other physical features on the property.
When to Go for a Property Survey?
A property survey is a crucial part of buying and selling properties. It comes in handy when purchasing, constructing, and financing a property. While buying a new house, a property survey helps gain complete clarity over the expanse of your purchase. It will also help reveal the updates and changes since the last survey. Conducting a property survey while constructing helps work within the established boundaries and avoid the mistake of trespassing on the other’s land. A land survey can help gain a lender’s confidence when financing a property. The legal validation given to your property by the survey makes it highly credible and helps ease the financing.
Types of Property Survey in Canada
Different types of property surveys are conducted in Canada. Depending upon the land use, the property survey type is decided. Here are some of the commonly conducted property surveys throughout the country:
Surveyor’s Real Property Report (SRPR)
A Surveyor’s Real Property Report (SRPR) illustrates the location of all visible public and private improvements relative to the property boundaries. It leaves no stone unturned, including positioning buildings, fences, driveways, easements, and rights-of-way.
Topographic Survey
A topographic survey provides a detailed view of the land’s shape and features, both natural and man-made. The variations in the land, locations of buildings, trees, streams, and other such features come under topographic surveys. Such a property survey is of immense value in construction or development projects, which require designing structures and landscapes harmonising with the terrain.
Site Plan Survey
A Site Plan Survey combines elements of SRPR and topographic surveys. It outlines both the current state and planned changes on a property, helping to ensure compliance with local zoning and building codes. If you plan to add a new shed, pool, or even a whole new building, this survey helps ensure your plans follow the rules.
Construction Survey
This survey is all about translating plans into reality on the ground. From roads to buildings and walkways to utilities, a construction survey ensures everything’s built where it’s supposed to be built, and exactly how it’s supposed to be built. This type of survey is crucial for maintaining accuracy and execution throughout the construction process.
Discussing the Property Survey Costs
There isn’t a standard property survey cost in Canada. Factors like the size of the property and the type of survey play a key role in determining the overall cost. For instance, for large lots, the property survey cost varies from $1,500 to $6,000. Further, an SRPP survey will cost differently than a Topographic survey.
To get an exact estimate for the cost of property surveys, one should contact a licensed land surveyor in your area. Surveyors are equipped to provide detailed quotes based on your specific needs, whether it’s for a boundary survey, an ALTA/NSPS survey for commercial properties, or any other type of survey. They’ll consider factors like property size, location, and the survey’s complexity to give you a precise estimate.
Things to Consider While Hiring a Surveyor
Now that you’re looking for a suitable surveyor, there are a couple of things to remember. Most important of all is to find a surveyor who’s well-educated and knows their job inside out. A simple way to do this is to contact the surveyors registered with your provincial surveyor’s association. The next important step is to establish clear communication. It’s important to clarify the scope of work, what the survey will cover, and the deliverables you’ll receive. Lastly, cost is a highly important factor. Take your time and run through the total property survey costs. We suggest requesting detailed quotes from multiple surveyors and comparing the offers before deciding a suitable choice.
Find a Property Surveyor Near Me
Each province in Canada has their own association of surveyors. All these surveyors, however, are collectively supervised by The Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors (CBEPS). From finding a land surveyor to enrolling yourself as a professional surveyor, these associations offer a wide range of services:
Alberta
The Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association (ALSA) oversees property surveying in Alberta. The association’s official website offers a wide range of services. To find a property surveyor near you, visit https://www.alsa.ab.ca/ and click on ‘Register of Practitioners’.
Ontario
The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS) supervises land surveying in Ontario. AOLS offers multiple services to its residents. It can help find a service company, take up the surveying profession and get all the latest statutory updates. Residents in Ontario looking to conduct a property survey can visit https://www.aols.org/
Quebec
Quebec’s land surveying is regulated by The Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec (OAGQ). The association’s services are divided into three categories on its website- general public, members and students & candidates. To find a land surveyor in Quebec, simply visit https://oagq.qc.ca/ and click on ‘Find A Land Surveyor’.
British Columbia
Property surveying in British Columbia is overseen by The Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors (ABCLS). ABCLS sets standards for admission into the profession, conducts examinations, and ensures its members adhere to professional ethics and competencies. The full member’s directory can be found at https://abcls.ca/
New Brunswick
The Association of New Brunswick Land Surveyors (ANBLS) regulates the land surveying profession in New Brunswick. The regulating body helps find a surveyor, carry out registrations and lodge complaints on its website. Residents can access the desired service at http://www.anbls.nb.ca/
Prince Edward Island
The association supervising land surveying in Prince Edward Island is called the Association of Prince Edward Island Land Surveyors (APEILS). The APEILS is crucial in administering new membership and setting the admission norms. The complete list of practising members in PEI can be found at https://apeils.ca/index.html
Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Land Surveyors’ Association (SLSA) administers the profession in Saskatchewan. The association ensures the entry of qualified members and sustains quality services for the general public. Residents can explore its service at https://www.slsa.sk.ca/
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador’s land surveying is regulated by The Association of Newfoundland Land Surveyors (ANLS). The association keeps a consistent watch to ensure professional standards and ethical conduct among its members. To find a surveyor or explore job postings at ANLS, visit https://anls.ca/
Manitoba
The Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors (AMLS) ensures fair ownership of properties and planned development in Manitoba. The full and updated listing of the province’s practising surveyors is available on the AMLS website. Visit https://amls.ca/ to hire or become a land surveyor in Manitoba.
Nova Scotia
The Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors (ANSLS) is the governing body for land surveyors in Nova Scotia. It sets professional standards, including education, examinations, and ethical practice. All the association’s services are easily available at https://www.ansls.ca/
In the Spirit of Fair Ownership
Getting a property survey done is a smart and responsible choice. It does two often mutually exclusive things simultaneously: It helps establish fair ownership and facilitates legal compliance. These two have rarely coexisted. Nonetheless, whether you’re buying a new property, financing it, or constructing it, land surveying is an indispensable part of this process. The local associations overseeing property surveying in each province simplify and expedite the entire exercise in Canada, from coast to coast. With this comprehensive coverage of Canadian property mapping, embrace the inescapable step of property surveys and ace your ownership game.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There aren't set intervals for the survey; it depends on specific circumstances and legal requirements. The survey is generally conducted when buying, selling, or dividing a property or if there’s a dispute over property lines.
At the end of the surveying exercise, the surveyor will map out a legal document and hand you a copy of it.
There isn’t a fixed cost. Property survey cost depends on the size of the property and the type of survey. For instance, a cost ranging between $1500-$6000 can be incurred on surveying a large property.
Depending on the property’s size and the surveyor’s workload, the surveying process can take a few days to several weeks. Contact your local surveyor for specific details.
You'll need to get a property survey done to gain fair authority over the property or settle disputes regarding the property boundaries. How often do I need to conduct a survey?
How can I get a copy of my property survey?
How much does the property survey cost?
How long is the process of property surveying?
When would I need to conduct a property survey?
