BC Land Title & Registered Documents Search Guide

Before an building designer, engineer, or builder can draft permit drawings in British Columbia, they need to verify your property's legal boundaries, rights-of-way, and registered covenants. Every municipality requires a current State of Title certificate (typically dated within 30 to 90 days) as part of your building permit intake package.

Homeowners often pay third-party expediters or law firms $200–$400 in administrative fees for simple title searches. By using the official LTSA Explorer Portal, you can pull your own current title, registered subdivision plan, and charge documents yourself for approximately $15 to $30 in under 15 minutes.

Here is the exact step-by-step workflow to pull the complete document package your design team needs.

You cannot complete an LTSA search by street address alone. You need the 9-digit Parcel Identifier (PID) (format: XXX-XXX-XXX).

• Where to find it: Look at the top-right area of your annual Property Assessment Notice or municipal property tax bill.
• No notice available? Go to BC Assessment, enter your street address, and locate the 9-digit PID listed under the legal description block.

The Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia offers a self-service portal called LTSA Explorer designed specifically for property owners and the public:

• Visit the LTSA Explorer Portal and register a single-user account.
• Account creation is completely free; you only pay per document downloaded via credit card.

Once logged in, search by your 9-digit PID and select Order Current State of Title:

• What you receive: A 2-to-3 page official certificate verifying registered legal owners, full legal description, and active legal notations or charges.
• Must be current: Most BC municipalities require a title search dated within 30 to 90 days of permit submission. Using the title copy from when you purchased the home years ago will trigger an immediate intake rejection.

The title certificate only lists charges; it does not display their physical boundaries, dimensions, or legal restrictions. You must pull the underlying instruments:

• The Registered Plan: Check the top legal description of the title for the Plan Number (e.g. BCP12345 or EPP67890). This legal survey drawing proves lot dimensions, boundary angles, and road dedication widths needed for your building permit site plan.
• Charge Numbers: In the legal notations and charges section, find registration numbers (e.g. BB123456 or CA1234567) next to Covenants, Easements, and Statutory Rights-of-Way (SRWs). Order each active charge document.
• Strata Properties: If your home is a strata duplex or townhouse, order the Strata Plan to identify Limited Common Property (LCP) boundaries and exclusive-use areas.