Can I get title insurance for a vacant land purchase in Ontario?

Yes — title insurance is available for vacant land purchases in Ontario, though the scope of coverage differs from a standard residential home policy. Standard residential policies are designed for improved properties (homes, condos). If you are buying vacant land — a lot in a subdivision, agricultural land, a cottage lot, or a rural property — your lawyer will need to arrange a policy appropriate to that property type.

Title insurance on vacant land covers the same fundamental categories of risk: defects in the chain of title, fraud, registered liens or encumbrances not shown in the search, boundary and survey issues, and easements or rights-of-way that were not disclosed. However, certain coverages that are specific to structures — like zoning non-compliance for a building or work orders for construction — may not be applicable since there are no structures on a vacant property.

For vacant land that is intended for development, additional due diligence is important and not covered by title insurance: confirming zoning and permitted uses, checking servicing availability (water, sewer, hydro), reviewing any environmental history, and obtaining surveys and building reports. Title insurance protects your ownership interest in the land; it does not confirm that the land can be developed for your intended purpose or that services are available.