What Is the Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA) in BC?

If you are buying, selling or refinancing a property in British Columbia, the Land Title and Survey Authority, usually called the LTSA, will come up quickly. Your lawyer or notary searches it, registers documents with it, and relies on what it records.

It can be confusing to know whether the LTSA is a government ministry, a private company or something in between. This article explains what it is, what it registers and how you can use its online services.

This article covers the law of British Columbia.

What the LTSA is and how it differs from government

The LTSA is a statutory corporation formed in 2005. It operates BC's land title and survey systems under the Land Title and Survey Authority Act and an Operating Agreement with the Province.

So it is not a ministry. It is set up by legislation and works under an agreement with the Province, and it is self-funded through regulated service fees.

Its three main services are land title registration, land survey standards and approvals (including approving legal survey plans), and Crown grants. It also administers the Land Owner Transparency Registry.

What a title shows, and what it does not

A title shows the registered owner or owners in fee simple, the legal description, the PID, and the charges, liens and interests registered against the property. It reflects the register at a specific point in time.

A title does not show a phone number or past owners, meaning the chain of ownership. Cancelled and historical titles are an exception: they are not available through Explorer accounts and must be obtained through a registry agent or legal professional.

Registration also has limits. Registering a charge is not a determination by the registrar that the charge is enforceable. A charge on title tells you something has been registered, not that it will hold up in every dispute.

Searching for a title and using myLTSA

• The best way to search is with the nine-digit Parcel Identifier (PID). A civic address cannot be used to search.
• If you do not have the PID, you can find it in ParcelMap BC, in BC Assessment's Assessment Search (which needs a civic address), or on a property tax notice.
• To see the contents of a title you must order a copy, and a fee applies.
• A single-user LTSA Explorer account (myLTSA) suits people who order only a few records a year.
• Registry agents and other professionals can also order electronically and help interpret the title.

Fees change from time to time, so check the LTSA's current fee listing before you rely on any amount you have seen elsewhere.

Other LTSA services you may meet

A State of Title Certificate is a copy of the title that is certified correct at the time of issuance by the land title office. People use it to confirm that a change to the registered title has been recorded, such as after a sale, a paid-off mortgage or a new registered interest, to support a court application, or for personal records.

A certification fee applies, charged per parcel (PID). You can request it through an LTSA Explorer account or by mailed request form, which needs the PID and legal description and payment by cheque, bank draft or money order. Cash is not accepted.

The Land Owner Transparency Registry is searchable by anyone, free of charge, through myLTSA Explorer. It does not show date of birth, social insurance number or home address.

What to do next

• Find the PID on your property tax notice or in ParcelMap BC.
• Decide whether you need a plain title copy or a certified State of Title Certificate.
• Do not expect the LTSA to explain the title: it does not process title searches by phone or email, does not answer questions about title contents and does not research records for you.
• Ask your lawyer or a registry agent to read the charges and interests with you, especially before you buy.

Frequently asked questions