How to Search Title to a Property in British Columbia

You may be thinking of buying a home, checking your own records, or wondering what is registered against the lot next door. In British Columbia, the starting point for all of these questions is the property's title.

This article explains where to search, what you need before you start, what a title does and does not tell you, and how to read it sensibly. It is general information, not advice on your particular property.

This article covers the law of British Columbia.

Start with the PID, not the address

The Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA) says the best way to search for a title is with the nine-digit Parcel Identifier, called the PID. A civic address cannot be used to search.

If you do not have the PID, there are three common places to find it. You can look it up in ParcelMap BC, in BC Assessment's Assessment Search (which needs a civic address), or on a property tax notice.

• Find the civic address of the property.
• Use Assessment Search or ParcelMap BC to find the PID, or check a property tax notice if you are the owner.
• Write the PID down carefully, all nine digits.
• Decide whether you need a plain copy of the title or a certified one.

How to order a copy of the title

To see what is actually on a title, you must order a copy, and a fee applies. A single-user LTSA Explorer account (myLTSA) suits people who only order a few records a year. Registry agents and other professionals can also order electronically and help you interpret the title.

A title search fee of $11.06 has been reported for April 1, 2026, but that amount should be confirmed before you rely on it. Fees change from time to time, so confirm the current amount on the LTSA fee page before you order.

Be aware that the LTSA does not process title searches by phone or email, does not answer questions about title contents, and does not research records on a customer's behalf. If you are unsure what you are looking at, a lawyer or registry agent is the right person to ask.

What a title shows and what it leaves out

A title reflects the register at a specific point in time. If you are in the middle of a purchase, the title you pulled last week may not match the register today.

Cancelled and historical titles are an exception to what Explorer accounts offer. They are not available through Explorer accounts and must be obtained through a registry agent or legal professional.

How to read what you find

Start with the registered owner and legal description to confirm you are looking at the right parcel. Then read the list of charges, liens and interests, since these are the items that may affect what you can do with the land.

Common entries include statutory rights of way, covenants, mortgages and judgments. Each has its own rules. For example, a registered judgment forms a lien and charge on the debtor's land from registration, and a certificate of pending litigation signals a court claim about an interest in the land.

Keep in mind that registration does not settle everything. Registering a charge is not a determination by the registrar that the charge is enforceable. On the other hand, an indefeasible title that is in force and uncancelled is conclusive evidence of the registered owner's title, subject to listed exceptions such as existing grant conditions, highways, and fraud in which the registered owner participated.

• Does the owner name match the person you expect? A misspelled name is usually corrected through a legal professional.
• Are there charges you do not understand? Ask for the registered document, not only the title page.
• Is the title recent enough for your purpose?

What to do next

Decide why you are searching. A buyer who wants to understand registered charges before making an offer has different needs from a neighbour who is curious about a right of way.

• Get the PID from ParcelMap BC, Assessment Search or a tax notice.
• Order the title through a myLTSA Explorer account or a registry agent.
• Read the owner, legal description and every registered charge.
• Order the documents behind any charge you do not understand.
• Speak with a lawyer before you rely on a charge, or ignore one, in a purchase or a building plan.

If the search turns up something unexpected, such as a covenant, a judgment or a court claim, a lawyer can explain what it means for your plans.

Frequently asked questions