How to Search Title to a Property in British Columbia (LTSA)

Whether you are about to buy a home, you own one and want to check what is registered against it, or you are curious about a neighbour's lot, the starting point is the same: the title held by British Columbia's land title system.

This article walks through where to search, what it costs to pull a copy, and how to make sense of what comes back. A title is a technical document, so it also points out where a lawyer or registry agent can help.

This article covers the law of British Columbia.

Start with the PID, not the street address

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

If you do not have the PID, you have a few ways to find it:

• Look it up in ParcelMap BC.
• Use BC Assessment's Assessment Search, which needs a civic address.
• Check a property tax notice for the property.

Getting a copy of the title and what it costs

You cannot see the contents of a title without ordering a copy, and a fee applies. A single-user LTSA Explorer account (myLTSA) suits people who order only a few records a year, while registry agents and other professionals can also order electronically and help interpret the title.

Fees are reported as follows for April 1, 2026. Fees change each April, so confirm the current amounts on the LTSA fee page before relying on them.

The LTSA does not process title searches by phone or email, does not answer questions about the contents of a title, and does not research records for you.

What a title shows and what it leaves out

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 does not show a phone number or past owners, so it will not give you the chain of ownership.

It also reflects the register at a specific point in time. If you are in the middle of a purchase, a title pulled last week may not show something registered yesterday.

One exception to know about: cancelled and historical titles are not available through Explorer accounts. They must be obtained through a registry agent or legal professional.

Reading the charges with care

Seeing a charge on title is not the same as knowing it is valid or what it means for you. The registrar does not decide that a registered charge is enforceable when it is registered. Registered section 219 covenants are treated the same way.

On the ownership side, 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 took part.

If you need proof that the register is correct as of a certain date, a State of Title Certificate is a copy of the title certified correct at the time of issuance by the land title office. The LTSA lists uses such as confirming that a change to the registered title has been recorded, for example after a sale or a paid-off mortgage, supporting a court application, and personal records. A certification fee applies per parcel, and requests can be made through an Explorer account or by mailed form.

What to do next

• Find the PID through ParcelMap BC, Assessment Search or a property tax notice.
• Order the title through a myLTSA Explorer account, or ask a registry agent or lawyer to order it.
• Read the owner names, legal description and every registered charge, and note anything you do not understand.
• Do not rely on an old copy if timing matters; the title reflects one moment in time.
• Have a lawyer explain any easement, covenant, lien or judgment before you remove subjects or sign.

If a name is misspelled or something looks wrong, the fix usually goes through a legal professional rather than the LTSA directly, and the right route depends on what the error is.

Frequently asked questions