This archived statute consolidation is current to August 3, 2012 and includes changes enacted and in force by that date. For the most current information, click here.
This Act has "Not in Force" sections. See the Table of Legislative Changes.

Land Title Act

[RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 250

Contents
Part 1 — Definitions, Interpretation and Application
  1 Definitions
  2 References
  3 Application to Strata Property Act
Part 2 — Land Title Offices and Officers
  4 Land title districts
  5 Power to constitute and change districts
  6 Land title office
  7 Continuation of existing offices and records
  8 Duty of registrar to provide records affecting land in new district
  9 Director of Land Titles
  10 Registrar and staff
  11 Deputy registrar and assistant deputy registrar
  12 Evidence of authority of officials to act in certain cases
  13 Qualifications for appointment to office
  14 Prohibition of officers and staff acting in conflict with duties
  15 Official seal
  16 Office hours
  17 Repealed
  18 Protection of director and registrar from personal liability
  19 Exemption of registrar from attendance as witness in court
Part 3 — Registration and Its Effect
  20 Unregistered instrument does not pass estate
  21 Unregistered instruments executed and taking effect before July 1, 1905
  22 Operation of instrument as from time of registration
  23 Effect of indefeasible title
  24 Title by prescription abolished
  25 Protection of registered owner against actions for recovery of land
  25.1 Void instruments — interest acquired or not acquired
  26 Registration of a charge
  27 Notice given by registration of charge
  28 Priority of charges based on priority of registration
  29 Effect of notice of unregistered interest
  30 Notice of unregistered interest as affecting registered owner of charge
  31 Priority of caveat or certificate of pending litigation
  32 Validity of registered voluntary conveyance
  33 Equitable mortgage or lien not registrable
  34 Registration of indefeasible title by court order
  35 Admissibility of instruments
  36 Completion of registration
  37 Registration effective from time of application
  38 Registrar to create official record of instruments and documents
Part 4 — Forms of Instruments
  39 Registrable instruments
  40 Order in Council transferring government rights in highway
Part 5 — Attestation and Proof of Execution of Instruments
  41 Definitions
  42 Witnessing and execution
  43 Witnessing — individuals
  44 Witnessing — corporations
  45 Witnessing — individual power of attorney
  46 Witnessing — corporate power of attorney
  47 Witnessing — persons not fluent in English
  47.1 Repealed
  48 Execution under seal
  49 If instrument not witnessed
  50 Defects
Part 6 — Powers of Attorney
  51 Deposit of power of attorney on registration of instrument
  52 Attorney's powers extend to after acquired land
  53 Index of powers of attorney
  54 Effect of execution of second power of attorney
  55 Power of personal representative or trustee
  56 Power of attorney valid for 3 years only
  57 Revocation of power of attorney
Part 7 — Descriptions and Plans
  Division 1 — General
  58 Description of land
  59 Public official plan
  60 Description in Crown grant
  61 Registration of title to Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Company land
  62 Subsequent descriptions of land
  63 Description by parcels shown on subdivision plan
  64 Substitution for metes and bounds or abbreviated description
  65 Assignment of distinguishing letter to remainder
  66 Assignment of distinguishing letter by registrar
  67 Requirements as to subdivision and reference plans
  68 Posting plan
  69 Block outline survey
  70 Explanatory plan of block or lot in Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Company grant
  71 Composite plans
  72 When composite plan not to be deposited
  Division 2 — Subdivision of Land
  73 Restrictions on subdivision
  73.1 Lease of part of a parcel of land enforceable
  74 Method of defining new parcel
  75 Requirements for subdivisions
  76 Relief from requirements established by section 75
  Division 3 — Appointment, Powers and Duties of Approving Officers
  77 Appointment of municipal approving officers
  77.1 Appointment of regional district and islands trust approving officers
  77.2 Provincial approving officers
  77.21 Appointment of treaty first nation approving officers
  77.3 Nisga'a approving officer
  78 Certain designations prohibited on subdivision plans
  79 Repealed
  80 Controlled access highways
  81 Land in improvement districts
  82 Repealed
  Division 4 — Approval of Subdivision Plans
  83 Tender of plan for examination and approval
  83.1 Referral to designated highways official
  84 Plan tendered later than 3 months after survey
  85 Time limit for approval and consideration of public interest
  85.1 Environmental Management Act requirements must be met
  86 Matters to be considered by approving officer on application for approval
  87 Local government matters to be considered by approving officer
  88 Approval of plan
  89 Appeal to Supreme Court
  90 Power of Lieutenant Governor in Council to prohibit deposit of plan
  Division 5 — Deposit of Subdivision Plans
  91 Approval of subdivision plan required
  92 Application for deposit
  93 Title to land in plan required to be registered
  94 Endorsement of certificate
  95 Accreted land within plan
  96 Water boundary deemed to be natural boundary
  97 Signatures of owners to plan
  98 New indefeasible titles for parcels shown on deposited plan
  Division 6 — Other Methods of Defining New Parcels
  99 Registrar to determine whether description of land acceptable
  100 Re-establishment of boundaries
  101 Principles guiding approving officer
  102 Dedication by reference or explanatory plan
  103 Execution of plan by owner
  104 Serial deposit number
  Division 7 — Conflicting Measurements
  105 Power of registrar if measurements on plans conflict
  106 Power of registrar to correct errors, defects or omissions
  Division 8 — Vesting of Title by Deposit of Plan
  107 Dedication and vesting
  108 If designation on plan "Returned to Crown in right of the Province"
  109 Extinguishment of highway not shown on plan
  Division 9 — Amendment of Plan
  110 Amendment of deposited plan in certain cases
  Division 10 — Penalties If Plan Not Deposited
  111 Rights of purchaser when plan not deposited
  112 Penalty for failure to deposit plan of subdivision
  Division 11 — Statutory Right of Way Plans
  113 Deposit
  114 Statutory right of way plan may be used in application to register fee simple
  115 Deposit of statutory right of way plan
  116 Requirements of statutory right of way plans
  117 Widening of statutory right of way
  118 When water boundary deemed natural boundary
  119 Alteration in deposited statutory right of way plan
  Division 12 — Plans and Descriptions to Accompany Bylaws
  120 Municipal bylaw cancelling highway or public square dedication
Part 8 — Cancellation of Plans
  121 Definitions and interpretation
  122 Cancellation of plans by application to the registrar
  123 Petition to cancel plan
  124 Report of approving officer and district highways manager
  125 Service of petition and other documents
  126 Publication and posting
  127 Notice of intention to appear
  128 Place of hearing
  129 Powers of registrar in relation to the hearing
  130 Duties of registrar on hearing the petition
  131 Powers of the registrar to cancel or alter a plan
  132 Opposition by local authority
  133 Opposition by minister
  134 Preparation and registration of order
  135 Registrar may vest an estate in fee simple
  136 Cancellation by minister of plan comprising Crown land
  137 Cancellation of interior lines
Part 9 — Air Space Titles
  138 Definitions
  139 Air space is land
  140 Covenant to grant easements or to convey restrictive covenants not implied
  141 Subdivision of land into air space parcels
  142 Air space parcels in respect of highways
  143 Air space plan
  144 Air space plan
  145 Taxation
  146 Application
Part 10 — Applications for Registration and Evidence in Support
  147 Application required
  148 Form and manner of applying
  149 Address of applicant
  150 Particulars as to witness and parties to instrument
  151 Repealed
  152 Description of foreign government
  153 Time of application
  154 Application for registration of fee simple
  155 Application for registration of charge
  156 Application must be for all lands or charges comprised in instrument
  157 Forms
  158 Restrictions as to scope of application
  159 Registrar may require deposit of instruments
  160 Summons to produce instruments
  161 Application to court to compel production or deposit of instruments
  162 Powers of court on hearing
  163 Notice of intention to register
  164 Registration after notice
  165 Corporate powers assumed
  166 Disposal of instruments deposited
  167 Withdrawal of application
  168 Summary rejection of defective application
Part 10.1 — Electronic Filing
  Division 1 — Interpretation
  168.1 Definitions
  168.11 Repealed
  Division 1.1 — Establishment of Electronic Forms and Electronic Filing
  168.111 Powers respecting electronic forms and filing
  Division 2 — Electronic Applications and Instruments
  168.12 Provisions inapplicable to electronic instruments and applications
  168.2 Effect of electronic applications and instruments
  168.21 Form and manner of completion
  168.3 Signing requirements
  168.31 Delivery of electronic instruments
  168.4 Submitting electronic applications and instruments
  168.41 Supporting documents
  168.42 Corrective declarations
  168.5 Electronic instrument taking effect as a deed
  168.51 Production of evidence
  168.6 Evidentiary matters
  168.61 Admissibility of true copy of electronic instrument
  168.7 Disposal of electronic applications and instruments
  Division 2.1 — Electronic Plan Applications and Electronic Plans
  168.712 Provisions applicable to electronic plan applications and electronic plans
  168.72 Effect of electronic plan applications and electronic plans
  168.721 Form and manner of completion
  168.722 Assignment of serial deposit numbers to electronic plans
  168.73 Signing requirements for electronic plans — British Columbia land surveyor
  168.731 Signing requirements for electronic plan applications — persons other than subscribers
  168.732 Signing requirements for electronic plan applications — subscribers
  168.74 Submitting electronic plan applications and electronic plans
  168.741 Supporting documents
  168.742 Corrective declarations
  168.743 Amendments to electronic plans
  168.75 Production of evidence
  168.76 Evidentiary matters
  168.761 Admissibility of true copy of electronic plan application or electronic plan
  168.77 Disposal of electronic plan applications and electronic plans
  Division 3 — Certification of Subscribers
  168.71 Repealed
  168.79 Certification authority
  168.8 Certification practice statement
  168.81 Warranties of certification authorities
  168.82 Immunity
  Division 4 — General
  168.9 Offences
  168.91 Repealed
Part 11 — Registration of Title in Fee Simple
  Division 1 — First Registration
  169 Registration of title
  170 Requirements as to production of title deeds
  171 Adverse possession
  172 First estate of inheritance necessary to registration of fee simple
  173 Several persons interested in registration
  174 Application to convert absolute fee into indefeasible title
  Division 2 — The Register and Duplicate Indefeasible Titles
  175 Register and records
  176 Duplicate indefeasible title
  177 Registration of joint tenants
  Division 3 — General
  178 Limitation on number of parcels
  179 Rights of owner of surface
  180 Recognition of trust estates
  181 Interest or right reserved to transferor
  182 Registration of restrictive covenants and easements
  183 Entries carried forward from original entry
  184 Registration of grantor a condition precedent
Part 12 — Transfers
  185 Form of transfer
  186 Implied covenants
  187 Registration of transferee
  188 Registration by amendment to register
  189 Dealings with duplicate indefeasible title on transfer
  190 Destruction of duplicate indefeasible title
Part 13 — Dealings With Indefeasible Title Other Than by Registration
  191 Registration of new indefeasible title and change of name
  192 Registration of several indefeasible titles instead of original
  193 Lost indefeasible certificate of title
  194 Effect given to new or provisional indefeasible title
  195 Surrender of duplicate indefeasible title on registration of charge
  196 Provisional title may issue to minerals
Part 14 — Registration of Title to Charges
  Division 1 — General
  197 Registration of charges
  198 Registration of person creating charge
  199 Registration of subcharges
  200 No subright to purchase registrable
  201 Registration of assignment of charge
  202 Repealed
  203 Floating charges on land
  204 Registration of debt to the government as a charge
  205 Writ of affecting land
  206 Registration of transfer, extension or modification of charges
  207 Form of postponement
  208 Certificates of charge
  209 Transfer of mortgage
  Division 2 — Judgments
  210 Registration of judgments in same manner as charge
  211 Registration of assignment of judgment and form of assignment
  212 Notice to judgment creditor of intention to register
  213 Costs on failure to establish priority
  214 Form of release
  Division 3 — Certificate of Pending Litigation
  215 Registration of certificate of pending litigation in same manner as charge
  216 Effect of registered certificate of pending litigation
  217 Effect of certificate of pending litigation if prior application is pending
  Division 4 — Statutory Rights of Way, Miscellaneous Covenants and Easements
  218 Statutory right of way
  219 Registration of covenant as to use and alienation
  220 Statutory building scheme and letting scheme
  221 Requirements of registrable restrictive covenant
  222 Discriminating covenants are void
  223 Subdivision of dominant tenement
  Division 4.1 —  Party Wall Agreements
  223.1 Definitions
  223.2 Binding effect
  Division 5 — Mortgages
  224 Definition
  225 Form of mortgage
  226 Modification of standard terms
  227 Prescribed standard mortgage terms
  228 Filed standard mortgage terms
  229 Receipt of standard mortgage terms by mortgagor
  230 Registrar may require filing
  231 Effect of a mortgage
  Division 6 — General Instruments
  232 Definitions and application
  233 Form of general instrument
  234 Modification of standard terms of general instrument
  235 Filed standard general instrument terms
  236 Effect of a general instrument
  237 Release of registered charge
Part 15 — Instruments
  238 Registration of instruments
  239 Floating charges on land
  240 Suspension and alteration
Part 16 — Cancellation of Charges
  241 Cancellation of registration of charge
  242 Application to cancel mortgage created by vendor
  243 Redemption of mortgage if mortgagee absent
  244 Mortgagee's refusal or neglect to give discharge
  245 Vesting order in favour of purchaser
  246 Cancellation if charge determined by effluxion of time
  247 Cancellation of lease on breach of covenant
  248 Effect of cancellation
  249 Power of court to order cancellation of charge
  250 Cancellation of charge on payment into court
  251 Application to court
  252 Cancellation of certificate of pending litigation
  253 Cancellation of certificate of pending litigation if action discontinued
  254 Cancellation of certificate of pending litigation if action dismissed
  255 If action neither dismissed nor discontinued
  256 Cancellation of certificate of pending litigation on other grounds
  257 Power of court to order cancellation
  258 Cancellation of registration
  259 Discharge of mortgage
Part 17 — Transmission of Fee Simple and Charge
  Division 1 — General
  260 Registration of transmission before subsequent dealing
  261 Conveyance under Court Order Enforcement Act or Builders Lien Act
  262 Registration of land vested in Crown by statute
  Division 2 — On Death of Testator or Intestate
  263 Definitions
  264 Power and title of personal representative on registration
  265 Death before April 1, 1947
  266 Death after March 31, 1947
  267 Discharge of mortgage
  268 When resealing may be dispensed with
  Division 3 — On Death of Joint Tenant
  269 Transmission re joint tenancies
  270 Discharge of mortgage by surviving joint tenant
  Division 4 — On Foreclosure
  271 Presumption as to regularity of foreclosure and cancellation proceedings
  Division 5 — Tax Sales
  272 Notice of tax sale as to each parcel sold
  273 Notice of redemption of tax sale land
  274 Application to other Acts
  275 Registration of tax sale purchaser under Taxation (Rural Area) Act
  276 Effect of registration of title derived from tax sale
  277 Provincial tax sale purchaser under repealed Acts
  278 Land forfeited to or vested in Crown
  279 Tax sales held under Taxation (Rural Area) Act
  280 Application to the government
Part 18 — Notice of Certain Conditions and Obligations
  281 Forest Act
Part 19 — Caveats
  282 Lodging caveat
  283 Right of registered owner to lodge caveat
  284 Power of court to issue injunction
  285 Power of registrar to lodge caveat
  286 Form of caveat
  287 Duty of registrar on receipt of caveat
  288 Effect of caveat
  289 Proceedings for discharge of caveat
  290 Withdrawal of caveat
  291 Further caveat lodged after caveat has lapsed, been withdrawn or discharged
  292 Registration of withdrawal, lapse or discharge of caveat
  293 Lapse of caveat
  294 Compensation if caveat lodged wrongfully
Part 19.1 — Land Title and Survey Authority Assurance Fund
  294.1 Definition
  294.11 Establishment and maintenance of assurance fund
  294.12 Application of this Part
  294.2 Remedies of person deprived of land
  294.21 Protection of purchaser in good faith and for value
  294.22 Fault of registrar
  294.3 Notice of actions against Land Title and Survey Authority
  294.4 Liability of plaintiff for costs
  294.5 Judgment against person liable
  294.6 Limitation of liability of fund
  294.61 Recovery limited to value of land
  294.7 Payment from fund without action
  294.8 Payment by Land Title and Survey Authority
  294.9 Withholding of payment until proceedings concluded
Part 20 — Government Assurance Fund
  294.91 Definition
  295 Maintenance of assurance fund
  295.1 Application of this Part
  296 Remedies of person deprived of land
  297 Protection of purchaser in good faith and for value
  298 Fault of registrar
  299 Notice of actions against minister
  300 Liability of plaintiff for costs
  301 Actions against minister
  302 Judgment against person liable
  303 Limitation of liability of assurance fund
  304 Recovery limited to value of land
  305 Payment from assurance fund without action
  306 Payment from consolidated revenue fund
  307 Withholding of payment until proceedings concluded
Part 21 — Appeals
  308 Duty of registrar to notify applicant of refusal of registration
  309 Appeal to court
  310 Preservation of applications
  311 Appeals from decision of registrar
  312 Registrar to act on order of court
  313 Registrations made under order of court
  314 Power of registrar to state case
Part 22 — Notices
  315 Powers of registrar regarding preparation and service of notice
  316 Personal service
  317 Service by mail
  317.1 Service by electronic means
  318 Substituted service
  319 Service if person is dead
  320 Effect of service
  321 Rights of purchaser for value protected
Part 23 — Special Surveys
  322 Definitions
  323 Minister may order special survey
  324 Apportionment of costs if land within municipality
  325 Apportionment of costs if land is in a rural area
  326 Power to amend order if land subsequently becomes included within municipality
  327 Advancement of costs by municipality or owners
  328 Transmittal of copy of order to proper officer and registrar
  329 Notice of special survey
  330 Surveyor to act under minister
  331 Preliminary procedure
  332 Supplemental order or direction of minister
  333 Procedure for fixing boundary of survey area
  334 Transmittal of copy of supplemental order to proper officer and registrar
  335 Guiding principles for surveyor
  336 Nature of survey
  337 Plans
  338 Appointment of substituted surveyor
  339 Report of surveyor
  340 Notice to registrar
  341 Notice to corporate officer
  342 Notice of completion of survey
  343 Notice of hearing
  344 Statement of complaint or claim
  345 Hearing by minister or other person appointed by him
  346 Subpoena
  347 Method of conducting hearing
  348 Power of minister to decide complaints and claims and make order
  349 Principles for determining compensation
  350 Approval of survey and plan by Lieutenant Governor in Council
  351 Power to vest land
  352 Notice of order in council approving of survey
  353 Appeal
  354 Entry of appeal
  355 Registration
  356 Method of registration
  357 Effect of registration
  358 Notice of registration
  359 Assessment within municipalities
  360 Assessment in rural area
  361 Duty of surveyor to destroy conflicting monuments
  362 Recovery of compensation and costs
  363 Removal of special survey monuments
  364 Power of Lieutenant Governor in Council to correct errors
  365 Offence and penalty
Part 24 — Registration of Title to Indian Lands
  366 Definitions and interpretation
  367 Filing of patent
  368 Application for registration of Indian land — general
  369 Where application affects unregistered Indian land
  370 If application affects registered Indian land
  371 Other laws not to affect Torrens system
  372 Execution of instruments
  373 Liability limited
  373.1 Not in force. Repealed.
Part 24.01 — Treaty Lands
  373.11 Application of Act to treaty lands
Part 24.1 — Nisga'a Lands and Categories A and B Lands
  Division 1 — Treatment of Nisga'a Lands and Institutions
  373.2 Effect of indefeasible title to Nisga'a Lands
  373.21 Assignment of distinguishing letter by registrar
  373.22 Requirements as to subdivision in respect of Nisga'a Lands
  373.23 Controlled access highways
  373.3 Tender of plan for examination and approval
  373.31 Matters to be considered by approving officer on application for approval
  373.32 Matters to be considered in respect of land within Nisga'a Lands
  373.33 Acceptable descriptions of land
  373.4 Dedication by reference or explanatory plan
  373.41 Dedication and vesting
  373.42 Designation of plans in respect of submerged lands
  373.43 Amendment of deposited plan in certain cases
  373.44 Deposit of statutory right of way plan
  373.5 Nisga'a law to be filed if closing road or public square
  373.51 Definitions for applying Part 8
  373.52 Cancellation of plans
  373.53 Air space
  373.6 Rights of owner of surface
  373.61 Registration of debt owing to Nisga'a Nation or Nisga'a Village
  373.62 Statutory right of way
  373.63 Registration of covenant as to use and alienation
  373.64 Registration of land vested under Nisga'a law
  373.7 Notice of tax sale or redemption of tax sale land
  373.71 Effect of registration of title derived from tax sale
  373.72 Power of registrar to lodge caveat
  Division 2 — First Registration of Title to Nisga'a Lands
  373.73 Plan required with application for first registration
  373.8 Conclusive evidence of good safe holding and marketable title
  373.81 Additions to Nisga'a Lands
  373.82 Execution of instruments in respect of Nisga'a Lands
  Division 3 — Registration of Categories A and B Lands
  373.9 Requirements for first registration of Categories A & B Lands
  373.91 Effect of indefeasible title to Categories A & B Lands
Part 24.2 —  Cancelling Registration of Reserve Lands Registered to Canada
  373.92 Cancelling registration of reserve lands registered to Canada
Part 25 — Miscellaneous
  374 Record of names
  375 Record of registered land
  376 Pending applications
  377 Searching of records
  378 Registrar to provide certificates
  379 Certificate as evidence
  380 Lost or destroyed instruments
  381 Rights of officers of taxing authorities
  382 Powers and duties of registrar
  383 Registrar to cancel or correct instruments, etc.
  383.1 Public Agency Accommodation Act amendments
  383.2 Homeowner Protection Act amendments
  384 Preservation of registry records and plans
  384.1 Records of Land Title and Survey Authority
  385 Power to make regulations
  386 Fees
  386.1 Fees specified in Schedule 2
  386.2 Fees payable despite other enactments
  387 Offence of fraud
  388 Offence of false representation
  389 Application of Offence Act
  390 Penalties
  391 Conviction not to affect liability
  392 Contaminated land
  393 Transitional
  394 Transitional — removal of notations made under the Forest Land Reserve Act
Schedule 1
Schedule 2