Frequently Asked Questions

Most projects do need a survey of some kind. However, many people do not know what type of survey they need. At Evolution Land Surveying we believe in giving you a full, honest, up-front scope of your project. We do this by listening closely to your project needs and then recommending the best approach to reach your ultimate project goals.

There are various reasons you may need a survey thus the best answer to this is to consult your land surveyor about your situation with the best context you may be able to provide. Based on the available information, they will be able to customize solutions to uniquely fit your needs. At Evolution, we offer 30 minutes complementary free consultation for new client by a self-serve appointment booking system.

A BCLS or British Columbia Land Surveyor, is a Professional Land Surveyor commissioned under the Land Surveyors Act and is governed by the Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors. British Columbia Land Surveyors are charged, by the Land Surveyors Act, with the responsibility of carrying out all cadastral surveys within the Province of British Columbia, which include surveys of land, water and airspace, rights of way, strata properties, leases, and mining claims.

As with all other professionals you should hire a land surveyor based on their specializations and their track record. You should hire someone who understands your needs, who you are comfortable talking to and who you want to do business with. You are suggested to choose your land surveyor personally, by consultation or referral. There are many British Columbia Land Surveyors, they all passed the same examination, but their experience and specializations may vary greatly.

There are many factors to be involved during the process of a survey. These factors include terrain, vegetation, aged documents, date of last survey, disturbed or lost property corners, size of parcel to be surveyed and the scope of services required, to name a few. Before estimating or quoting a survey, a close look at these and other factors needs be conducted for an accurate budget. Try to be thorough with your land surveyor when advise what you expect/required to provide as the final product and the services you expect to receive during the survey process. While each land surveyor quotes a job differently, at Evolution, we value transparency on scope and cost of services; we strive to provide clients with high-quality services.

Property line survey requires researching existing recorded (and sometimes unrecorded) survey plans and title certificates, evidence of survey monuments, evidence of occupation adjacent to the parcel being surveyed, evidence of usages that may or may not have been recorded, etc. Only a BC Land Surveyor may establish or re-establish property boundaries or corners and only a BC Land Surveyor may provide an opinion as to the location of an improvement or feature relative to a parcel boundary or corner, according to the Land Surveyors Act. It is often used for identification of encroachments either way across property lines, guidance for fencing purposes, disposal of trees.

A Surveyor’s Certificate, also known as Building Location Certificate, is a certified document prepared by a BCLS which depicts the following:

1. Location of improvements on the property in relation to the property lines
2. Dimensions of the property lines and offsets thereto from any improvements
3. Encroachments either way across property lines
4. Registered charges on the title certificate, including easements, rights-of-way, or covenants
5. Other registered non-finance charges described on the certificate, such as statutory building scheme

A Building Location Certificate may be used for various purposes:

1. It is essential in any real estate transaction, whether involving a house, a condominium, or a piece of land. It is often required for mortgage purposes by your notary public or financial institution.
2. It is required for building permit application with the corresponding municipality. The sealed certificate must be on site and available to the Building Inspector at the time of the framing inspection.
3. It also serves to confirm whether a building comply with municipal regulations and provincial laws and whether there is any encroachment on neighboring property.

Most, if not all land surveyors, use some sort of reference mark for their equipment. These references, which are called control points and usually accompanied with spray paint or number tags, may be nails, spikes, rebars, etc., assisting the surveyor set up the equipment to locate what is needed to perform the survey. If you see these reference points, there is no need to be alarmed, leave them alone; They have no direct implication with respect to your boundaries.