Checklist - Natural Boundary Adjustment Application

Checklist - Natural Boundary Adjustment Application

(Refer to Circular Letter No. 459 and Sections 94(1)(d) & 118(1) Land Title Act)

A natural boundary certificate on a plan allows the land surveyor to correctly depict the location of the natural boundary of a parcel where that boundary is poorly or incorrectly depicted on the plan upon which title to the parcel is based.

In order to proceed with an application pursuant to section 94(1)(d) of the Land Title Act, the land surveyor must be sure that the location of the natural boundary is the same today as it was at the time the parcel was originally surveyed.

The fee for submission of a natural boundary adjustment application is listed on the LTSA Fee Listing.

We encourage you to submit your application through the Electronic Filing System (EFS). The EFS User’s Guide outlines the process to submit an application.

Alternatively, you may submit your application in hard copy. The package must include three copies of a preliminary plan signed by the land surveyor, a copy of this completed checklist, all documents required by this checklist and payment of the application fee. The address for submission is:

Surveyor General Division

Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia

200-1321 Blanshard Street

Victoria BC V8W 9J3

Cheques for application fees are to be made payable to the Land Title and Survey Authority ofBC.

Checklist of Requirements for the Application Package

Preliminary Plan showing:

The natural boundary of the subject parcel according to the plan on which the present title is based;

The present natural boundary as defined in the Land Act;

The present natural boundary of adjacent parcels in order to provide an indication of how the application fits within the overall area;

Monuments and traverse hubs in the vicinity of the present natural boundary;

Relative elevations of the title natural boundary and of the present natural boundary at several locations through the application area, and of the water level at the time of survey;

Features in and around the application area (i.e. trees, retaining walls, structures);

Plotted positions and directions of terrestrial photographs (see below).

Colour terrestrial photographs of the application area showing:

The location of the present natural boundary marked with a black line;

The location of the natural boundary according to the plan on which the present title is based marked with a black line;

The flagged location of monuments and traverse hubs in the vicinity of the present natural boundary;

The flagged or painted location of the present natural boundary;

The side boundaries of the application area marked with a black line;

The present natural boundary of adjacent parcels; and

The photograph number clearly marked on the front of each photograph.

A copy of the Crown grant including the Crown grant tracing;

A copy of all pertinent Land Title Act plans of the upland property, plus copies of adjacent Land Title Act plans if they are relevant to the application;

A composite map of the area showing the parcel(s) subject to the application, the adjacent parcels, and the general trend of the shoreline on either side of the application for a distance of approximately 500 metres;

The civic address of the parcel(s) subject to the application.


The onus is upon the land surveyor to provide conclusive evidence that the location of the natural boundary has not changed since the date of the survey upon which title is based.

In addition to the requisite plan and photographs, an application needs to be accompanied by a covering letter in which the land surveyor must explain how they have reached this conclusion.

For certain applications it can be necessary to investigate other sources of evidence to support the application. Other sources can include historical ground and aerial photographs, geotechnical reports on the soils within the application area and reports by other experts. Where the land surveyor has relied, in part, on other sources of information copies of this information need also to be included in the application package.

Once conditional approval is granted and you have complied with any requirements of the conditional approval, you may seek final approval as follows:

The electronic plan affixed to a digitally signed Certification Form accompanied by an electronic Application to Deposit Plan at Land Title Office Form (Application Form) is to be submitted to the Surveyor General through EFS. The EFS User’s Guide outlines the process to submit the plan. The Application Form is to be as complete as possible, containing signature blocks for all consenters and approvers, but not digitally signed by a Subscriber. Upon signature of the appropriate certificate on the Application Form by or on behalf of the SurveyorGeneral, the Form will be scanned and e-mailed back to you.

Checklist of Requirements for the Final Plan

The plan must depict the “present natural boundary” in the location conditionally approved;

In areas not affected by the application, the natural boundary depicted on the plan must match the titled natural boundary and be labeled as such;

The plan heading should not refer to “pursuant to section 94(1)(d)” or “section 118(1)”;

The title natural boundary must not be depicted on the plan.

Last update October 2015

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