If you are planning to construct a new building, or renovate a home or part of it (like your deck), you will need a building permit from the Municipality. However, the Municipality will typically require a survey before issuing one. This survey is often referred to as a “Site Plan” or “Topographic Survey”. A Site Plan will have information such as:

• The extent of the property boundary.

• The existing building(s) with setbacks shown in property boundaries.

• The location of the road frontage and the driveway.

• The location of significant trees.

• The grade shots throughout the site or near the area of concern

These plans can be used for design and permitting purposes. Do note that we do not set property corners or mark boundaries when completing Site Plans.

Only a BC Land Surveyor, such as V.I. Powell & Associates, is able to do this for you as we have the sole authority to restore or replace corner monuments, called iron posts. However, keep in mind that the process can vary in complexity, depending on the status of these corner monuments that determine your property boundaries.

As required by law, our first step is to find existing monuments at either end of the property line before we can set marks along your property boundaries for fencing purposes.

The process may be more complex if the iron posts no longer exist or never existed at either end of the line. In this case, we are then required to prepare either a legal Posting Plan or Reference Plan to replace or set these posts, and file the plan with the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) for public record. This will need detailed research and further surveying of the property and neighbouring lots to accurately establish boundary lines, and as such will impact the cost of this service.

A good way to tell if you’re engaging a certified land surveyor is to look at the name of the business. The word “Land Surveying” is only allowed to appear in a business name where a majority shareholder is a certified BC Land Surveyor.

You can also search the Association of BC Land Surveyors members’ directory to verify their registration status, area(s) of practice, employer name, and business contact information. We’re proud to have 3 BC Land Surveyors at Powell & Associates serving the Greater Victoria area.

Every job is different. The cost for all our services will depend on the complexity of the survey: the amount of research required, negotiating with approving authorities, collaborating with land development professionals, even communicating with neighbours. Payment terms, whether hourly or at a fixed rate, are decided on a case-by-case basis. We do require a retainer payment before any work can start. Why not give us a call so we can better understand your needs and provide you with an accurate estimation.

You’re going to hate this answer… but it depends. Of course, where possible, we will try to accommodate an urgent request. Give us a call and we’ll see how we can help.

Many people don’t realize that the process to become a certified BC Land Surveyor is so rigorous it ensures a person is qualified to do it. The field is highly regulated with strict adherence to bylaws and a comprehensive list of practices to ensure every survey is done independently, in an unbiased manner, and with total professional integrity.

We often say to our clients that “there’s no plus or minus” as everything is done with precision to the best of our ability to ensure we put the cadastre and society before the interests of the client.

You can purchase the legal plan for your property lot from the Land Title and Survey Authority of BC. This plan will show the perimeter of your lot but will not show any buildings or site information. If you are looking for site-specific information, your Municipality may have a copy of the Site Plan. You may need an updated Site Plan if the copy is more than a few years old. Give us a call if you need one of our certified BC Land Surveyors to conduct a survey of your property.

We pride ourselves on being of service to the public. No matter the size of a project, we are always happy to meet with you to understand your requirements. Every project is unique, and our team is always open to new challenges that continue to hone our skills. Give us a call and let’s see how we can help.