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LAND TITLE ACT

[RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 250

[Updated to November 5, 2001]

Contents

Section

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 

Ministry of Attorney General

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

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 

Representation agreement

48 

Execution under seal

49 

If instrument not witnessed

50 

Defects

Part 6 – Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements

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

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

77.3 

Nisga'a approving officer

78 

Certain designations prohibited on subdivision plans

79 

[Repealed]

80 

Controlled access highways

81 

Land in improvement districts

82 

Subdivided land subject to flooding

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 

Application of Waste Management Act

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 by Minister of Transportation and Highways

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 closing highway or public square to be filed

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 the approving officer and Ministry of Transportation and Highways

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 of Transportation and Highways

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 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 

Charge created by corporation

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 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 20 – Assurance Fund

295 

Maintenance of assurance fund

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 Attorney General

300 

Liability of plaintiff for costs

301 

Actions against Attorney General

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

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 

Attorney General 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 Attorney General

331 

Preliminary procedure

332 

Supplemental order or direction of Attorney General

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 proper officer

342 

Notice of completion of survey

343 

Notice of hearing

344 

Statement of complaint or claim

345 

Hearing by Attorney General or other person appointed by him

346 

Subpoena

347 

Method of conducting hearing

348 

Power of Attorney General 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

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 

Requirement for first registration of Categories A & B Lands

373.91 

Effect of indefeasible title to Categories A & B Lands

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.

384 

Preservation of registry records and plans

385 

Power to make regulations

386 

Fees

386.1  Fees specified in Schedule

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

Schedule

[ Act Contents | 1| 2| 3 | 4| 5 | 6| 7 | 8| 9 | 10| 11 | 12| 13 | 14| 15 | 16| 17 | 18| 19 | 20| 21 | 22| 23 | 24| 25 | Schedule ]


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