Key information to help you hire a surveyor.
It is important to be aware of the many facets of surveying. There are Land Surveyors, Surveying Technologists, Construction Surveyors and Quantity Surveyors, to name a few.
When it comes to boundary-related surveying, engaging a Land Surveyor is most appropriate.
- Only a professional land surveyor possesses the legal authority to resolve and monument lot boundaries, and to prepare the necessary plans for filing or registration in the Land Title Office and Canada Lands Survey Register.
- Most Local Government and Municipality bylaws require Location (Survey) Certificates be prepared by a BC Land Surveyor.
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Land Surveyor (BC Land Surveyor, Canada Land Surveyor)
- Specialization and scope: primary role involves surveying boundaries for land tenure & land rights, whether this be for the boundaries themselves, or precise layout of improvements which must be related to land boundaries.
- Designations:
- Must hold the (protected) designation British Columbia Land Surveyor (BCLS)
- Or the designation Canada Lands Surveyor (CLS), for legal work on Indian Reserves, Federal Land, or the Canadian Territories.
- BC Land Surveyors are legislated professionals in BC under the Land Surveyors Act, commissioned and governed by the Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors for the protection of the public interest in the practice of land surveying.
- Canada Lands Surveyors are nationally legislated professionals under the Canada Lands Surveyors Act, and are commissioned and governed by the Association of Canada Lands Surveyors.
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Construction Surveyor
- Specialization: surveys associated with construction for civil works, roads, bridges, and civil infrastructure.
- Scope: ranges from topographic surveys for design purposes, through to providing layout for construction and installation. Construction Surveyors may mark or stake a boundary between found monuments, but are not authorized to stake a boundary when a monument defining the subject boundary is missing.
- Designation: May hold the designation AScT (Applied Science Technologist) or RSIS (registered Site Improvement Specialist) from ASTTBC
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Quantity Surveyor
- Specialization: Construction cost consultants and estimators
- Scope: typically engaged in large-scale construction and infrastructure projects
- Designation: May hold the internationally recognized title PQS (Professional Quantity Surveyor)
The term “Surveyor” is very broad and may describe any of the roles identified above, or may identify a Surveying Technician or Technologist working under the direct supervision of a Land Surveyor.