Why a Certificate of Location
- Buying or Selling a Property
- Mortgage Application
During a real estate transaction, a certificate of location plays a critical role. It provides a complete overview of your property by verifying whether buildings and structures comply with municipal regulations. It also identifies property rights, easements, as well as flood zones and applicable constraints that may affect the property. It is a comprehensive analysis of your property’s legal and physical status and much more.
A certificate of location may also be required when applying for financing, as mortgage lenders often request it.
What Does a Certificate of Location include
A certificate of location includes a plan illustrating your lot with its dimensions and total area, as well as all buildings and structures located on it. This plan is accompanied by a written report. Both documents comply with the standards established by the Regulation respecting standards of practice for certificates of location issued by the Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec (L.R.Q., c. A-23, r.7.1).
Property Identification
- Full property address
- Lot number(s) in the Quebec cadastre
- Municipality and land registration division
Updated Property Description and Concordance
- Exact lot dimensions (measurements and area)
- Shape of the land and cadastral boundaries
- Consistency between the title of ownership, occupation, and cadastre
Buildings and Structures
- Precise location of the main building and accessory structures
- Distances between buildings and property boundaries
- Potential encroachments (onto neighboring properties or from them)
Regulatory Aspects
- Compliance with municipal zoning bylaws
- Compliance with setback and positioning requirements
- Flood zones or environmental constraints
- Shoreline protection bands
- Agricultural zoning
- Protected zones and environmental restrictions
- Airport zones
- And more
Easements and Charges
- Easements registered in the land registry
- Existing servitudes (right of way, drainage, Hydro-Québec, Bell, etc.)
- Rights of way
- Public utility easements
- Usage restrictions
Property Rights
- Reference to ownership titles
Survey Plan
- Scaled plan of the property
- Exact location of structures
- Measured dimensions
- Orientation (north)
What Is the Validity Period of a Certificate of Location ?
A certificate of location does not have a fixed validity period. It must be updated whenever a physical or legal change affects the property, such as the addition of a pool (physical change) or a modification to municipal regulations (legal change). Several professionals, including real estate brokers, notaries, mortgage lenders, and municipal inspectors, may request an updated certificate of location. It is generally recommended to update it if it is more than 5 years old.
How Much Does a Certificate of Location Cost ?
Contact our team to receive a fast quote for a certificate of location for your property.
To consult the suggested fee guide from the Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec, please visit the following link: https://www.oagq.qc.ca/ressources/guide-des-tarifs-suggeres/