Surveying Services Licensing in Ontario

Land surveying is a regulated profession in Ontario. Only a licensed Ontario Land Surveyor (OLS) may perform cadastral (boundary) surveys, prepare legal survey plans, and provide opinions on property boundaries. Becoming an OLS requires a bachelor's degree in geomatics or surveying engineering (or equivalent), a one- to three-year articling period under a licensed OLS, and passing professional examinations on Ontario law, boundary principles, and professional practice. OLS members are governed by the Surveyors Act and regulated by the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS). Practicing without an OLS licence is illegal.

Verify the surveyor holds a valid OLS licence through the AOLS member directory.

(1) The person performing the survey is not a licensed Ontario Land Surveyor (OLS) (2) Provides a 'sketch' or 'location certificate' instead of a proper signed and sealed survey plan (3) Quotes an unusually low price without visiting the site or reviewing existing records (4) Cannot provide their OLS licence number for verification with AOLS

(1) Are you a licensed Ontario Land Surveyor (OLS)? What is your licence number? (2) What type of survey do I need for my specific situation? (3) What is included in your fee, and are there potential additional costs? (4) How long will it take from booking to receiving the completed survey plan? (5) Will you plant iron bars to mark the boundary corners?

Yes, surveying services in Ontario are expected to carry liability insurance and WSIB coverage.

Typical rates for surveying services in Ontario range from $175-$300/hour. Type of survey required (boundary, topographic, mortgage, severance), property size and complexity, terrain and vegetation (heavily wooded or steep sites take longer), urban vs. rural location, availability of existing survey records, number of boundary corners to establish, whether iron bars need to be planted, municipal requirements for development applications, and travel distance for rural properties. Toronto and GTA surveys cost 20-30% more than smaller communities due to higher demand and property complexity.