{"id":11962,"date":"2026-08-09T22:36:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T22:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hamdanimmobilier.com\/?p=11962"},"modified":"2026-08-11T21:25:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T21:25:33","slug":"certificate-of-location-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hamdanimmobilier.com\/en\/certificate-of-location-what-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Certificate of Location: Everything You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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A MONTREAL REAL ESTATE BROKER\u2019S GUIDE<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Certificate of Location: Everything You Should Know<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n
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The certificate of location\u00a0<\/strong>is one of those legal documents in Quebec that can stall the sale of a property<\/strong>, or trigger penalties, when it isn’t in proper order.\u00a0<\/p>

Often confused with the cadastral plan, it does something that plan cannot: it lays out the information a real estate transaction actually depends on<\/strong>, and the same information that can settle disputes between neighbors<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is a certificate of location?<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

Governed by the Land Surveyors Act<\/a><\/strong>, a certificate of location consists of a report and a plan<\/strong> prepared by a land surveyor<\/strong>. Together they describe the current state of a property<\/strong> in relation to its titles, its cadastre, how it is actually occupied, and the laws and regulations that may affect it.<\/p>

In a real estate transaction<\/strong>, the document is mandatory<\/strong>. It serves as an assurance<\/strong> that the property is compliant, or that any irregularities are on the table for every party to see.<\/p>

In preparing it, the land surveyor accounts for:<\/p>

\u2013 The description of the land;<\/p>

\u2013 Servitudes (rights-of-way and easements);<\/p>

\u2013 Encroachments;<\/p>

\u2013 Constraints such as agricultural, flood, or protected zones;<\/p>

\u2013 Compliance with municipal by-laws and government legislation.<\/p>

Only professionals who are members of the Ordre des arpenteurs-g\u00e9om\u00e8tres du Qu\u00e9bec (OAGQ)<\/a><\/strong> are authorized to produce one.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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How much does a certificate of location cost?<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

A certificate of location costs roughly $1,600<\/strong>, in line with the OAGQ suggested fee guide<\/a><\/strong>. The cost varies from one land surveyor to another.<\/p>

The cost generally falls to the selling owner<\/strong>. If a valid certificate already exists and the buyer demands a new one in their promise to purchase<\/strong> despite no changes to the property, the buyer will have to cover the cost.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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How long is a certificate of location valid?<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

A certificate of location is valid for 10 years<\/strong>.<\/p>

Even when no visible change<\/strong> has been made to the property, other developments can affect it: a new servitude, a right-of-way, a Hydro line, a change to a designated risk zone, and so on.<\/p>

No law or regulation formally declares a certificate expired. That said, both the Chambre des notaires du Qu\u00e9bec (CNQ)<\/a><\/strong> and the Organisme d’autor\u00e9glementation du courtage immobilier du Qu\u00e9bec (OACIQ)<\/a><\/strong> require their members to insist on a certificate less than 10 years old, to ensure its information reflects the property as it rightfully stands<\/strong> at the time of the transaction<\/strong>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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How long does it take to produce?<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

Producing a certificate of location takes roughly 4 to 6 weeks<\/strong>. That timeline stretches when the market runs hot: during the 2021\u20132022 surge across Greater Montreal, some took as long as 10 weeks.<\/p>

Worth noting: the notary<\/strong> handling your transaction needs access to the certificate of location at least 20 days before the signing<\/strong> of the deed of sale.<\/em><\/p>

Since these delays are outside your control, don’t wait until the last minute to commission a land surveyor for a new certificate when you sell your home.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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Who is responsible for keeping it and providing it?<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

Homeowners and<\/strong> sellers<\/strong> are responsible for keeping the certificate of location obtained at the time of purchase, along with every earlier version and the associated titles<\/strong>.<\/p>

At the point of sale, that means the seller is responsible for ordering a new certificate of location<\/strong> if the existing one is more than 10 years old, and for ensure to provide a copy to the buyer.<\/p>

This is one of the documents to have in hand<\/strong>, current and ready, when you put your property on the market.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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Where do you obtain a copy of a certificate of location?<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

To get a copy, contact the land surveyor who produced it. If this land surveyor is no longer practicing, has retired, or has passed away, you’ll need to find out who holds their records<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>

This is a confidential document<\/strong> that they will share only with property owners, their clients, or designated parties, such as your real estate agent.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>

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How do you find a land surveyor?<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>

An experienced real estate broker or a general contractor can point you to references they trust.<\/p>

Otherwise, the Ordre des arpenteurs-g\u00e9om\u00e8tres du Qu\u00e9bec offers a directory<\/a><\/strong> to help you search.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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For any information about the certificate of location:<\/p>\n

Ordre des arpenteurs-g\u00e9om\u00e8tres du Qu\u00e9bec
https:\/\/oagq.qc.ca\/<\/a><\/p>\n

To obtain references of land surveyors who know your area, or for any real estate need, contact me:<\/p>\n

Phone: 514-824-6467<\/a><\/p>\n

Email: rhamdan@profusion.global<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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