Survey Standards
National Standards for the Survey of Canada Lands
This document provides professional Canada Lands Surveyors with the technical standards that apply to surveys undertaken on Canada Lands and for lands required to be surveyed under provisions of the Canada Lands Surveys Act. It constitutes the instructions of the Surveyor General for surveys of Canada Lands as specified in Section 24 (2) of the Canada Lands Surveys Act.
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National Standards for the Survey of Canada Lands (1.1)
[PDF 3.2MB]
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Addendum 1.6 – February 20, 2020 [PDF 366.4KB]
Object: Amendment to paragraph 19.b. of Section 1.6 Monumentation of Parcels and Boundaries -
Addendum 1.7 – February 20, 2020 [PDF 483.2KB]
Object: Amendment to paragraphs 5, 6, 12, 18 and 23 of Appendix E: Digital Spatial File Specifications -
Addendum 1.8 – July 14, 2020 [PDF 128.1KB]
Object: Amendment to paragraph 1 of Section 2.7.1 Definition of Compiled Plan, and paragraphs 5.1, 8 and 14 of Section 2.7.3 Plan Preparation
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Addendum 1.6 – February 20, 2020 [PDF 366.4KB]
Specimen Plans [Click to view/hide]
Note: In order to properly view the AutoCAD files, the following
fonts are required [Click to download]
Leroy.SHX
DotFont.SHX
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#0 Digital Plan
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#1 Plan of Survey of Jurisdictional Boundary, South of 60
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#1A Plan of Survey of Jurisdictional Boundary, South of 60 (Digitally Signed)
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#2 Plan of Survey of Jurisdictional Boundary, North of 60
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#3 Plan of Survey of Jurisdictional Boundary, National Park - Bilingual
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#4 Plan of Survey of Parcel and Road
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#5 Plan of Survey of Parcel with Remainder - Option 1
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#5A Plan of Survey of Parcel with Remainder - Option 2
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#6 Plan of Survey of Lots and Road
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#6A Plan of Survey of Lots and Road and Right-of-way
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#7 Plan of Survey of Lots and Road and Utility Right-of-Way
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#8 Plan of Survey of Highway Widening
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#9 Plan of Resurvey of Jurisdictional Boundary
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#10 Compiled Plan of Lots
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#11 Compiled Plan of Lots
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#11A Compiled Plan of Lots ____ and Field Notes of Survey
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#12A Explanatory Plan of Utility Right-of-Way
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#12B Explanatory Plan of Parcel
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#13 Supplementary Field Notes (in Plan Form)
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#14 Field Notes of Survey of Parcels (in Plan Form)
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#16A Field Notes of Restoration of Monuments (LS56)
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#16B Field Notes of Re-Establishment and Restoration of Monuments (LS56)
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#17 Field Notes of Control Survey Network (for Deferred Monumentation)
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#18 Plan of Survey of Lots, Blocks, and Road (for Deferred Monumentation)
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#19 Field Notes of Final Placement of Monuments (for Deferred Monumentation)
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#20 Plan of Survey of Building Units
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#23 Plan of Survey of Condominium (floor plan of building units)
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#24 Plan of Survey of Condominium (X-section view of building units)
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#25 Plan of Survey of Bare Land Condominium
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#26 Plan of Survey of Air Space Parcels
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#27 Plan of Survey of Wellsite and Access Road
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#28 Plan of Survey of Pipeline Right-of-Way
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#29 Plan of Survey of Oil and Gas Well Onshore)Under Development
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#30 Plan of Survey of Oil and Gas Well(Offshore Platform)Under Development
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#32 Plan of Survey of Mineral Claim in NU and NT
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#33 Plan of Survey of Mineral Claim in YT
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#34 Plan of Survey Base Line in YT
Guidelines
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Guidelines for the use of Compiled Plans
Information on the administrative requirements and procedures for surveys on Canada Lands is provided in Getting a Survey Done, a publication intended to assist those administering Canada Lands, including federal and territorial government departments and Aboriginal governments. It provides guidelines for arranging for surveys on Canada Lands and refers to the legislation that governs those surveys. Canada Lands Surveyors will also find that Getting a Survey Done contains invaluable information to support client consultation and help navigate the Canada Lands Surveys System.
Regional Chapters
Regional Chapters published by SGB are official statements on administrative procedures and regional technical standards to support the National Standards for specific local requirements. Unless otherwise specified, they are not meant to overlap or conflict with the National Standards, and they shall be effective on the date of their approbation.
Alberta [Click to view/hide]
British Columbia [Click to view/hide]
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- Regional Chapter No. 2020-01 - March 3rd, 2020
- Object: Information and clarification when surveying Sechelt Lands
- Regional Chapter No. 2020-01 - March 3rd, 2020
Manitoba [Click to view/hide]
New Brunswick [Click to view/hide]
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- Regional Chapter No. 2016-01 - April 5th
2016
- Object: Boundary Maintenance
- Specimen plan: Boundary maintenance
- Regional Chapter No. 2016-02 - April 5th
2016
- Object: Field Monitoring of Exterior Boundaries and Interior Frameworks
- Regional Chapter No. 2016-01 - April 5th
2016
Newfoundland and Labrador [Click to view/hide]
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- Regional Chapter No. 2016-01 - April 5th
2016
- Object: Boundary Maintenance
- Specimen plan: Boundary maintenance
- Regional Chapter No. 2016-02 - April 5th
2016
- Object: Field Monitoring of Exterior Boundaries and Interior Frameworks
- Regional Chapter No. 2016-01 - April 5th
2016
Nova Scotia [Click to view/hide]
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- Regional Chapter No. 2016-01 - April 5th
2016
- Object: Boundary Maintenance
- Specimen plan: Boundary maintenance
- Regional Chapter No. 2016-02 - April 5th
2016
- Object: Field Monitoring of Exterior Boundaries and Interior Frameworks
- Regional Chapter No. 2016-01 - April 5th
2016
Northwest Territories [Click to view/hide]
Nunavut [Click to view/hide]
Ontario [Click to view/hide]
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Regional Chapter No. 2020-02 – July 9th, 2020
- Object: To provide additional information for Surveys Utilizing Aerial Imagery Products
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Regional Chapter No. 2020-02 – July 9th, 2020
Prince Edward Island [Click to view/hide]
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- Regional Chapter No. 2016-01 - April 5th
2016
- Object: Boundary Maintenance
- Specimen plan: Boundary maintenance
- Regional Chapter No. 2016-02 - April 5th
2016
- Object: Field Monitoring of Exterior Boundaries and Interior Frameworks
- Regional Chapter No. 2016-01 - April 5th
2016
Quebec [Click to view/hide]
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- Regional Chapter No. 2016-01 - April 5th 2016
- Object: Boundary Maintenance
- Specimen plan: Boundary maintenance
- Regional Chapter No. 2016-02 - April 5th
2016
- Object: Field Monitoring of Exterior Boundaries and Interior Frameworks
- Regional Chapter No. 2016-01 - April 5th 2016
Saskatchewan [Click to view/hide]
Yukon [Click to view/hide]
Agreements
Interdepartmental and Intergovernmental Agreements made with the Department of Natural Resources (NRCan), through the Surveyor General, in the area of land surveys and land management.
Latest Updates
A chronological listing of updates, amendments and announcements
Historical Publications
Historical general instructions of the Surveyor General.
How to propose changes to the National Standards
In order to ensure timely updates, corrections and amendments to the National Standards for the Survey of Canada Lands, herein referred to as the "Standards", the Surveyor General Branch (SGB) and the Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS) have agreed on a maintenance process. For the most part, the maintenance of the Standards will be done in collaboration with the ACLS Standards of Practice Committee (SOPC).
Changes to the Standards may be proposed by individual ACLS members, Regional Groups, Client Departments or agencies and specific Working Groups.
Proposed changes may be submitted to SGB on a Proposition for changes to the National Standards form. Received proposals will be forwarded to SOPC for the assignment to a work group for assessment, possible wordsmithing and making recommendations to be conveyed to SGB by the SOPC. When approved by the Surveyor General, Addendums to the Standards will be published on this web site. Addendums will eventually be integrated into future versions of the Standards, and be archived under Historical Publications.