A property owner in BC wants to subdivide a parcel. Under the Land Title Act, which of the following is generally required?

Q: What is the correct answer to: A property owner in BC wants to subdivide a parcel. Under the Land Title Act, which of the following is generally required?

The correct answer is Municipal subdivision approval, a surveyed plan, and registration at the Land Title Office. Option B is correct because BC's Land Title Act requires multiple steps for subdivision. The owner must first obtain municipal (or regional district) subdivision approval, which involves compliance with zoning bylaws, servicing requirements, and other municipal conditions. A BC Land Surveyor must prepare a subdivision plan. The plan is then registered at the Land Title Office, creating separate titles. Additional approvals may be needed from agencies like the Ministry of Transportation, health authorities, or the ALC if the land is in the ALR.

Q: What background knowledge is needed for this Land Use & Planning question?

Subdivision in BC is governed by the Land Title Act and local government bylaws. The process involves: (1) application to the municipal or regional district subdivision approving officer; (2) compliance with zoning, servicing, and access requirements; (3) preparation of a subdivision plan by a BC Land Surveyor; (4) possible additional approvals (Ministry of Transportation for highway access, health authority for septic, ALC for ALR land); and (5) registration of the subdivision plan at the Land Title Office, which creates new separate titles. The process typically takes several months.

Q: What is a good way to remember the answer to this Land Use & Planning question?

Remember the three key subdivision steps: 'Approve, Survey, Register' — municipal approval first, then professional survey, then Land Title Office registration. When the exam asks about subdivision requirements, recall 'Approve, Survey, Register' — all three steps are required, and missing any one means subdivision cannot be completed.

Q: What exam tip applies to this Land Use & Planning question?

Subdivision questions often test whether you know multiple steps are required. The correct answer typically involves municipal approval plus survey plus LTO registration. Single-step answers are usually wrong.

Q: How does this Land Use & Planning concept apply in real world practice?

A property owner in Langley wants to subdivide a large residential lot into two parcels. They apply to the Township, which requires road widening dedication, installation of services (water, sewer, drainage), and compliance with minimum lot size zoning. After meeting all conditions, they hire a BC Land Surveyor who prepares the subdivision plan. The plan is registered at the Land Title Office, creating two separate titles.

Question

Land Use & PlanningBCMEDIUM

A property owner in BC wants to subdivide a parcel. Under the Land Title Act, which of the following is generally required?

Answer Options

A

Only a survey plan filed with BC Assessment

B

Municipal subdivision approval, a surveyed plan, and registration at the Land Title Office

C

Approval from the provincial Minister of Housing only

D

A vote of approval by adjacent property owners