The surveyor’s role has always been to create and locate boundaries and to collect data related thereto for the orderly development of land and its resources. To this end Annis O’Sullivan Vollebekk Ltd. makes use of state-of-the-art technology combined with experienced staff to provide cost-effective solutions for the economic development of all land-related activities.

Land surveying is the art and science of establishing or re-establishing corners, lines, boundaries and monumentation of real property based on legislated documents, historical evidence, legislative criteria, and present standards of practice.

A survey is the determination of form, extent, position, etc., of land, buildings, roads and other features on and often immediately bordering a property. This determination is made through careful measurements and the application of the principles of geometry, trigonometry, title information and legislative and common law principles. Past surveys and surveys of surrounding properties are researched and reconciled in the determination of the property limits.

You need a survey anytime you need to accurately measure and establish your property lines, including buildings, fences, lanes and rights of way, especially if those measurements need to be legally binding. Under the Surveys Act, only a licensed surveyor can provide a legal survey. In many municipalities, bylaws dictate that you must have a survey before obtaining building permits, often including those for renovating and for fence construction. Often surveys are included as conditions of sale of property. If you are buying a home, you may want an up-to-date survey to secure your purchase to ensure you don’t buy someone else’s problems. (you may even be required by your lender to obtain such a document).

The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors: “A Surveyor’s Real Property Report is a legal document that clearly illustrates the location of all visible public and private improvements relative to property boundaries, as well as all rights of way and easements that effect the property’s use. It generally takes the form of a plan or illustration of the various physical features of the property, along with a written report highlighting the surveyor’s opinion of any concerns. The plan and report may be combined on one document. In cases of dispute, your surveyor is an expert witness in court and assumes full professional responsibility for the accuracy of your survey. The cost of the survey is a small percentage of your total investment and a reasonable price to pay for peace of mind.”

Each property is different, as is the cost for each survey. Even for standard surveying requests, such as a Surveyor’s Real Property Report, we need to know the specific details of your property before we can give you an estimate. Please contact us so we can discuss your specific needs.

If AOV completed the survey of your property, you may call the office to discuss whether a copy can be made available to you. Due to liability issues, older surveys are not released and if released, surveys are only provided to the original client who requested the survey. Registered and deposited survey plans (plans of subdivision, reference plans, condominiums, etc.) can be purchased at the land registry office, but individual, private lot survey plans are not kept on file there or with the municipality.

The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors provides details concerning the requirements of becoming a licensed member. The link to the association’s website is below.

Please follow the links to our affiliations and surveying resources in Eastern Ontario.

Association of Ontario Land Surveyors

City of Ottawa

Association of Canadian Land Surveyors

Prescott-Russell Chamber of Commerce (formerly Embrun)

Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association