SURVEYS ACT (RSA 2000 cS-26)

RSA 2000 cS-26

Alberta — Consolidated Statutes

© Published by Alberta King’s Printer Alberta King’s Printer Suite 700, Park Plaza 10611 - 98 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2P7 Phone: 780-427-4952 E-mail: kings-printer@gov.ab.ca Shop on-line at kings-printer.alberta.ca Province of Alberta Office Consolidation Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000

Chapter S-26 Current as of November 16, 2022 SURVEYS ACT

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Note All persons making use of this consolidation are reminded that it has no legislative sanction, that amendments have been embodied for convenience of reference only. The official Statutes and Regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying the law. Amendments Not in Force This consolidation incorporates only those amendments in force on the consolidation date shown on the cover. It does not include the following amendments: 2025 cP-25.5 s253 amends ss1(

w) and 15(3).

1 SURVEYS ACT

Chapter S-26 Table of Contents 1

Definitions 2 Application of Act

Part 1 General 3 Old surveys 4 Director of Surveys 5 Director ’s duties 6 Inspection of survey 7 Provincial reference and mapping systems 8 Survey control 9 Survey error investigation 1 0 Survey format and monument 1 1 Standard of measure 1 2 Evidential value of copies of certain records 1 3 Evidence under oath before a surveyor 1 4 Compelling attendance of witness 1 5 Disposition of evidence 1 6 Right to enter p rivate property 1 7 Natural boundary

Part 2 Surveys of Public Land and Metis Patented Land in Unsurveyed Territory 1 8 System of survey 1 9 Township sections 2 0 Road allowances 2 1 Township boundaries 2 2 Numbering of townsh ips and ranges 2 3 Width of townships

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Section 1

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 2 2 4 Division of sections 2 5 Monuments 2 6 Quarter

section position 2 7 Corner on a correction line 2 8 Division of

section 2 9 Minister ’s directions on surveying 3 0 Metis patented land - unsurveyed territory 3 1 Official plan of Metis patented land required 3 2 Role of Director and settlement council 3 3 Official plan 3 4 Re-survey of public land 3 5 Re-survey of Metis patented land 3 6 Boundary lines on confirmation of survey or re-survey 3 7 Land between boundaries 3 8 Aliquot part

Part 3 Surveys Other Than Under

Part 2 3 9 Re-survey of s29 or 32 land in municipality 4 0 Confirmation of re-survey 4 1 No review of re-survey 4 2 Filing of re-survey 4 3 Payment for re-survey 4 4 Re-establishment of

Part 2 survey monument 4 5 Establishing boundaries 4 6 Re-establishment of

Part 3 survey monument 4 7 Registration or filing of non-monumented survey plan 4 8 Re-survey of s45 land in municipality

Part 4 Miscellaneous 4 9 Fees 5 0 Offence 5 1 Protection from liability 5 2 Alternatives to monuments 5 3 Regulations HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:

Definitions 1 In this Act,

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Section 1

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 3 (a) “agreement of transfer” mean s the agreement set out in the

Schedule to The Alberta Natural Resources Act, SA 1930 c21, and all amendments to that agreement; (b) “Alberta Township System of Survey” means the system of survey described in sections 18 to 28; (c) “base line” means a base lin e as described in

section 23(2); (d) “cadastral mapping” mean s the portion of the mapping system that deals with the land survey system; (e) “correction line” means a co rrection line as described in

section 23(3) and (4); (f) “Director” means the Dir ector of Surveys designated pursuant to

section 4; (

g) repealed 2022 c16 s16; (h) “identifier” means a label o n a map that corresponds to a description contained in the mapping system; (i) “land-related information sy stems network” means a series of data bases co-ordinated by the Director that contain information on land or related to land and that are compatible because all the data bases (

i) contain geospatially positioned data elements, and (ii) adhere to common design standards; (j) “Land Titles Office” means a Land Titles Office established pursuant to the Land Titles Act; (k) “legal subdivision” means legal subdivision as described i n

section 28; (l) “mapping system” means a series of data bases co-ordinated by the Director that cover a range of accuracy and detail levels, that contain at least the positions of points, lines and areas and their identifiers, and that depict the survey control, land survey system, hydrographic features, relief features, municipal boundaries and transportation features; (m) “Metis patented land” means patented land as defined in the Metis Settlements Act;

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Section 1

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 4 (n) “Metis Settlements Land Registry” means the Metis Settlements Land Registry established under the Metis Settlements Act; (o) “Minister” means the Minist er determined under

section 16 of the Government Organization Act as the Minister responsible for this Act; (p) “monument” means a brass tablet, iron post, wooden post, mound, pit or trench, or anything else used by a surveyor to mark a boundary, corner or line; (q) “municipality” means a city, town, village, municipal district, specialized municipality, improvement district, special area or Metis settlement; (r) “official plan” means a plan confirmed pursuant to

section 33; (r.1) “provincial reference s ystem” means a collection of standards, models, data products and infrastructure used to support geospatial positioning in Alberta; (s) “public land” means land vested in the Crown in right of Alberta; (t) “Registrar” means (

i) in respect of surveys of a nd other matters affecting Metis patented land, the Registrar of the Metis Settlements Land Registry, and (ii) in respect of surveys of a nd other matters affecting all other land, the Registrar of Land Titles; (u) “survey control” means a ne twork of interrelated survey control markers whose co-ordinate positions form part of the provincial reference system; (v) “survey control marker” means a mark, other than a monument, whose co-ordinate position is confirmed by the Director under

section 8; (w) “surveyor” means an Alberta land surveyor as defined in th e Land Surveyors Act; (x) “this Act” includes the regulations made under this Act. RSA 2000 cS-26 s1;2006 c21 s26;2022 c16 s16

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Section 2

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 5 Application of Act 2(1) This Act applies to surveys of any land within Alberta that is within the legislative competence of the Legislature.

(2) Nothing in this Act applies to surveys of land continued to be vested in and administered by the Government of Canada as national parks under the agreement of transfer or to surveys of land in Indian reserves. 1987 cS-29.1 s2

Part 1 General Old surveys 3(1) Any survey of land completed before March 28, 1931, certified as correct and registered, is deemed for the purposes of this Act to have been made under this Act.

(2) Any survey of land made under the Dominion Lands Surveys Act (Canada), SC 1908 c20 and RSC 1927 c113, before July 1, 1931 is deemed for the purposes of this Act to have been made under this Act.

(3) Any survey of land with respect to which a plan has been registered at the Land Titles Office or an official plan has been confirmed or approved by the Director of Surveys prior to June 9, 1988 is deemed for the purposes of this Act to have been made under this Act. 1987 cS-29.1 s3 Director of Surveys 4 The Minister shall designate a surveyor as the Director of Surveys. RSA 2000 cS-26 s4;2013 c10 s4 Director’s duties 5(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Director shall (

a) co-ordinate the establishment, maintenance and preservatio n of the land survey system for the purpose of determining the positions of boundaries that govern the extent of interests in land, (

b) repealed 2022 c16 s16, (

c) co-ordinate the establishment and maintenance of a mapping system for Alberta,

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Section 6

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 6 (

d) co-ordinate the development and maintenance of a land-related information systems network for Alberta, (

e) co-ordinate the Alberta provincial reference system throug h adjustment and publishing of data with respect to the physical network of survey control markers and any other matters considered necessary, and (

f) repealed 2022 c16 s16, (

g) perform any other dutie s prescribed by this Act.

(2) The Minister may, in writing, assign (

a) any duty under subsection (1)(

e) to an employee of the Government who is a surveyor and whose position is under the administration of the Minister, and (

b) any duty under subsection (1)(

c) or (

d) to an employee of the Government whose position is under the administration of the Minister. RSA 2000 cS-26 s5;2022 c16 s16 Inspection of survey 6(1) If a plan of survey has been prepared but has not been registered at a Land Titles Office or filed at the Metis Settlements Land Registry the Director may, on the application of a Registrar or the Council of the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association, make an inspection of the survey or order an inspection to be made by a surveyor the Director appoints.

(2) The Director, or a surveyor appointed under subsection (1), (

a) shall inspect any survey concerning which an application has been made, and (

b) shall consider any evidence that may have been presented to the surveyor who made the survey.

(3) If the Director makes an inspection referred to in subsection (2), the Director shall make a report of it and if a surveyor makes an inspection referred to in subsection (2), the surveyor shall make a report and submit it to the Director and submit any records that the Director may request.

(4) If an inspection is made pursuant to an application under subsection (1), the Director shall submit a report on the inspection to the Registrar or the Council of the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association, as the case may be.

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Section 7

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 7

(5) The Director may take steps that the Director considers advisable to correct any errors or omissions in a plan of survey before it is registered at a Land Titles Office or filed at the Metis Settlements Land Registry. RSA 2000 cS-26 s6;2022 c16 s16 Provincial reference and mapping systems 7 The Minister may (

a) co-ordinate the provision of a provincial reference system , and, (

b) co-ordinate the provision of a mapping system, (

c) repealed 2022 c16 s16, in any area of Alberta where the Minister considers it necessary. RSA 2000 cS-26 s7;2022 c16 s16 Survey control 8(1) Survey control must be established in accordance with the specifications and instructions of the Director.

(2) A survey control marker becomes an integral part of the provincial reference system if the Director confirms its co-ordinate position. RSA 2000 cS-26 s8;2022 c16 s16 Survey error investigation 9(1) In this section, “land owner” in respect of Metis patented land means a person who is registered in the Metis Settlements Land Registry as owner of Metis title, provisional Metis title or an allotment.

(2) The Director shall on receipt of a written notice from a land owner, the council of a municipality, the Council of the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association or a Registrar stating that the position of a corner or boundary is in question as the result of an alleged error in a survey or may, for any reason the Director considers sufficient, conduct an investigation and report the Director’s findings to the Minister.

(3) If on receipt of the report from the Director under subsection (2) the Minister is satisfied that an error in survey may have been made, the Minister may appoint a Board consisting of 3 members, one of whom shall be a member of The Law Society of Alberta and one of whom shall be a member of the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association, to investigate the alleged survey error.

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Section 9

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 8

(4) A member appointed under subsection (3) shall receive the remuneration and travelling and living expenses for services that the Minister determines.

(5) If the alleged error in survey is in respect of a plan of survey filed or registered at a Land Titles Office, the Board appointed under subsection (3) shall notify by personal service or by registered mail (

a) the registered owners of the land affected by the alleged error, (

b) the encumbrancees , as defined in the Land Titles Act, of the land affected by the alleged error, (

c) each surveyor whose survey may be affected by a decision of the Board, and (

d) the Registrar of that Land Titles Office.

(6) If the alleged error in survey is in respect of a plan of survey filed at the Metis Settlements Land Registry, the Board appointed under subsection (3) shall notify by personal service or by registered mail (

a) every person who has an interest registered in the Metis Settlements Land Registry in the land affected by the alleged error, (

b) each surveyor whose survey may be affected by a decision of the Board, and (

c) the Registrar of the Metis Settlements Land Registry.

(7) A notification under subsection (5) or (6) shall state the nature of the alleged error and state a time and place at which a person who is referred to in subsection (5) or (6) and any person who claims to have an interest in or knowledge of the corner or boundary under investigation, and notifies the Board in writing of their desire to be heard, may be heard.

(8) The Board may (

a) hear any persons who may h ave information affecting the corner or boundary under investigation, and (

b) if it has reason to believe that a person is in possession of information about the true position of the corner or boundary under investigation and does not willingly appear before it to present the information, apply to a justice of the

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Section 10

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 9 peace for a subpoena commanding the person to appear before the Board and to give evidence affecting the corner or boundary in question.

(9) If a person who is served with a subpoena issued under subsection (8)(

b) and who has been tendered reasonable expenses does not appear before the Board at the time and place set out in the subpoena and does not give evidence on the position of the corner or boundary in question, a justice of the peace may issue a warrant for the arrest of that person and that person is guilty of an offence.

(10) The Board has the powers and duties of an arbitrator under sections 29(3) and 43 of the Arbitration Act.

(11) The Board, on completing the investigation, may (

a) order that surveys and surv ey plans be varied, altered or amended in the manner that it directs; (

b) order that any descriptions , registers, certificates of title or plans of survey deposited, filed or registered in a Land Titles Office or in the Metis Settlements Land Registry be varied, amended or altered as may be necessary to reflect the true position of monuments or boundaries, or the accuracy of dimensions or areas; (

c) order costs to be paid by or to any person who is a party to the investigation.

(12) The Board shall provide a copy of its order under subsection (11) by personal service or by mail to the persons referred to in subsection (5) or (6).

(13) For the purposes of subsection (12), the date of receipt of the order by mail is deemed to be 5 days from the mailing of the order.

(14) Any party may appeal an order of the Board to the Court of King’s Bench by application within 30 days from the date of receipt of an order under subsection (12). RSA 2000 cS-26 s9;2009 c53 s174;AR 217/2022 Survey format and monument 10(1) All surveys made under this Act shall be made (

a) under the supervision, direction and control of a surveyor , (

b) in accordance with standards and rules for the practice of surveying prescribed by the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association, and

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Section 11

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 10 (

c) in accordance with this Act, and the plan of a survey shall be certified under oath by a surveyor in the form prescribed by regulations under the Land Titles Act.

(2) All monuments shall meet the requirements of this Act.

(3) Repealed 2022 c16 s16. RSA 2000 cS-26 s10;2022 c16 s16 Standard of measure 11(1) The measure of length used in surveys made under this Act must be the Canadian or the International System measure of length defined by the Weights and Measures Act (Canada).

(2) A surveyor shall verify and calibrate all measuring devices. RSA 2000 cS-26 s11;2022 c16 s16 Evidential value of copies of certain records 12(1) Copies of any records, documents, plans, books or papers belonging to or deposited in the Director’s office and attested under the signature of the Minister, the Director or any person authorized in writing by the Minister shall admitted in evidence in all cases in which the original records, documents, plans, books or papers would be admissible as evidence.

(2) Lithographed or other copies of maps or plans that purport to be issued or published in accordance with this Act, in the possession of a department as defined in the Financial Administration Act or the Government of Canada, shall be admitted in evidence as proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, of the originals, and of the contents of the originals. 1987 cS-29.1 s12;1999 c6 s5 Evidence under oath before a surveyor 13(1) For the purposes of this Act, an affidavit or oath made pursuant to this Act may be taken before a surveyor.

(2) A surveyor may (

a) examine witnesses under oat h with respect to all matters relating to the survey of land, and (

b) administer an oath to every person the surveyor examines i n relation to those matters. 1987 cS-29.1 s13 Compelling attendance of witness 14(1) When a surveyor

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Section 15

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 11 (

a) is in doubt as to the true corner or boundary of any parce l that the surveyor is surveying, and (

b) has reason to believe that a person has information with respect to it or a plan or document that may establish its true position, and that person (

i) does not willingly appear before and submit to being examined by the surveyor, or (ii) does not produce to the surveyor the plan or document on demand, the surveyor may apply to a justice of the peace for a subpoena.

(2) An application under subsection (1) shall include an affidavit setting out reasonable grounds on which the surveyor believes the person has knowledge of or has a plan or document that pertains to the true position of a corner, boundary or limit.

(3) The justice of the peace may issue a subpoena commanding the person to appear before the surveyor at a time and place set out in the subpoena and may require the person to bring a plan or document referred to in the subpoena.

(4) If a person who is served with a subpoena issued under subsection (3) and who has been tendered reasonable expenses (

a) does not appear before the surveyor at the time and place set out in the subpoena or does not produce the plan or document, if any, or (

b) does not give evidence on the corner, boundary or limit in question, a justice of the peace may issue a warrant for the arrest of that person and that person is guilty of an offence. RSA 2000 cS-26 s14;2022 c16 s16 Disposition of evidence 15(1) A surveyor shall record in writing all evidence taken by the surveyor, and shall read the written record to the person giving the evidence.

(2) The person giving the evidence shall (

a) sign the written record of the evidence, or (

b) if the person cannot write , acknowledge the written record as correct before 2 witnesses, who shall sign it,

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Section 16

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 12 and the surveyor shall also sign it.

(3) The evidence shall be filed and kept and any document or plan prepared and sworn to as correct by a surveyor with reference to a survey performed by the surveyor shall be filed and kept by the surveyor or a practitioner as defined in the Land Surveyors Act, subject to being produced as evidence in court. 1987 cS-29.1 s15 Right to enter private property 16 A surveyor and the surveyor’s authorized assistants may, using reasonable care, pass over, measure along and ascertain the bearings of any line or boundary, and for those purposes may pass over or through the land of any person, but the surveyor is liable for any damage the surveyor or the surveyor’s assistants cause. 1987 cS-29.1 s16 Natural boundary 17(1) A surveyor who needs to determine the position of a natural boundary when performing a survey under this Act may do so by any survey method that has the effect of determining its location at the time of survey, relative to the surveyed boundaries of the affected parcel.

(2) When surveying a natural boundary that is a body of water, the surveyor shall determine the position of the line where the bed and shore of the body of water cease and the line is to be referred to as the bank of the body of water.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the bed and shore of a body of water shall be the land covered so long by water as to wrest it from vegetation or as to mark a distinct character on the vegetation where it extends into the water or on the soil itself. RSA 2000 cS-26 s17;2022 c16 s16

Part 2 Surveys of Public Land and Metis Patented Land in Unsurveyed Territory System of survey 18 The Alberta Township System shall consist of quadrilateral townships, each containing 36 sections as nearly one mile square as the convergence of meridians permits. 1987 cS-29.1 s18

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Section 19

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 13 Township sections 19 The sections in a township shall be arranged and numbered in the following order: NORTH 31 32 33 34 35 36 30 29 28 27 26 25 WEST 19 20 21 22 23 24 EAST 18 17 16 15 14 13 7 8 9 10 11 12 6 5 4 3 2 1 SOUTH 1987 cS-29.1 s19 Road allowances 20(1) Road allowances 99 feet wide shall be allowed (

a) in a north-south direction, one mile between each column of sections, and (

b) in an east-west direction, 2 miles between each 2nd row of sections commencing on the township outline.

(2) When surveying a road allowance that is 99 feet wide (

a) the centre of sections, quarter sections and legal subdivisions shall be located in the same relative positions as if a road allowance that is 66 feet wide existed, and (

b) in the case of a correction line, the road allowance shall be given its prescribed width midway between the south-east corner of

section 4 of the township north of the correction line, and the north-east corner of

section 33 of the township south of the correction line. 1987 cS-29.1 s20;1988 c43 s4 Township boundaries 21 The lines bounding townships (

a) on the east and west sides are meridians, and (

b) on the north and south sides are chords to parallels of latitude. 1987 cS-29.1 s21 Numbering of townships and ranges 22 The townships

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Section 23

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 14 (

a) shall be numbered in regular order, northerly from the 49t h parallel of latitude, and (

b) shall lie in ranges numbered westward of the 4th, 5th and 6th meridians. 1987 cS-29.1 s22 Width of townships 23(1) Townships must be given their width prescribed in

section 18, on their base lines and the meridians between townships shall be drawn across those base lines, northward and southward to the depth of 2 townships to the correction lines.

(2) The first base line shall be the 49th parallel of latitude, the 2nd base line shall be between townships 4 and 5, the 3rd between townships 8 and 9, the 4th between townships 12 and 13, the 5th between townships 16 and 17, and so on northerly, in regular succession.

(3) The correction lines are those on which the jog resulting from the convergence of meridians shall be allowed and are those lines running east and west between townships and midway between adjacent base lines.

(4) The correction lines are located between townships 2 and 3, between townships 6 and 7, between townships 10 and 11, and so on northerly, in regular succession. 1987 cS-29.1 s23 Division of sections 24(1) Each

section shall be divided into quarter sections of 160 acres, more or less, subject to this section.

(2) The north and south error in closing on the correction lines from the north and south shall be left in the rows of quarter sections adjoining and north or south respectively of those correction lines, but in the case of a north and south error in those townships between the first and 2nd base lines, that error shall be left in the quarter sections adjoining the first base line.

(3) In the survey of a township, the east and west error in closing on an existing surveyed meridian shall be left in the column of sections adjoining the meridian.

(4) If road allowances are not between but through sections, the area reserved for the road allowances shall not be included in the area recorded for a quarter

section or other parcel. 1987 cS-29.1 s24

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Section 25

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 15 Monuments 25(1) Subject to

section 27(1), only a single row of monuments to indicate the corners of a township,

section or quarter

section shall be placed on a boundary.

(2) The monuments shall, on the north-south lines, be placed on the west limit of the road allowances, and on east-west lines, on the south limit of road allowances, and in all cases shall fix and govern the position of the boundary corner between the adjoining townships, sections or quarter sections on the opposite side of the road allowance. 1987 cS-29.1 s25 Quarter

section position 26(1) If an east-west

section line does not have a road allowance adjacent to it and if a monument has not been placed at a quarter

section corner on that east-west

section line, then the position of that quarter

section corner is the point that is midway on a straight line connecting the

section corners lying on either side of the quarter section.

(2) If no monument has been placed at the centre of a section, the position of that centre is the point of intersection of the straight lines joining opposite quarter

section corners.

(3) If no monuments have been placed to mark the corners of legal subdivisions, the corners are the midpoints of the boundaries of the quarter sections and the intersections of the straight lines joining those midpoints.

(4) For the purposes of this section, if the official plan shows no road allowance or a road allowance of a width other than 66 feet, the position of the midpoint shall be determined as though a road allowance 66 feet wide had been shown. 1987 cS-29.1 s26 Corner on a correction line 27(1) In the case of a township,

section or quarter

section corner on a correction line, monuments shall be placed independently for the corners on each side by the surveyor doing the survey.

(2) If a road allowance is laid out along a correction line, the monuments shall be placed by the surveyor laying out the road allowance, in the limit of the road lying alongside the land that the monuments are intended to define. RSA 2000 cS-26 s27;2022 c16 s16

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Section 28

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 16 Division of

section 28 Every

section is considered to be divided into sixteen 1/4 quarter sections called legal subdivisions, each of 40 acres, more or less, arranged and numbered in the following order: NORTH 13 14 15 16 WEST 12 11 10 9 EAST 5 6 7 8 4 3 2 1 SOUTH 1987 cS-29.1 s28 Minister’s directions on surveying 29 The Minister may direct that public land be surveyed under the supervision of the Director (

a) in the Alberta Township System of Survey conforming with sections 18 to 28 as nearly as possible, or (

b) in lots of a size and shape and with an allowance for road s that the Minister considers advisable. 1987 cS-29.1 s29 Metis patented land - unsurveyed territory 30(1) In this section, “prior official plan” means an official plan confirmed by the Director before the letters patent were issued for the Metis patented land, but does not include an official plan used to describe the boundaries of the parcels conveyed to the Metis Settlements General Council under those letters patent.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, Metis patented land is unsurveyed territory unless (

a) there is a prior offi cial plan of the land, or (

b) the land has be en surveyed in accordance with

section 32 and the plan of the survey has been confirmed under

section 33. 1998 c22 s43 Official plan of Metis patented land required 31(1) On and after March 26, 1998, no Metis title, provisional Metis title or allotment in Metis patented land may be granted or transferred to a member of a Metis settlement or be recorded in the Metis Settlements Land Registry in the name of a member of a Metis settlement if the Metis patented land is unsurveyed territory.

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Section 32

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 17

(2) On and after March 26, 1998, no register for Metis title in Metis patented land may be created in the Metis Settlements Land Registry in the name of a Metis settlement if the Metis patented land is unsurveyed territory. 1998 c22 s43 Role of Director and settlement council 32(1) When Metis patented land that is unsurveyed territory is surveyed for the purpose of granting, transferring or recording Metis title, provisional Metis title or an allotment to or in the name of a member of a Metis settlement or for the purpose of having a register created for the Metis title in the name of a Metis settlement, the land shall be surveyed under the supervision of the Director.

(2) When land is surveyed under subsection (1), the council of the Metis settlement in which the land is located shall direct that the land be surveyed (

a) in the Alberta Township System of Survey conforming with sections 18 to 28 as nearly as possible, or (

b) in lots of a size and shape and with an allowance for road s that the council considers advisable. 1998 c22 s43 Official plan 33(1) A plan of public land surveyed pursuant to

section 29 or a plan of Metis patented land surveyed pursuant to

section 32 (

a) shall be plotted from the surveyor’s field notes under the direction of the Director, and (

b) shall show the directions and lengths of the boundaries, t he nature and positions of the monuments and the areas of the parcels laid out.

(2) The confirmation of a plan referred to in subsection (1) by the Director shall be held to be a confirmation of the survey and the confirmed plan is the official plan.

(3) No land is considered to be surveyed until the official plan has been confirmed by the Director.

(4) If the official plan is found to have been improperly or incorrectly plotted from the field notes of the survey, or if any omission or clerical error or other defect is found on the plan, the Director may cause a new plan to be made showing the omission, error or defect corrected and the new plan shall, after it has been

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Section 34

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 18 confirmed by the Director, become the official plan and shall be used for all purposes instead of the old plan.

(5) The Director shall, forthwith after the confirmation under subsections (2) and (4), file one copy of the official plan with the Registrar. 1987 cS-29.1 s30;1996 c32 s5(48);1998 c22 s43 Re-survey of public land 34(1) Land that is property of the Crown and respecting which there are no adverse interests may be re-surveyed when necessary.

(2) A boundary is not considered re-surveyed until a new official plan has been confirmed by the Director.

(3) The Director shall, forthwith after the confirmation under subsection (2), file one copy of the official plan with the Registrar. 1987 cS-29.1 s31;1996 c32 s5(48) Re-survey of Metis patented land 35(1) Metis patented land may be re-surveyed when necessary if (

a) the Metis title to the land is in the name of the settleme nt council, (

b) the settlement council approves the re-survey, and (

c) there are no adverse interests.

(2) A boundary is not considered re-surveyed until a new official plan has been confirmed by the Director.

(3) The Director shall, forthwith after the confirmation under subsection (2), file one copy of the official plan with the Registrar. 1998 c22 s43 Boundary lines on confirmation of survey or re-survey 36 All boundary lines of a survey in accordance with

section 29 or 32 are determined by the monuments placed for that purpose as shown on the official plan, whether or not the dimensions between them or the areas expressed on the official plan are found by re-measurement to be different. 1987 cS-29.1 s32;1998 c22 s43

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Section 37

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 19 Land between boundaries 37 Every parcel surveyed in accordance with

section 29 or 32 shall consist of all the land included between the several monuments placed to determine the boundary lines, and no more and no less, notwithstanding any quantity or measure expressed on the official plan, certificate of title, grant or other instrument. 1987 cS-29.1 s33;1998 c22 s43 Aliquot

part 38 A certificate of title, grant or other instrument purporting to convey a right or interest in any aliquot part of a parcel surveyed in accordance with

section 29 or 32 shall be construed to affect that aliquot part of the quantity it contains on the ground, and no more and no less, notwithstanding any quantity or measure expressed in the certificate of title, grant or other instrument. 1987 cS-29.1 s34;1998 c22 s43

Part 3 Surveys Other Than Under

Part 2 Re-survey of s29 or 32 land in municipality 39(1) The council of a municipality may, on the application of 50% of the registered owners of the parcels of land to be affected, or without an application, pass a resolution that it is desirable to re-survey and place monuments at the corners of parcels surveyed in accordance with

section 29 or 32.

(2) On receipt of a resolution under subsection (1), the Minister may direct the Director or a surveyor appointed by the Director to re-survey the land in question and to place monuments of a style approved by the Minister for that purpose at the corners of the land.

(3) Before beginning the re-survey, the Director shall publish notice of it in one issue of The Alberta Gazette and once each week for 2 consecutive weeks in a newspaper that circulates in the neighbourhood of the land to be re-surveyed.

(4) Any person (

a) who claims to know the position of any of the survey monuments defining the land to be re-surveyed, or (

b) who claims to be in possession of information whereby the position of monuments can be established, may, before the commencement of the re-survey, notify the Minister by registered mail of the information in that person’s possession regarding the matters referred to in clauses (

a) and (b).

RSA 2000

Section 40

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 20

(5) Before re-establishing a monument with respect to which notice has been given, the Director or a surveyor appointed by the Director shall, by registered letter or personal service, request the person who has given the notice under subsection (4) to appear before the Director at a time and place specified to show the position of the monument or to produce the evidence in the person’s possession with regard to it.

(6) The Director, or a surveyor appointed by the Director, shall (

a) commence the re-survey in accordance with this Act not les s than 2 weeks after the last publication of the notice under subsection (3), (

b) place monuments to mark the corners of the re-surveyed land, and (

c) submit a plan and other recor ds respecting the re-survey to the Minister. 1987 cS-29.1 s35;1998 c22 s43 Confirmation of re-survey 40(1) On receipt of the plan and other records under

section 39(6), the Minister (

a) shall publish notice of it in one issue of The Alberta Gazette and once each week for 2 consecutive weeks in a newspaper that circulates in the neighbourhood of the land re-surveyed, and (

b) shall specify in the notice a day, not less than 2 weeks from the date of the last publication of the notice, on which the plan and other records will be considered and the parties affected by it may be heard.

(2) After the hearing under subsection (1), the Minister may either confirm the re-survey or direct that any amendments or corrections that the Minister considers necessary be made, and shall confirm the re-survey as amended or corrected.

(3) On confirmation by the Minister of the re-survey, the Director shall amend the official plan accordingly.

(4) The monuments shown on the plan along the boundaries of the re-surveyed land determine the boundary lines of the land re- surveyed for all purposes. RSA 2000 cS-26 s40;2022 c16 s16

RSA 2000

Section 41

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 21 No review of re-survey 41 The order of the Minister confirming the re-survey is final and conclusive and shall not be questioned in any court, whether or not the monuments marking the original survey are subsequently found or their positions proved by other evidence. 1987 cS-29.1 s37 Filing of re-survey 42(1) The Director shall, forthwith after the confirmation under

section 40(2), file one copy of the official plan of the re-survey with the Registrar.

(2) On receipt of the official plan of the re-survey, the Registrar may make corrections to the certificates of title or registers to reflect any changes effected by the re-survey. 1987 cS-29.1 s38;1996 c32 s5(48);1998 c22 s43 Payment for re-survey 43(1) All expenses for a re-survey shall be paid to the Minister by the municipality on whose resolution the re-survey was made, on receipt of an invoice from the Minister, which may be issued from time to time during the progress of the re-survey.

(2) The municipality may order that the expenses in whole or in part be placed on the tax roll as an additional tax against the property affected by the re-survey, in proportion to the assessed value of the property as shown on the last assessment roll and that amount shall be collected in the same manner as taxes on land.

(3) Repealed 2022 c16 s16. RSA 2000 cS-26 s43;2022 c16 s16 Re-establishment of

Part 2 survey monument 44(1) When a surveyor is required to re-establish the position of a monument placed in the original survey in accordance with

section 29 or 32 that cannot be found, the surveyor shall do so from the best available evidence respecting the position of the monument.

(2) If the position of the monument cannot be satisfactorily ascertained under subsection (1) or if the corner was not previously marked by a monument in the original survey, the surveyor shall re-establish the monument or establish the corner’s position in relation to those monuments of the original or subsequent surveys that can be found, in a manner that carries out the evident intention of the original survey as shown in the original field notes and the official plan of record in the Director’s office.

(3) A surveyor who establishes a corner of a section, quarter

section or legal subdivision that was not previously marked by a

RSA 2000

Section 45

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 22 monument, or re-establishes the position of a monument in accordance with subsection (1) or (2), (

a) shall mark the position with a new monument, and (

b) shall, within one year after completion of the survey, prepare and submit to the Registrar a plan of survey showing the method by which the position was re-established. RSA 2000 cS-26 s44;2022 c16 s16 Establishing boundaries 45(1) If a surveyor does a survey for a plan that is required to be registered at the Land Titles Office or filed at the Metis Settlements Land Registry, the surveyor shall (

a) mark the positions of the boundary lines to be established by placing monuments (

i) at every change of direction and the beginning and end of every curve, and (ii) at every intersection of t he boundary lines with every surveyed boundary of the parcels affected by the new survey, a n d (

b) make all measurements neces sary to show the positions of the monuments placed and the boundary lines to be established, relative to the existing surveyed boundary lines of the parcels affected.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a)(i), all curves shall have a constant radius.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a surveyor, (

a) when surveying a right of way that is to be bounded by parallel lines that are not more than 150 feet apart, need mark only one boundary line of the right of way, and the unmarked boundary shall be determined from the marked boundary and the width shown on the plan, (

b) when surveying the boundaries of a strata space, as define d in the Land Titles Act, shall not mark the boundary lines of the horizontal, vertical or inclined planes or curved surfaces, but shall relate the locations of them

RSA 2000

Section 46

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 23 (

i) to at least 2 monuments of known elevation in the provincial reference system placed within or adjacent to the boundaries of the parcel for that purpose, or (ii) to 2 survey control markers and shall relate the locations of them to the external boundaries of the parcel within which the spaces lie, and (

c) when surveying the boundaries of condominium units other than bare land units as defined in the Condominium Property Act, shall not mark the boundary lines of the units but shall locate or re-establish the monuments that determine the boundaries of the parcel within which the units lie.

(4) All the boundary lines surveyed and established in accordance with subsection (1) shall be defined by the monuments placed for that purpose as shown on the plan of the survey registered at the Land Titles Office or filed at the Metis Settlements Land Registry, whether or not the dimensions or areas expressed on the plan are found by re-measurement to be different.

(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), every lot on a linear block boundary in a subdivision survey shown on a plan registered at the Land Titles Office after February 16, 1912, and before June 9, 1988 shall have a frontage measurement proportionate to the total distance between the corners of the block in the same ratio as the frontage measurement of each lot shown on the registered plan bears to the total distance between the corners of the block shown on the plan. RSA 2000 cS-26 s45;2022 c16 s16 Re-establishment of

Part 3 survey monument 46(1) When a surveyor is required to re-establish the position of a monument placed pursuant to this Part that cannot be found, the surveyor shall do so from the best available evidence respecting the position of the monument.

(2) If the position of the monument cannot be satisfactorily re-established under subsection (1), the surveyor shall re-establish it relative to those monuments that can be found, in a manner that carries out the evident intention of the survey as it is shown on the plan of survey registered at the Land Titles Office or filed at the Metis Settlements Land Registry.

(3) A surveyor who re-establishes the position of a monument in accordance with subsection (1) or (2), or establishes a corner that

RSA 2000

Section 47

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 24 was not previously marked by any monument in a survey made pursuant to this Part, (

a) shall mark the position with a new monument, and (

b) shall prepare and within one year after the completion of the survey submit to the Registrar a plan of survey showing the method by which the position was re-established and shall certify that the survey was made in accordance with this Act. RSA 2000 cS-26 s46;2022 c16 s16 Registration or filing of non-monumented survey plan 47(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Act, a surveyor may, without placing the monuments required by

section 45(1), submit a plan for registration at the Land Titles Office or filing at the Metis Settlements Land Registry if sufficient survey control markers exist in the vicinity of the survey.

(2) Subject to subsection (4), the co-ordinates of the survey control markers and of any position identified on the plan of survey for which a monument is intended to be placed in accordance with subsection (3)(

a) determine the boundary lines established by the survey and plan.

(3) A surveyor who submits for registration a plan pursuant to subsection (1) shall, within 3 years from its registration or within a longer period of time specified by the Director, (

a) place the monuments requ ired by

section 45(1) in accordance with the survey control markers and the co-ordinates shown on the plan, and (

b) file with the Registrar proof under oath, in the form prescribed by regulations under the Land Titles Act, of having done so.

(4) On registration of the form referred to in subsection (3)(b), the Registrar shall endorse a memorandum on the plan, and the monuments placed pursuant to subsection (3) determine the boundary lines as though they had been placed before the registration of the plan.

(5) Notwithstanding subsection (3), if the surveyor who submitted a plan pursuant to subsection (1) ceases to be registered as an Alberta Land Surveyor, or for any other reason fails to satisfy the requirements of subsection (3), some other surveyor appointed by the Director may carry out the requirements of subsection (3). RSA 2000 cS-26 s47;2022 c16 s16

RSA 2000

Section 48

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 25 Re-survey of s45 land in municipality 48(1) The council of a municipality may, on the application of 50% of the registered owners of the land to be affected, or without an application, pass a resolution that it is desirable to re-survey and place monuments at the corners of parcels the boundary lines of which were established pursuant to

section 45. (2) Sections 39(2) to (6), 40(1), (2) and (4), 41, 42 and 43 apply to a re-survey under this section. 1987 cS-29.1 s44

Part 4 Miscellaneous Fees 49 The Minister may make orders (

a) respecting a tariff of fees f or goods, services and materials provided pursuant to this Act; (

b) requiring the payment of a fee for updating cadastral mapping at the time a plan of survey or a descriptive plan is submitted for registration at the Land Titles Office. 1987 cS-29.1 s46;1999 c6 s8;2000 c6 s2 Offence 50(1) A person who interferes with, obstructs, interrupts, molests or hinders the Director or a surveyor carrying out the Director’s or surveyor’s duties under this Act is guilty of an offence.

(2) A person who is not a surveyor and knowingly has in the person’s possession, not for any lawful purpose in connection with a survey of land in Alberta, any monument intended, or apparently intended, to be used for the purpose of any survey, or to mark any limit, boundary or angle, is guilty of an offence.

(3) A person who, without the written permission of the Director, pulls down, alters, defaces or removes any monument or survey control marker placed by a surveyor in carrying out the surveyor’s duties under this Act is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of up to $10 000. 1987 cS-29.1 s48 Protection from liability 51 No action for damages may be commenced against any of the following persons for anything done or not done by that person in good faith while carrying out that person’s duties or exercising that person’s powers under this Act including, without limitation, any failure to do something when that person has discretionary authority to do something but does not do it:

RSA 2000

Section 52

Chapter S-26 SURVEYS ACT 26 (

a) the Minister; (

b) the Director; (

c) a Board or a member of a Bo ard appointed by the Minister under

section 9(3); (

d) a surveyor appointed by the Director under

section 6(1), 39(2), (5) or (6) or 47(5); (

e) an employee of the Government; (

f) a person to whom the Minister has, under

section 9 of the Government Organization Act, delegated a power, duty or function under this Act. 2022 c16 s16 Alternatives to monuments 52 Where any provision of this Act requires the use of one or more monuments to mark or determine a boundary, corner or line, a prescribed alternative method may be used for that purpose in accordance with the regulations. 2022 c16 s16 Regulations 53 The Minister may make regulations (

a) prescribing alternative methods for the purposes of sectio n 52 that may be used to mark or determine a boundary, corner or line; (

b) specifying the provisions o f this Act for which a prescribed alternative method may be used; (

c) respecting the use of one o r more alternative methods and specifying requirements as to the manner in which a prescribed alternative method is to be used; (

d) further defining “monument” for the purposes of this Act; (

e) respecting any other ma tters related to monuments; (

f) respecting any other matter or thing that the Minister considers necessary to carry out the intent of this Act. 2022 c16 s16

Printed on Recycled Paper *9780779838318*

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Consolidated Statutes
Citation	RSA 2000 cS-26
Type	statute
Volume / chapter	S26
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	29c5f7c31b27e8d1c5e05dd11a08ce583c631332

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (pdf).