Public Protection

The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors takes its responsibility for public protection seriously and continues to improve its public protection measures. These range from maintaining and enforcing a Code of Ethics to ensuring continuing education of its members. In the rare event that a surveyor is not meeting expected standards, a complaint and discipline process is available to address a surveyor's behaviour. 

Persons wishing to practise cadastral (legal boundary) surveying in Ontario must hold a licence issued by the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors. Professional memberships, called Certificates of Registration, in the fields of Geodesy, Photogrammetry, Hydrography, and Geographic Information Management are also available but are not mandatory.

Every surveyor practising in Ontario is bound by law to adhere to a specified minimum level of competence and ethical behaviour. These rules are set out in the Surveyors Act, R.S.O. 1990, Ch. S.29, and the Surveys Act, R.S.O. 1990, Ch. S.30 (statutes of the Government of Ontario) and in Regulation 1026 (which includes the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice), Regulation 216/10, and Regulation 525/91 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990.

The Surveyors Act provides for several processes and assurances to ensure that the public is well served by the profession, as follows:

Certificate of Authorization

Peer Review
Professional Liability Insurance
Compensation Fund
Fees Mediation
Complaints/Discipline
Fair Registration Practices Report

Certificate of Authorization

Only holders of a valid Certificate of Authorization (C of A), issued by the Registrar of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors may offer cadastral (legal boundary) surveying services to the public.

The Registrar may issue a C of A to a member, a partnership of members, or a corporation of which 50% of the Board of Directors are licensed Ontario Land Surveyors. The primary function of the corporation must be to engage in the business of providing services that are within the practice of cadastral surveying. At the time of application, the surveyor must have engaged in the practice of professional surveying during the preceding five-year period and as a guideline, should have gained experience in cadastral surveying for a minimum of 3-5 years since commissioning.

Members and companies engaged only in other branches of professional surveying, such as Photogrammetry, Hydrography, Geodesy, and Geographic Information Management do not require a C of A but may choose to acquire one.

The links at the side provide additional details regarding public protection.