Canuck Surveys FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Think of a Real Property Report as an official “snapshot” of your property — a surveyed drawing that shows exactly where your home and other structures sit on your lot. It’s prepared by a licensed Alberta Land Surveyor and covers things like your house, garage, deck, shed, fence, retaining wall, air conditioner, and hot tub.
Albertans most commonly need an RPR when buying or selling a home, but they’re also used for refinancing, planning a renovation, applying for certain building permits, or figuring out whether a fence or structure is actually on your property.
Not officially — but it can become outdated. Any time you add or change something on your property (yes, even just installing a new AC unit), your existing RPR may no longer reflect reality. Municipal bylaws can also change over time, which can affect whether your structures are still considered compliant.
A good rule of thumb: if anything has changed on your property since your last RPR, assume you’ll need an update.
This is one of the most common surprises Calgary homeowners run into. Unfortunately, if a shed, deck, or driveway was built without a permit, it’s measured against today’s bylaws — not the rules from when it was built. How long it’s been there doesn’t matter.
The best way to protect yourself is to always check with your municipality before building anything, get the proper permits, and keep records of everything.
A few things can make your old RPR no longer usable. Buyers or lenders may want a fresh one to confirm everything meets current bylaws. And changes you might not think twice about — a new fence, an added air conditioner, a retaining wall — can all make your existing RPR out of date.
If you do need an update, start by calling the survey company that did your original RPR. Updating an existing report is often faster and less expensive than starting from scratch.
Compliance(sometimes called a Compliance Stamp or Certificate of Compliance) is when your municipality reviews your RPR and confirms that your structures meet their setback rules — meaning everything is the required distance from property lines, alleys, and neighbouring lots, and is not on top of a city-owned easement.
If you’re selling your home or refinancing, you’ll almost certainly need it. If you’re using the RPR for a building permit application, you usually don’t. When in doubt, ask your surveyor or real estate professional.
As early as possible — seriously. If your RPR reveals a compliance issue, you’ll need time to deal with it before closing. That might mean removing or modifying a structure, or going through a relaxation or encroachment application with the City.
Homeowners who wait until they have a conditional sale often find themselves in a tough spot. For example, if a shed is included in the sale agreement and then turns out to be non-compliant, removing it gets complicated fast — and can end up costing more money. Getting your Calgary RPR ordered early gives you options.
Whether you’re buying or selling a home in Calgary, planning a renovation, or just trying to figure out where your property actually ends and your neighbour’s begins — a land survey gives you the facts you need to move forward with confidence.
Here’s what you need to know.
A land survey is a professional measurement and mapping of your property. A licensed Alberta Land Surveyor visits your property, uses specialized equipment (including GPS and total stations), and produces an accurate, legal document showing your property boundaries, structures, and any encroachments or easements.
In plain terms: it tells you — and everyone else involved — exactly what’s on your lot and where it sits relative to your property lines.
Real Property Report (RPR) The RPR is by far the most common survey Calgary homeowners will encounter. It’s a scaled drawing showing your property lines and all structures on your lot — your house, garage, deck, shed, fence, AC unit, and more. Your municipality then reviews it to confirm everything meets current bylaws (this is called compliance). If you’re buying, selling, or refinancing a Calgary home, you’ll almost certainly need one.
Property Line Survey Need to know exactly where your lot ends before putting up a fence or dealing with a neighbour dispute? A property line survey defines your boundaries precisely and identifies any encroachments — like a fence or structure that’s crossed onto someone else’s land.
Site Survey or Development Permit Survey Planning a new build or major addition? Depending on your project and municipality, a site survey or a development permit survey may be required. A site survey captures the dimensions, features, and any obstacles on your lot before construction begins — saving you from expensive surprises down the road.
Construction Survey Once your permits are approved and it’s time to build, a construction survey makes sure everything gets built in exactly the right place. Surveyors stake out the precise locations for foundations, walls, and other key elements on the ground so that contractors have accurate reference points to work from. Skipping this step is one of the most common causes of expensive mid-build corrections — and headaches with municipal inspections.
Topographical Survey Used primarily by architects and engineers, this type maps the natural features of your land — slopes, elevation changes, trees, and existing structures — so that designs work with the land rather than against it.
Subdivision Survey When a larger parcel of land is being divided into separate lots, a subdivision survey creates the new legal titles and ensures everything meets Calgary’s zoning and development rules.
Simply put, land surveys protect you. Without one, you’re making decisions about one of your biggest assets based on assumptions rather than facts. Surveys help you:
- Confirm your property boundaries match what’s in your legal documents
- Catch encroachments before they become your problem
- Avoid bylaw compliance issues that can delay or derail a home sale
- Plan renovations and additions with accurate measurements
- Resolve boundary disputes with documented, impartial evidence
- Selling your Calgary home — Order your RPR early. If a compliance issue comes up, you’ll want time to deal with it before you’re already in a conditional sale.
- Buying a home — Confirm the property matches what you’re being sold, and that there are no hidden encroachment or compliance issues.
- Refinancing — Most lenders will require a current RPR with compliance.
- Before building a fence, deck, or addition — Don’t assume your existing fence marks the real property line.
- Applying for a development permit — The City of Calgary may require a survey as part of your application to confirm your project meets zoning and setback requirements.
- Starting a construction project — A construction survey ensures your build starts in exactly the right place, keeping you on the right side of both your contractor and the municipality.
- Resolving a neighbour dispute — A survey provides the documented proof needed to settle disagreements fairly.
Turnaround time for a Calgary RPR or land survey depends on a few things: the type of survey you need, how complex your property is, and what time of year you’re ordering.
Winter surveys typically take a bit longer in the field — frozen ground and snow cover can slow things down. That said, fewer homeowners order surveys in the winter, so overall turnaround time can actually be faster than the busy spring and summer seasons.
For more complex surveys — larger properties, tricky boundaries, or multiple structures — there are simply more steps involved, and that takes more time to get right.
When you place your order, we’ll give you a clear timeline upfront and keep you updated as your survey progresses, so you’re never left wondering where things stand.
The cost of a land survey in Calgary depends on the type of survey you need, the size of your property, and the complexity of the work involved, including the availability of survey evidence defining boundaries.
The best way to get an accurate number is to contact us directly. We’ll ask a few simple questions and get you a customized quote to meet your needs.
Technically, no — there’s no legal requirement to get a Calgary land survey before putting up a fence. But it’s one of those situations where a small investment upfront can save you a lot of grief down the road.
Without a survey, you’re essentially guessing where your property line is. And if your fence ends up on your neighbour’s land — or worse, on City of Calgary property — even by a few inches, you could be facing an encroachment issue, a costly removal, or a neighbour dispute that lingers for years.
A property line survey gives you the confidence to build in exactly the right place from the start. It’s a straightforward process, and well worth it before you commit to materials and labour.
One more important step before you break ground: you are required by law to have your underground utilities located before digging any fence posts or disturbing the soil in any way. The good news is it’s completely free and easy to arrange.
Yes. Our team is SeCOR-certified, which means we follow a recognized, rigorous safety management program on every project we take on — whether it’s a straightforward Calgary RPR or a large-scale construction survey.
Safety isn’t just a checkbox for us. Every survey is planned and carried out with strict protocols in place to protect our field crew, your property, and anyone nearby.
We offer Land Surveying Across Alberta
Based in Calgary, Canuck Surveys provides land surveying services across Alberta. We work throughout the Calgary region—including Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, and Okotoks—as well as rural municipalities and remote project locations.
Our team is licensed to perform surveys across Alberta and on Canada Lands, including National Parks and Indigenous territories.
Wherever your project is located, we can help.
Getting started is easy. Just give us a call or reach out through our website to tell us a bit about your project. We’ll ask a few simple questions, walk you through your options, and provide a free, no-obligation quote.
Not sure which type of survey you need? No problem — we’re happy to help you figure that out too.