How much does a location certificate cost?

There's no fixed rate: every land surveyor sets their price based on the lot's area, the number of buildings, the complexity of the title and cadastre, whether an earlier certificate exists, and the requested timeline. A simple residential lot with a recent certificate on file costs noticeably less than a large lot with complex title issues. We confirm a firm price in writing before starting the mandate.

Because the workload varies. Title research at the land registry, cadastral analysis, the field survey and the report writing don't take the same amount of time for every property. A lot with a cadastral renovation, servitudes, or located along a waterway requires more analysis.

A short-notice mandate mobilizes a crew that was already scheduled, moving the file ahead of others. That prioritization is reflected in the price. We state it clearly in the quote, never after the fact.

The certificate belongs to whoever ordered it, but it can be handed over at the sale and reused if it still accurately describes the property and the notary accepts it. An update by the same land surveyor generally costs less than an entirely new certificate.

The timeline depends on the time of year, title research and site access. Peak season, from May to November, extends turnaround times. We confirm a firm date upon receiving the request and prioritize files with a set notarial signing date.

No law gives it an expiry date. What matters is whether it still reflects the property's actual condition. As soon as a structure is added or altered, or the cadastre changes, it becomes outdated. In practice, many lending institutions and notaries require a document less than ten years old.