Are you investigating property ownership or searching for uncovered claims, liens or encumbrances in Ontario? The province’s land registration services are ONLY available online through ONLAND. ONLAND is the official portal for land records, allowing you to search by Property Identification Number (PIN), address, instrument, or map. But what if you don’t have the PIN or no records linked to the address can be found in the system? Here’s how you can still proceed.
Step One: Identify the Land Registry Office (LRO) Number
Your first step is to determine the correct LRO number. Enter the city or town name in the search bar on the ONLAND portal. The corresponding LRO location and number will be displayed. For example, tying “Scarborough” will show “Metro Toronto” with LRO number 80.
Step Two: Access Property Information
Once the LRO is identified, access the “Search” option under “Property” section, which allows you to search by PIN, address, instrument or map.
If you don’t have the PIN, you can still conduct searches by address or map feature.
Search By Address
This can be done by entering the municipal address (mailing address) of the property. Please note that you should enter only the street name, without additional identifiers. For example, for “Adelaide St E”, enter “Adelaide” only.
However, some properties may not be linked to a municipal address in the system. This is especially common for properties like farmland and cottages. If your search yields no records, don’t give up – you can switch to a map-based search to continue.
Tip: Search Neighbouring Properties for PIN Information
If the address search doesn’t work, one helpful tip is to search other street numbers under the same street name. If a neighbouring property is linked to its municipal address, you can identify the first five digits of the PIN, which is the same for all properties in the general block. This information can help you narrow down your search to the correct area when using the map feature.
Search By Map
By selecting “Map”, ONLAND will display Ontario Electronic Property Index Maps (“ONLAND Maps”), showing all the properties in the area. Make sure you are viewing the correct LRO map and turn on the “geographic information” as references to assist with identifying the property‘s location.
Identify the Block by Using “Search by Street”
To further narrow down your search, use the “Search by Street” feature. Enter the street name without any indicators. For example, searching for “Adelaide” will display a list of all the streets containing “Adelaide”. From there, you can sort through the options and select the correct street. Once the correct street is selected, browse the map to find your block and the relevant properties.
For example, in the screenshot below, I can identify the “Adelaide” street between block number 21402 and 21401.
Identify the Property by Using Google Map
Another helpful method is to use Google Maps to familiarize yourself with the property’s surroundings and identify any notable landmarks features.
For instance, searching for “20 Adelaide Street E” in Google Maps will show the building’s position relative to roads and landmarks. You can then compare Google Maps to the ONLAND Maps to confirm the correct property. (See two screenshots below where you can identify the property by matching the distinguishable street features between Google Maps and ONLAND Maps.)
Identifiable features such as lakes, dead-end streets, or corners can also help you locate farmland or cottage properties.
Step Three: Purchase the Parcel Register
Once you’ve located the correct property on the ONLAND Maps, select “Buy Parcel Map”. After paying the $5 fee, the assigned PIN for the selected property will be displayed, allowing you to then purchase the parcel register.
This parcel register will provide detailed ownership and encumbrance information for the property. In my next blog, we will explore how to interpret parcel register data and how to search by instrument.
Nothing contained in this post constitutes legal advice or establishes a solicitor-client relationship. If you have any questions regarding your legal rights or legal obligations, you should consult a lawyer.