How do I recognize a survey marker or monument?

Landowners should be aware of the location and appearance of survey markers or monuments on their property.  When submitting an offer of purchase, a potential landowner should insist on obtaining an up-to-date survey prepared by an Ontario Land Surveyor to be certain of the property’s boundaries. A new survey also ensures that old monuments are identified and any missing monuments are set.

Survey markers or monuments can vary in material and size.  Standard iron bars, pipes, cut-crosses in concrete, old cut stones, and now plastic spikes are used to mark boundaries.  Iron bars are usually engraved with a number that identifies the surveyor who planted the bar. Typically surveyors will wrap orange ribbon to increase visibility.

Knowing exactly where the boundaries are located is important for both safety and economic reasons as important infrastructure like buried cables, gas lines, fences, and buildings are often built close to the limits. 

Survey markers are meant to provide lasting physical evidence of a boundary shared by adjacent properties. Because they are so essential, survey markers are protected by law.  It is illegal to remove, deface, or disturb any official boundary marker, including monuments removed by construction activities, so it’s important for all landowners to identify and protect them.