Appendix 1: Reading Metes And Bounds Descriptions

The purpose of this appendix is to assist anyone unfamiliar with plans to interpret metes and bounds descriptions. The registrar rarely accepts metes and bounds descriptions. See ss. 64 and 99 of the Land Title Act.

DEFINITIONS

A “metes description” is a description of an area by measurements.

A “bounds description” is a description of an area by boundaries.

A “metes and bounds description” is a description of an area combining measurements and boundaries.

EXAMPLE OF METES AND BOUNDS DESCRIPTION

The following is an example of a metes and bounds description:

ALL THAT PART OF LOT 1, DISTRICT LOT 250, GROUP 1, PLAN 1000, NWD MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE SOUTH WEST CORNER OF SAID LOT 1, THENCE NORTH BEARING 0°0’0” ALONG THE WESTERLY BOUNDARY OF SAID LOT 100 FEET +/- TO THE NORTH WESTERLY CORNER OF SAID LOT, THENCE EASTERLY ON A BEARING OF 90°0’0” A DISTANCE OF 100 FEET +/-, THENCE SOUTH ON BEARING 180°0’0” A DISTANCE OF 100 FEET +/- TO THE SOUTHERLY BOUNDARY OF SAID LOT 1, THENCE WESTERLY ON A BEARING OF 270°0’0” A DISTANCE OF 100 FEET +/- TO THE POINT OF COMMENCEMENT TO WHICH PARCEL THE REGISTRAR HAS ASSIGNED THE DISTINGUISHING LETTER “A”.

Understanding Bearings

60 seconds (60”) = 1 minute (1’)

60 minutes (60’) = 1 degree (1°)

Quadrantal Bearings and Azimuthal (or Full Circle) Bearings

There are two systems of bearings: quadrantal and azimuthal (or full circle).

An example of a quadrantal bearing is N 35°10’35”E. Read this bearing as 35 degrees 10 minutes 35 seconds to the East of North. Boundaries are not called North, South, East, or West unless they are within 4 degrees of the actual North, South, East, or West. Otherwise they are, for example, a Northwest boundary.

An example of an azimuthal (or full circle) bearing is 97°16’12”. To know what the opposite direction is, add or subtract 180 degrees. To convert a N.W. quadrantal bearing to azimuthal (or full circle), subtract the bearing from 360 degrees. To convert a S.E. quadrantal bearing to azimuthal (or full circle), subtract 180 degrees. The N.E. quadrant is the same as the first 90 degrees of the azimuth (or circle) and the S.W. quadrant is the same as the third 90 degrees of the azimuth (or full circle).

Description Points

1. When a description refers to a “southeast” boundary of a lot, the boundary is that boundary facing southeast, not the boundary heading in that direction.
   
2. If a description refers to an area lying to the “south” of a line parallel and perpendicularly distant a given amount from a boundary, and the corner of the lot is over 90 degrees, the description includes a statement to indicate the extension or production of the described line.
   
3. A description of a curve refers to three things: radius, arc distance, and whether the curve is to the left or right of the starting point. The following is an example: “thence following the arc of a circular curve to the left having a radius of 15 metres for an arc distance of 20 metres”.
   
4. When a lot has more than one southeast boundary, the description specifies which southeast boundary; for example, “commencing at a point on the most southerly southeasterly boundary”, or, where the bearings are different “on the southeasterly boundary having a bearing of”.