Understanding what 'No Parcel Info' means, its impact on your ability to transfer title and when to log a call with ISC.
Q. I clicked on a parcel with no Parcel Picture available (i.e. coloured white). In the ‘Surface Parcel’ window, the Parcel Status displays ‘NON-TITLED’. What does this mean?
A. This means that the Titles database has not yet been linked to the Geographic Information System (GIS) database for any number of reasons (e.g. linework must be drawn, errors must be corrected). The two databases must be linked in order for Parcel Picture to be available. In order to locate title information or validate that the parcel is, in fact, titled, please go to Quick Search (outside of Map Search) and perform a Quick Search (by Land Description) using the land description displayed in the ‘Surface Parcel’ window.
Typically, when a parcel displays 'No Parcel Info' in the 'Status' column of the Results Frame, it means the parcel falls into one of three categories.
- Vested lands for which no records exist in the Land Registry - it has been the case since the inception of Land Titles in Saskatchewan over a century ago that no titles were raised for vested lands (e.g. streets, lanes, avenues, original road allowances)
- Unpatented lands for which no records exist in the Abstract Directory (e.g. water bodies)
- The 4.5% of surface records (37.83% of mineral records) that remain unlinked to the Geographic Information System (GIS) for a variety of reasons. These situations can be identified by the existence of a record when a Search or Quick Search is done on the ISC website, www.isc.ca, but for which the parcel information indicates Parcel Picture unavailable.
Q. When will ISC create records to allow Parcel Picture to be available? If ISC won't automatically create records, what other options do I have?
A. As set out above, common reasons for 'No Parcel Info' include vested lands, unpatented lands and surface and mineral parcels that remain unlinked to the Geographic Information System (GIS).
For vested and unpatented lands, ISC will not create records to be linked to the GIS unless requested internally to ISC by Plan Processing in support of a pending subdivision plan or by the Government Ministry with responsibility for that land (e.g. Agriculture, Environment, Highways, Energy and Resources).
For surface and mineral parcels that remain unlinked to the GIS, ISC offers a Parcel Picture on Demand service. This service allows the customer to request that ISC review the titles or abstracts in order to complete the link. To request this service, you must complete and submit the Parcel Picture on Demand form.
Q. If there is no parcel picture available, can the parcel still be transferred?
A. Yes. Parcel Picture is NOT required in order to transfer or otherwise deal with land (with the exception for subdivision plans) and; therefore, the absence of Parcel Picture is NOT considered an error that ISC would correct outside of the Parcel Picture on Demand process.
Q. When should the customer log a call with ISC as it relates to Map Search?
A. Only if there is an error related to the parcel (e.g. if the shape and dimensions of the parcel as shown on a registered Plan of Survey are significantly different from those shown on the Parcel Picture, ISC will need to review the underlying line work to determine if an error was made). Please note that small adjustments to the shape and dimensions required to fit with adjacent plans or discrepancies between the location of a water body as shown in the Geographic Information System (GIS) to the actual location of the water body today are not considered errors.
The presence of a Registrars Prohibition lock on the record may also indicate the existence of an underlying problem with the record. This lock may or may not be related to the absence of Parcel Picture. Logging a call with ISC will allow us to review the inaccuracy with a view to correction if the correction allows us to then make the link to the GIS and make Parcel Picture available, we will endeavour to do so at the time of correction.
Q. Where do I go on the ISC website to request Parcel Picture on Demand?
A. For information on requesting Parcel Picture on Demand including a link to the Parcel Picture Request form check out the Parcel Picture on Demand product page.