Search British Columbia Public Records
British Columbia has the best online court record access in Canada — Court Services Online lets you search civil case filings, which most other provinces don’t offer.
Search British Columbia public records using official provincial systems. BC stands out from other Canadian provinces because Court Services Online provides searchable access to civil case filings — the closest thing in Canada to a U.S. county clerk online case search. Property titles are centralized through LTSA, business registrations through BC Registry Services, and vital records through the BC Vital Statistics Agency. Criminal records still require a formal check through the RCMP or local police — this is Canada-wide and not specific to BC. For other provinces, see our Canada Records hub. For U.S. records, see our state pages.
How BC Records Differ from Other Provinces (and the U.S.)
BC’s systems compared to other provinces and the U.S.:
- Court Services Online (CSO): Returns civil case filings, court documents, and hearing schedules for BC Supreme Court and Provincial Court civil matters. This is unique in Canada — most other provinces only offer published decisions through CanLII. Search CSO →
- Property (LTSA): Land Title and Survey Authority provides centralized title searches for all BC properties. Fee-based. One system for the whole province — no county-by-county searching.
- Business (BC Registry Services): Search BC-incorporated businesses through BC Registry Services. Returns company status, directors, and filing history.
- Criminal records: Same as all Canadian provinces — not publicly searchable. Requires formal Criminal Record Check through local police or RCMP. Subject must consent.
- Vital records: Birth, death, marriage certificates through the BC Vital Statistics Agency. Application-based — available to the subject or authorized family only.
Key advantage: If you need court case details in BC, CSO gives you access that no other Canadian province provides online. For published decisions, CanLII still covers all provinces.
SearchSystems.net has curated BC public record sources since 1997.
BC Search Portals
Official provincial portals. Descriptions show what each system returns and whether access is free or fee-based.
Courts
Criminal
Property
Business
Vital Records & Other
What Each BC System Returns
Court Services Online: BC’s Unique Advantage
CSO is what makes BC different from every other Canadian province. It provides online access to civil case filings, documents, and hearing schedules for BC Supreme Court and Provincial Court civil matters. This is the closest thing in Canada to a U.S. county clerk case search portal. You can search by party name and view filed documents. Registration required (free). Criminal case information is not available through CSO — criminal case details still require a courthouse visit. Published decisions from all BC courts are also on CanLII.
Property: Centralized Through LTSA
The Land Title and Survey Authority covers all registered property in British Columbia in a single system. Title searches return ownership, encumbrances, easements, and legal descriptions. Fee-based per search. BC Assessment provides free property valuation data separately. Unlike the U.S. where property records require county-by-county searching, BC’s system is provincial and centralized. LTSA shows the legal title; BC Assessment shows the assessed value.
Criminal Records: Same as All Canadian Provinces
Criminal records in BC follow the same Canada-wide rules: not publicly searchable. A Criminal Record Check requires a formal application through the RCMP, local police, or the BC Criminal Record Check Program. The subject must consent. This is completely different from the U.S. model where county criminal court records are freely searchable online. For more on how Canadian criminal records work, see our section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search BC court case filings online? ▼
How do I search BC property records? ▼
Can I search BC criminal records online? ▼
Other Canadian Provinces
Each province has its own court, property, and vital record systems. BC’s Court Services Online is unique.
Canada Record Sections
Search Canadian records by type across all provinces.
U.S. Records
U.S. courts and property records offer broader public online access than Canadian systems.