British Columbia

Overview

Mining rights in British Columbia are regulated under a provincially administered system governed by the Mineral Tenure Act (MTA) and the Mineral Tenure Act Regulation (MTAR). The province operates a free-entry system, where eligible individuals or companies holding a Free Miner Certificate (FMC) may acquire mineral and placer rights on available Crown land by staking and registering claims through the Mineral Titles Online (MTO) portal.

British Columbia’s tenure system emphasizes annual work or payment obligations to maintain claims, as well as proper notifications to landowners prior to surface disturbance.

Mineral Tenure Types

• Mining Lease (ML)
• Placer Lease (PL)
• Lease Of Placer Minerals (PLL)
• Placer Claim (PC)
• Two Post Claim (MC2)
• Four Post Claim (MC4)
• Two Post Bid Claim (MC2B)
• Two Post Compensation Claim (MC2C)
• Coal License (CS)
• Coal Lease (CL)
• Coal License Application (CA)
• Mineral Cell Title Submission (MCX)
• Placer Lease (PLP)
• One Post Claim (MC1)
• Placer Mining Lease (PLM)
• Placer Cell Title Submission (PCX)
• Post Claim (MC)

Forms, Fees and Information

• Mineral and placer titles forms
• Mineral and Placer Title Fees

• General information - mineral titles publications

Tenement Action Guide

• Mineral and Placer Titles Definitions

• Applying for Mineral and Placer Claims and Leases

• Maintaining Mineral and Placer Claims

• Applying for Mining and Placer Leases

• Payment of Annual Rental on a Lease

• Exploration Development Work

• Portable Assessment Credit

• Payment instead of exploration and development ("Cash-in-Lieu")

• Forfeiture of legacy and cell claims

• Landowner Notification

• Title Overlap with First Nations

References and Legislation

• A Guide to Surface and Subsurface Rights and Responsibilities in British Columbia
• Mineral Tenure Act
• Mineral Tenure Act Regulation
• Legislation

• KEY POINTS ABOUT BRITISH COLUMBIA’S MINERAL TENURE SYSTEM