Personal property liens and searches

Last updated on July 10, 2025

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In B.C., a lien is a notice of a legal claim that can be registered against personal property as security to ensure a debt or loan is repaid. It represents a registered legal interest in personal property owned by an individual or a business.

Personal property is collateral that includes both tangible and intangible items, such as consumer goods, vehicles, boats, aircraft, chattel paper, and licences. It also includes fixtures and crops attached to land, but it does not include the land itself (real property). For real property interests, refer to the Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA).

Under the Personal Property Security Act, the Personal Property Registry records security interests and liens against personal property belonging to businesses and individuals.
 

Search for notices of legal claims on personal property 

Make sure personal property does not already have any liens registered against it before you:

  • Buy personal property privately
  • Lend money based on the security of personal property
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How to complete a lien search

Submit your request:

  • In person at a Service BC location
  • With a third-party service provider, who may charge you additional fees.
  • By mail to BC Registry Services by writing a letter stating the type of search needed and necessary search criteria. BC Registry Services will provide search results to clients only by return mail.
    • Send your letter by:
      • Courier to

        BC Registry Services
        200 - 940 Blanshard Street
        Victoria, BC V8W 3E6
        Courier pick-up and delivery are at your expense
         
  • Mail to:

BC Registry Services
PO Box 9431 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9V3
(For mail request include your payment by cheque or money order for $10.00 payable to the Minister of Finance)

 

  • Online at Personal Property Registry.  Online usage is designated for professionals who conduct PPR searches on a regular basis and have a premium account with BC Registries. This option is not available to the general public at this time.
  • Once the search request is completed, you will be mailed a copy of the search results.
  • For information on how to read PPR search outputs view our PPR Search Results Guide

 

Register a notice of legal claim on personal property

Register your interest in personal property to protect yourself from loss or legal conflict.

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1. Confirm that you can register

Here are some examples of who might want to register:

  • Lenders and sellers (or “secured parties”) register their interests in the personal property of a debtor to guarantee the legal right to collect, should the need arise
  • Buyers register an interest in the personal property of a seller to protect their interests in goods being purchased that are still in the possession of the seller
  • Commercial lien holders can register a commercial lien against goods to collect defaulted payment for services
  • Agents, notaries, law firms or any legal party that has been authorized to act on behalf of a secured party may also register of personal property

Each type of registration has specific conditions for registration. For example:

Type of Registration Legislation Condition
Security agreement Personal Property Security Act

Parties must have entered into a security agreement or be contemplating entering into a security agreement.
Commercial Lien Commercial Lien Act

Services must have been provided for goods (e.g. repairs) based on a request by the owner or other person with an interest in the goods or by a person in possession of the goods.

The lien holder must either have the goods in their possession or must have a signed written authorization for the requested services or a signed written acknowledgement of the obligation to pay for the services.
Sale of goods Sale of Goods Act Buyer is not in receipt of goods that have been paid for in full.

Some liens need to be filed with other government agencies. For example:

 

2. Prepare a Financing Statement

You will need a Financing Statement to register the following types of interests and liens:

  • A security interest under the Personal Property Security Act
  • A commercial lien under the Commercial Liens Act
  • A buyer’s interest on purchasing goods, left in the possession of the seller under the Sale of Goods Act
  • A tax lien on a manufactured home under the Manufactured Home Act
  • A deferred tax lien on a manufactured home under the Land Tax Deferment Act
  • A notice of marriage or separation agreement affecting a manufactured home under the Family Law Act
  • A contractor’s lien or charge or subcontractor’s charge under the Forestry Service Providers Protection Act  

 Financing Statements are available through your lawyer, notary public, or other service provider.

 

3. Submit your registration

Submit your registration and applicable fee:

Complete more complex registrations with assistance from a lawyer, notary public, or another service provider.

 

Amend, renew or discharge a registration

File a Financing Change Statement to amend, discharge or renew an existing registration. Complete the filing through Personal Property Registry.

Registrar's amendment or discharge of a security agreement. Under section 50 of the Personal Property Security Act, apply for a security agreement to be amended or discharged for one of the following reasons:

  • If the amount secured by the lien is paid
  • If the lien holder has agreed to release all or part of the collateral
  • If the description of the collateral in the financing statement includes collateral that is not subject to the lien
  • If no lien exists in relation to goods described in the financing statement

If any of these reasons apply, then you may apply for the amendment or discharge by using the forms and instructions below:

Registrar’s discharge of a commercial lien. Under section 17 of the Commercial Liens Act, apply for a commercial lien to be amended or discharged for one of the following reasons:

  • If the amount secured by the lien is paid
  • If the lien holder has agreed to release all or part of the collateral
  • If the description of the collateral in the financing statement includes collateral that is not subject to the lien
  • If no lien exists in relation to goods described in the financing statement

If any of these reasons apply, then the owner of the goods described in the financing statement may apply for the amendment or discharge by using the forms and instructions below:

Forms and fees

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Forms

 

Fees

FINANCING STATEMENTS (services processed by client through Personal Property Registry )
PPSA Security Agreement, Commercial Lien, Forestry Lien or Charge or Sale of Goods Agreement:
     - 1 to 25 years registration option $5* per year
     - Infinity registration life option $500*
Tax lien under section 27/28 of the Manufactured Home Act No charge
Land tax deferment lien on a manufactured home No charge
Notice of Property Agreement affecting manufactured home under the Family Law Act (section 100) $10*

FINANCING CHANGE STATEMENTS (services processed by client through Personal Property Registry )
PPSA Security Agreement, Commercial Lien, Forestry Lien or Charge or Sale of Goods Agreement:
     - 1 to 25 year registration life option $5* per year
     -  Infinity registration life option $500*
Total discharge No charge
Amendment (Secured party transfer, Debtor transfer, Debtor release, Partial discharge, Addition of collateral, Substitution of collateral, Court order, Other change) $10*
Amendment of Land Tax Deferment Lien on a Manufactured Home No Charge

MISCELLANEOUS FEES
Secured party or registering party code/name address change on multiple registrations                                                              $100
Searches of the Personal Property Registry database conducted by government staff:
     - Personal Property Registry Search only $10
     - Combined Personal Property Registry and Manufactured Home Search $15
Searches of the Personal Property Registry database conducted by clients through Personal Property Registry:  
     - Personal Property Registry Search only 7*
Photocopy of any document or statement $0.50 per page
Certification of any document $25
To obtain a reprint of a verification statement $10

 

* In addition to a fee marked by an asterisk, a further operator fee of $1.50,  plus any tax imposed under the Part IX (Goods and Services Tax) of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) applicable to the operator fee, may be charged for any transaction done by electronic means from a location outside a government office or at a government office by a person who is not a government employee.

​PPR Resources  

 

 YouTube videos and PDF quick guides

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Ask for help

Contact the BC Registries helpdesk for help Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The registry does not provide business or legal advice.

Email: BCRegistries@gov.bc.ca
Toll free: 1-877-526-1526
Victoria: 250-387-7848

Support with forms and documents

For additional support with BC Registries filings, visit a Service BC location or call 1-877-370-1033 or visit Support with BC Registries filings for your service options. Please note that Service BC does not provide legal or financial advice.

Related links

How-to videos and PDF guides for the new Personal Property Application

Personal Property Security Act

Personal Property Security Regulations

Revisions to the PPSR effective June 30, 2025 by OIC 222-2025 (BC Reg 64/2025)

Commercial Liens Act

Sale of Goods Act