A discharge fee is the administrative charge a lender imposes to remove (discharge) a mortgage from the title at the BC Land Title Office once the borrower has paid off, refinanced, or transferred the mortgage to another lender. This fee is separate from the Land Title Office registration fee required to file the discharge. Verify current lender discharge fee amounts with your financial institution, as they are set by contract and not by statute.

Lender discharge fees in BC typically range from $200 to $400 (as of 2026-07-27 — verify current), though the exact amount is set by each lender's mortgage agreement and is not regulated by statute. In addition, the BC Land Title Office charges a separate registration fee to file the discharge document. Verify the exact discharge fee with your lender and the current Land Title Office fee schedule at www.gov.bc.ca before acting.

No. The discharge fee is the lender's administrative charge for preparing and processing the discharge paperwork, while the Land Title Office registration fee is a separate government fee paid to register the discharge on title under the Land Title Act, RSBC 1996, c. 250. Both fees are payable when discharging a mortgage. Verify current Land Title Office fee amounts at www.gov.bc.ca before acting.

The borrower (mortgagor) pays the discharge fee, as it is typically stipulated in the mortgage agreement. The lender (mortgagee) performs the administrative work to prepare the discharge document but charges the borrower for this service. Verify the discharge fee amount and payment terms in your specific mortgage contract and confirm with your lender before proceeding.

A lender is entitled to recover its discharge fee as part of the mortgage contract terms before issuing the discharge. Under the Land Title Act, RSBC 1996, c. 250, a discharge must be registered to clear the mortgage from title, and lenders generally condition the discharge on payment of contractual fees. If you believe a lender is improperly withholding a discharge, verify your rights with a BC lawyer or notary before acting.

This depends on your lender's policies and the structure of the refinance. Some lenders waive the discharge fee for internal refinances where the existing mortgage is replaced with a new one, while others charge it. Verify with your lender in advance whether a discharge fee applies to your refinance scenario, as it is a contractual matter not regulated by BC statute.

No. Discharge fees are lender administrative charges set by contract and are not directly regulated by a BC statute or the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). Lenders disclose discharge fees in mortgage agreements, and borrowers agree to them at closing. For questions about the reasonableness or enforceability of a discharge fee, verify with a BC lawyer or notary before acting.

Under the Land Title Act, RSBC 1996, c. 250, a mortgage remains registered on title until a discharge is filed. If a lender unreasonably delays or refuses to discharge a paid-off mortgage, you may have remedies including an application to court or the Land Title Office to compel the discharge. Verify your specific options and any contractual obligations with a BC lawyer or notary before acting.

Discharge fees are generally set by the lender's standard mortgage terms and are contractual. Some borrowers successfully negotiate fee waivers or reductions during mortgage origination or renewal, or as part of a complaint resolution process. Verify your lender's policies and your contractual rights with the lender directly, or consult a BC lawyer or notary if you believe a fee is unreasonable.

Yes. If you retain a BC notary public to coordinate the discharge process (receiving funds, paying out the lender, filing the discharge at the Land Title Office), the notary will charge a professional fee for that service, separate from the lender's discharge fee and the Land Title Office registration fee. Verify the notary's fee schedule and scope of service before engaging them, as notary fees are not regulated by statute and vary by practice.