Canadian Mortgage Discharge Fee Calculator
Calculate the total cost of discharging a mortgage in Canada across all provinces. Includes lender administration fee, provincial land registration fee, and legal or notarial costs. Understand when fees apply and how to avoid them. CAD.
Discharge costs vary significantly by province due to land registration systems and notarial requirements. Sorted from lowest to highest typical cost.
| Province | Reg. Fee | Notary Required? | Min Total Est. | Typical Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | CA$20 | No | CA$95 | CA$570 |
| British Columbia | CA$30 | No | CA$105 | CA$580 |
| Saskatchewan | CA$35 | No | CA$110 | CA$585 |
| Prince Edward Island | CA$45 | No | CA$120 | CA$595 |
| Manitoba | CA$50 | No | CA$125 | CA$600 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | CA$50 | No | CA$125 | CA$600 |
| New Brunswick | CA$55 | No | CA$130 | CA$605 |
| Nova Scotia | CA$60 | No | CA$135 | CA$610 |
| Ontario | CA$77 | No | CA$152 | CA$627 |
| Quebec | CA$0 | Yes (mandatory) | CA$375 | CA$700 |
Understanding when a mortgage discharge fee is triggered helps you plan and budget for the cost.
What Is a Mortgage Discharge Fee in Canada?
A mortgage discharge fee in Canada is the combined cost of removing a registered mortgage (or hypothec in Quebec) from your property title when your mortgage is fully paid off, refinanced with a new lender, or switched at renewal. The discharge process legally clears the lender's security interest from your title, confirming the debt is settled.
The total discharge cost typically consists of three components: a lender administration fee ($75–$400 depending on the lender), a provincial land registration fee ($20–$77 in most provinces, included in notarial fee in Quebec), and an optional legal or notarial fee ($100–$700 depending on province and complexity). Quebec is unique: a notary is legally required to discharge a hypothec under the Civil Code, making it automatically more expensive.
Discharge fees are not charged when renewing with your existing lender — the charge remains registered and the lender simply updates the rate. They are triggered only when the mortgage is being fully discharged or when you switch to a new lender (which requires discharging from the old lender and registering with the new one).
How to Use This Calculator
- Select your Province — this determines the land registration fee and whether a notary is legally required (Quebec).
- Select your Lender Type — this populates the typical lender fee range. You can override with your actual fee.
- Enter the Lender Discharge Fee from your mortgage commitment or by calling your lender directly.
- Toggle whether you need a Legal or Notary Fee (optional in most provinces, mandatory in Quebec).
- Use the Advanced tier to compare discharge costs across all provinces or explore lender-by-lender fee differences.
- Use the Pro tier to understand when fees apply and whether switching lenders or staying is more cost-effective.
Discharge Cost Formula
Total Discharge Cost = Lender Fee + Registration Fee + Legal Fee (if applicable)
| Component | Typical Range |
| Lender Administration Fee | $75–$400 |
| Provincial Registration Fee | $20–$77 (varies by province) |
| Legal / Notarial Fee | $0–$700 (mandatory in QC) |
| Total (common law provinces) | $175–$650 typical |
| Total (Quebec, notary required) | $450–$1,200 typical |
Worked Example
Michael switching from TD Bank to a monoline lender at renewal in Ontario
| Lender (TD Bank) Discharge Fee | $200 |
| Ontario Land Registry Fee | $77 |
| Real Estate Lawyer (discharge only) | $350 |
| Total Discharge Cost | $627 |
| New lender cashback offer | $1,000 |
| Net Cost After Cashback | $0 (plus $373 profit) |
| Rate improvement from switching | 0.15% per year |
| Annual interest saving ($400,000 mortgage) | $600/year |
| 5-year saving from lower rate | $3,000 |
In this example, the new lender's cashback more than covers the discharge cost, and the rate saving adds $3,000 over 5 years. Switching is clearly worthwhile.