B.C. appraisers now note unaddressed Indigenous land claims in property valuations after a court ruled Aboriginal title exists for the Cowichan Tribes.

Some British Columbia appraisers are adding clauses to property valuations acknowledging unaddressed Indigenous land claims, following a 2025 B.C. Supreme Court ruling that affirmed Aboriginal title for the Cowichan Tribes over 300 hectares in Richmond. The decision established that private fee-simple ownership is not absolute where Aboriginal title exists, prompting appraisers to include limiting conditions stating properties are valued assuming no land claims. The Appraisal Institute of Canada – B.C. Yukon is developing guidance to ensure clauses are factual and not speculative. While the provincial government maintains private property rights are protected and negotiations require willing parties, ongoing appeals and future rulings may continue shaping real estate markets.