Boundary Survey
The foundational survey that establishes where a property's legal boundaries sit on the ground.
01
What It Is
A boundary survey is a licensed surveyor's determination of a parcel's legal perimeter. The surveyor researches recorded deeds, plats, and prior surveys, locates existing monuments and physical evidence, then measures and reconciles that record with what exists on the ground.
The deliverable is typically a signed and sealed drawing showing the boundary lines, dimensions, recorded easements the surveyor was asked to plot, and any improvements or occupation lines that appear to cross the boundary. Corners are often physically monumented with rebar and caps.
02
When It's Commonly Used
- Purchasing vacant land or acreage where corners have never been marked
- Before installing a fence, driveway, or outbuilding near a property line
- Resolving a boundary question or disagreement with a neighbor
- Before dividing, combining, or developing a parcel
- When a lender, title company, or attorney requests a current boundary determination
03
Why It Matters
Fences, roads, and tree lines are frequently in the wrong place. Rural parcels described by metes and bounds can differ meaningfully from what an owner has always assumed, and acreage stated in a listing is not a survey.
Knowing the real boundary before you build, fence, or close can prevent encroachment claims, forced removal of improvements, and disputes that are far more expensive to resolve later than the survey would have cost.
04
Questions to Ask
- Will property corners be physically monumented, and with what type of marker?
- Will recorded easements be plotted on the drawing?
- Will you note apparent encroachments or occupation lines that differ from the deed?
- What research will you perform on prior surveys and adjoining deeds?
- What is the turnaround time, and how are fees structured?
05
Related Reading & Resources
The most successful real estate decisions often involve collaboration between several professionals working toward the same goal. Understanding each person's role helps you ask better questions and make more confident decisions.
06
Other Types of Surveys
- Improvement Location Certificate (ILC)A lower-cost Colorado document showing improvement locations relative to boundaries — often confused with a boundary survey.
- ALTA/NSPS Land Title SurveyThe detailed, standards-based survey commonly required in commercial transactions and commercial lending.
- Topographic SurveyA mapping of elevation, slope, and physical features used for design, drainage, and construction planning.
Questions About Property Boundaries or Land Development?
Surveying often plays an important role in understanding property boundaries, development potential, and legal descriptions. I'd be happy to help you identify the questions worth asking and connect you with local surveying professionals as you evaluate your options.
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