Survey Definitions
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A.L.T.A. Survey:
A survey made for the purpose of supplying a title company and
lender with a survey and location data necessary for issuing
American Land Title Association or Extended Coverage Title
Insurance.
Boundary Survey:
A survey for the express purpose of locating the corners and
property lines of a given parcel of Land. This involves record
and field research, measurements and computations to establish
boundary lines in conformance with the Professional Land
Surveyor Act. Easement lines may also be located and/or
established with this type of survey.
Topographic Survey:
A survey locating topographic features – natural and manmade –
such as buildings, improvements, fences, elevations, trees,
streams, contours of the land, etc. This type of survey may be
required by a governmental agency, or may be used by engineers
and/or architects for design of improvements or development on
a parcel of land.
Site Planning Survey:
A combination of boundary and topographic surveys for
preparation of a site plan design to be used for designing
improvements or developments.
Subdivision Survey:
The division of a tract of land into smaller parcels, showing
parcel monuments and survey data on a map in conformance with
local ordinances and the Subdivision Map Act.
Mortgage Survey (Also Referred to as a Mortgage
Report or Mortgage Certificate):
A survey typically used by title companies and mortgage
lenders to obtain proof that the major improvements on the
property are free of encroachments onto neighboring properties
or into recorded easements; or that improvements made on
neighboring properties do not encroach onto the parcel.
This type of a survey is not a boundary survey which
confirms the set property corners or sets missing
corners. Findings are typically certified to a Mortgage
Lender or Land Title Agency.
Cadastral Survey:
An original survey, resurvey, or retracement of public lands
within the Public Land Survey System of the United States for
the restoration of property lines.
Lot Split Survey:
Performed when a there is a need to divide an existing parcel
of land into two or more parcels. All surveys for lot splits
include a plat of the new parcels and the required legal
description to record the split.
Route Survey:
Reconnaissance, preliminary survey and location survey for an
alignment of a linear type feature such as a road, railroad,
canal, pipeline or utility line.
Construction Survey:
A survey performed to define the alignment and locations for
the construction of roads, buildings, pipelines, power lines
and other improvements to the land.