FAQ's

• Why Choose a Professional Land Surveyor

  A Professional Land Surveyor renders a highly technical service in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, codes and court decisions set forth by local, county, state and federal authorities.

  All surveys require the Professional Land Surveyor to diligently research records, historical documents, deeds, and old surveys, along with gathering physical evidence (e.g. pins, monuments, etc) to determine the location of the property boundary lines as established by the original surveyor.   

  In order to protect the public from inferior land surveying, the Missouri statutes limit the practice of surveying to professional land surveyors licensed by the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, and Professional Landscape Architects.  The Missouri statutes have also established the "Missouri Standards for Property Boundary Surveys" which describe the procedures for a survey and the information to be provided to a client.  

• When is a Survey Needed?
  • Prior to purchasing land to ensure what is being bought
  • Prior to installing a fence, building a house, or other types of construction
  • Prior to dividing land into smaller parcels
  • Prior to adjusting boundaries or consolidating parcels
  • When a parcel of land is sold that was not previously surveyed
  • To verify amount of land assessed for taxes
  • When there is a belief someone has encroached upon your land
• What are the Factors Determining Cost?
  • Type of survey required
  • Existing terrain and land conditions
  • Amount of information supplied by owner
  • Professional Land Surveyor's knowledge of the area
  • Availability of record information
  • Existing monumentation
  • Liability incurred by Professional Land Surveyor
• Should my Survey be Recorded?

  It is not necessary to record each and every boundary survey. There are provisions in the law requiring certain surveys to be made of record, such as subdivision surveys and any survey that creates a new parcel. Should any party to the survey desire, the survey drawing can be taken to the local Recorder of Deeds office and be made part of the public record. It must be signed and sealed by the Professional Land Surveyor.

• What if I Need More Information?

  Recorded plats, deed, easements, etc., can be obtained from the County Recorder of Deeds or your title company. Highway plans may be obtained from the Missouri Department of Transportation, and utility information may be obtained from local utilities. The State Land Surveyor also maintains a repository for recorded plats, original government surveys, railroad plats and recorded surveys.

  For additional facts or standards regarding land surveying, please contact:

  State Land Surveyor 

  573.368.2300

  https://agriculture.mo.gov/weights/landsurvey/

  Missouri Board of Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects 

  573.751.0047

  https://pr.mo.gov/apelsla.asp

  *Text taken from and provided as a public service by MSPS.