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  All surveys require the Professional Land Surveyor to diligently research records, historical documents, deeds, old surveys and all other evidence to determine if existing markers are at the proper location of the corner, to restore missing corners to their original location, or to re-establish corners that have become lost over the passage of time. Because of the special skills and complexities involved in performing these tasks, Missouri statutes limit the practice to only those surveyors duly licensed by the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects.

  In order to protect the public from inferior land surveying, the "Missouri Standards for Property Boundary Surveys" have been established. These standards describe recommended 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 provisionsin 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, contact the State Land Surveyor at 573.368.2300 or the Missouri Board of Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects at 573.751.0047.

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