What Land Survey Do I Need?
Use this quick guide to choose a likely survey type for fence, permit, lender/title, engineering, dispute, or construction work. Then request quotes to confirm scope and pricing with a surveyor who serves your area.
Quick Picker
Choose your situation and we’ll suggest a starting point.
Common situations
Fast answers to common questions. Each page links back to the quote form.
Fast Answers by Situation
Fence, shed, driveway, or boundary dispute
Usually start with a boundary survey so corners and property lines can be located clearly.
Site plan, drainage, grading, or engineering
Usually start with a topographic survey because elevations and surface features matter.
Lender, title, or commercial closing
Often an ALTA/NSPS survey is required. Confirm the exact Table A items and lender/title requirements before you request quotes.
Flood insurance and FEMA requirements
If your property is in a high-risk flood zone, you likely need a FEMA Elevation Certificate to properly rate your insurance.
Construction layout or as-built verification
Usually start with construction staking or an as-built scope, then confirm the deliverables your builder, engineer, or permit office needs.
How to confirm the right scope before you hire
Confirm the deliverable, not just the survey name
A quote should say what you receive: map or plat, corner marking, CAD, topo shots, ALTA items, or construction layout. Survey names alone are often too broad.
Ask who is relying on the work
Lenders, title companies, permit offices, engineers, and contractors often need different outputs. If someone else is waiting on the survey, include that in your request.
Call out site conditions early
Large acreage, brush, locked gates, livestock, missing monuments, and active construction can all change field time. Those details belong in the first message.
Use the comparison guide when two types sound close
If you are choosing between boundary, topo, and ALTA work, compare the scope on Boundary vs Topo vs ALTA before you request quotes.
What to put in your quote request
The fastest way to get a useful answer is to give the surveyor enough context to price the real job, not a placeholder.
Always include
Property address or parcel, state, your deadline, and the one-sentence reason you need the survey.
If someone gave you requirements
Paste the lender, title, permit, engineer, or builder notes directly into the request so the scope matches the paperwork.
If you are not sure yet
Say what decision you are trying to make. For example: build a fence, close a purchase, prove corners, or prepare a site plan.
If price is the first question
Use the Cost Guide and Cost by State page first, then request quotes for the exact scope.
Quick FAQ
What survey do I need for a fence?
Usually a boundary survey or boundary stakeout, especially if the fence is near the line.
What survey do I need for a building permit?
It depends on the permit checklist. Boundary, topo, and improvement-location work are all common starting points. Use Survey for Permit.
What survey do I need for lender/title?
Commercial closings often point to ALTA/NSPS survey requirements. Residential deals vary more.
What if I only need corners marked?
A field stakeout may be enough if the boundary can already be verified. If not, a fuller boundary survey may still be the safer scope.
Request a Free Quote
Tell us what you need and we’ll share your request with up to 3 surveyors who serve your state. Replies usually come by email (and phone if you include it).