A cadastral survey establishes or retraces property boundaries and related land records under the rules of the relevant jurisdiction.
Definition
A cadastral survey establishes or retraces property boundaries and may document related land information for purposes such as subdivision, conveyance, title work, or public land records. A surveyor evaluates records and field evidence and prepares deliverables under the applicable jurisdiction's requirements and professional practice. The scope can differ by purpose: a project may require boundary retracement, monument work, parcel mapping, or support for a plat, and the fee should reflect the requested deliverables. A cadastral survey does not itself approve a subdivision, transfer ownership, or settle every legal dispute about a boundary. Requirements and authority vary by location, and a map or parcel identifier is not a substitute for the survey work required for a specific decision. Owners can consult NCEES for information about professional licensure.
How owners use it
- An owner confirms that survey scope matches the intended land transaction or development milestone.
- A project manager coordinates cadastral survey deliverables with parcel records and subdivision documents.
- A firm itemizes boundary retracement, monument work, and plat support when those tasks have different scope or schedule needs.
