“Land surveying” isn’t just a general term that can be thrown around when talking about how a parcel of land is being evaluated. Depending on what information is needed, there could actually be any of a half dozen or more different surveys taking place. For commercial land surveying in Idaho especially, ordering a specific survey is critically important to understanding different data about the land. Let’s take a look at some of the many types of land surveys a commercial tract might be beholden to:
- Boundary surveys: If the land has already been developed or is owned, a boundary survey is necessary for determining the borders of the land. It’s useful for determining the real-world size of the tract, as well as what features are included on it.
- Topographic surveys: This shows the plane and elevation of a plot of land, including manmade improvements, such as roads or utilities. This information is needed for development purposes, as well as land planning.
- Monumentation surveys: For commercial landowners seeking to erect a fence or close off their land to the general public, these surveys are required to identify the corners of a parcel of land. This survey provides a stop/start point for erecting fencing.
- Flood plain surveys: Often ordered with topographical maps, flood plain surveys are necessary for determining if there’s any history or threat of flooding. This can have bearing on everything from insurance costs to commercial building prohibitions.
- Easement surveys: If there are existing improvements on or near a tract of land, it’s important to know if they have the right of way. This survey will provide that information. This is especially important for commercial development, since it can impact land planning of future developments.
- As-built surveys: If there are existing structures on the land, this type of survey will call them out and profile them. For commercial developments with financing, as-built surveys are often a requirement before financing can be distributed.
- Air rights surveys: This type of survey depicts a tract of land on a horizontal and vertical plane, to determine if there are any easements required for ingress/egress, support or utilities.
- ALTA/NSPS survey: This is the most comprehensive type of survey you can order for your commercial development. It depicts just about any land features and all pertinent data about the land. The purpose is to provide a clear, all-in-one plat for use in tandem with the title of the land. The specific nature of an ALTA/NSPS survey makes it an industry standard for virtually any commercial development.
As is evident by the list above, there’s a whole lot more to commercial land surveying in Idaho than a “general survey.” Depending on the information needs of developers or financing institutions, commercial landowners may need one or more of the above to ensure they’re progressing appropriately in their land holding venture. And, having that specific information, provided by a qualified surveyor, ensures fewer roadblocks and headaches down the line as a commercial property is put to work for its owner.