A: A boundary survey is defined in the State of Arizona as being one or more of the following:

(a)    The marking of boundaries, the setting of monuments, or the restoration or rehabilitation  of any monument marking a corner or line that controls real property.

(b)    The determination of the location, on the ground, of any appurtenance which may potentially affect the rights and/or the enjoyment of real property.

(c)    The determination of the position of any monument, reference point, or any other mark, when such monument or mark controls the location of boundaries or rights of ownership in real property.

(d)   The presentation of any type of survey drawings, maps or plats, and/or reports-of-survey  or any other documents as related to land boundary surveying, for the purpose of identifying the location of real property.

A: Generally speaking, it is a land survey that is required by the Title Company and/or Lender with the survey and location data needed for the issuing of title or mortgage insurance. For this purpose a map is drawn to “ALTA” specifications. "ALTA" stands for American Land Title Association. ALTA specifies the data to be shown on the survey and this includes boundary lines, location of the main building including improvements, location of ancillary buildings, the identification of easements (access rights by service companies such as water, gas, telephone, railways and other utilities). ALTA surveys are very complex surveys and generally are performed on commercial properties.

An ALTA Land Survey guarantees to meet the requirements for an ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey as detailed by the American Land Title Association, National Society of Professional Surveyors and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping.

A: Yes. According to Arizona Law, only a Professional Land Surveyor licensed by the State Board of Technical Registration is legally permitted to perform land surveys.

A: Corners of the property will be marked with iron rods, or other such permanent monuments with the Professional Land Surveyor's license number indicated thereon. A "Record of Survey" map will be filed with the County Recorder's Office when monuments are set. A "Results of Survey" map will be provided to you in the event of existing monuments being found and accepted. All maps produced provide data indicating dimensions of property lines, description of monuments, as well as all relative data required by State Law. Copies of the maps will be provided to you.

A: Yes, this is part of the Arizona Boundary Survey Minimum Standards. It is also advisable to bring to the attention of the Surveyor any particular areas of concern to you.

A: Yes, if you instruct the Surveyor to do so. In many cases, a current title report is necessary for this purpose. The Surveyor will supply a map, plat, or exhibit showing this information.

A: In many cases, disputes over property lines, easement lines, gaps, and overlaps are a result of legal descriptions which were originally written and recorded without the benefit of the services of a competent Land Surveyor. It is important to have these lines properly surveyed and described when property or easement lines are created or changed.

A: No. This is in conflict with the Arizona Boundary Survey Minimum Standards. Also, both client and Surveyor should be aware of rules regarding Map production and recordation according to Arizona Revised Statutes 33-105:

A. A land surveyor shall file a record of a land survey not later than ninety days after its completion with the county recorder of the county where the land is located if such survey establishes points or lines relating to land boundaries or property lines disclosing:

1. A material discrepancy based on the accuracy requirements of the current survey which, in whole or in part, does not appear on any map or record previously recorded or filed with the county recorder, county engineer, highway division of the department of transportation or the United States bureau of land management.

2. Evidence that, by reasonable analysis, might result in alternate positions of lines or points.