ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys in Utah
Commercial ALTA surveys for buyers, lenders, title companies, attorneys and developers — prepared to the 2026 ALTA/NSPS standards, with Table A scope coordinated before fieldwork begins.
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Updated July 2026 · By the Ludlow Engineering team
An ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey is a commercial boundary and due-diligence survey prepared to a nationally recognized set of minimum requirements. Lenders, title insurers, buyers, attorneys and developers use it to evaluate boundaries, easements, access, improvements, encroachments and the optional Table A items selected for the transaction. Ludlow Engineering coordinates the scope with your transaction team, completes the Utah field and records work, and delivers a signed survey prepared for lender and title-company review.
Send the current title commitment, legal description, property address, closing date and the lender or title company's requested Table A items. Those documents determine far more of the fee and schedule than acreage alone. Upload them with the quote form for a property-specific proposal.
Explore the ALTA Survey Resource Center
This page is the canonical Utah ALTA service hub. Use the child and supporting pages below for deeper guidance on standards, pricing, lender requirements, regional service and survey methodology.
When an ALTA Survey Fits the Transaction
An ALTA survey is not automatically required for every property. It is most commonly requested when a commercial lender, title insurer, buyer, attorney or investor needs a uniform and detailed view of the real estate before closing or financing.
Commercial Acquisition
Document the property before the buyer accepts title, assumes easements or finalizes the purchase.
Commercial Refinance
Provide the current lender and title team with updated survey evidence for the new loan.
Title Insurance Review
Identify survey matters that may affect exceptions, endorsements or underwriting decisions.
Development Due Diligence
Confirm boundaries, access, easements and improvements before design and entitlement work advances.
Portfolio or Multi-Parcel Deal
Coordinate consistent survey deliverables across several parcels, sites or transaction participants.
Legal or Ownership Concern
Develop reliable survey evidence when encroachments, access or boundary questions affect a commercial asset.
What an ALTA/NSPS Survey Can Show
The baseline standards and the selected Table A scope determine the final deliverable. A typical commercial ALTA survey may show or address:
- Boundary lines and corners established or retraced under applicable Utah surveying requirements.
- Record descriptions and title matters that can be located from the supplied commitment and supporting documents.
- Buildings and visible improvements located relative to the surveyed boundary.
- Access conditions and observed evidence of streets, drives or routes serving the property.
- Easements, rights-of-way and encroachments that can be plotted or observed within the agreed scope.
- Utilities, parking, zoning-related information, flood-zone references or topography when selected and supported by the required information.
- Survey certification using the current ALTA/NSPS certification language and named parties provided before completion.
- Digital deliverables such as PDF and CAD files when included in the proposal.
The 2026 ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements took effect February 23, 2026 and replaced the 2021 version. The standards remain a boundary survey first, with additional national requirements and optional Table A scope. Review the 2026 standards guide before sending an old checklist forward.
How to Select Table A Items
Table A is not a menu the surveyor should choose alone. The buyer, lender, title company and counsel should agree on the optional items that matter to the transaction. Selecting everything can add unnecessary time and cost; selecting too little can trigger revisions near closing.
Start With the Title Commitment
Provide the current commitment and all referenced exception documents available to the transaction team.
Ask the Lender and Title Company
Request their written survey requirements, certification parties and preferred Table A selections.
Add Development Needs
If the property will be redesigned or developed, coordinate topography, utilities, imagery or CAD deliverables with the architect and civil engineer.
Confirm the Final Scope in Writing
The proposal should list the selected items, assumptions, supplied records, deliverables, certifications and schedule.
ALTA Survey vs. Other Commercial Surveys
| Survey Type | Best Fit | Typical Focus |
|---|---|---|
| ALTA/NSPS survey | Commercial purchase, financing or title due diligence | Boundary plus national requirements and selected Table A items |
| Boundary survey | Property-line, corner, fence, dispute or ownership question | Legal boundary and monumentation |
| Topographic survey | Site design, grading, drainage or development planning | Contours, improvements and existing physical conditions |
| As-built survey | Construction verification or record documentation | Completed improvements compared with plans or requirements |
For transactions that do not clearly require ALTA scope, review the broader commercial land survey guide or call us before ordering.
Our Utah ALTA Survey Process
Transaction & Scope Review
We review the property, title commitment, legal description, Table A request, certification parties and deadline.
Records Research
Our team examines supplied title material, recorded documents, prior surveys and public survey control relevant to the property.
Field Survey
Licensed oversight, ground instruments, GNSS and—where appropriate—UAV mapping are combined to collect the agreed site information.
Drafting & Professional Review
The survey is drafted, checked against the title information and reviewed by the responsible Utah Professional Land Surveyor.
Transaction-Team Review & Final Delivery
We address reasonable title or lender review comments that fall within the authorized scope and issue the final signed deliverable.
What Makes Utah ALTA Work Different
Utah commercial properties can combine modern subdivision records with older Public Land Survey System evidence, irrigation interests, access questions, rapid development and significant terrain changes. A statewide ALTA hub should account for those realities rather than repeating a generic national definition.
PLSS & Historical Records
Some commercial parcels depend on section, quarter-section and older monument evidence beyond a recent subdivision plat.
Water & Irrigation Features
Ditches, canals, utility corridors and related recorded interests can materially affect development and access.
Fast-Growth Corridors
Utah County, Salt Lake County and other active markets often involve recent plats, phased development and tight closing schedules.
Terrain & Site Access
Mountain, bench, rural and industrial sites require a field approach selected for visibility, safety, coverage and accuracy.
Commercial Project Experience
Ludlow Engineering combines commercial transaction surveying with in-house civil engineering, drafting and UAV capabilities. That matters when the survey will also support future design, entitlement or construction work.
Scope can be coordinated with buyers, lenders, title companies, attorneys and development teams instead of treating the survey as an isolated map.
Existing-condition information can be prepared with downstream site planning, drainage, utilities or development design in mind.
Commercial properties are served from the Nephi office across central Utah, the Wasatch Front and other Utah markets.
Utah ALTA Survey Pricing
ALTA pricing depends on the title material, parcel complexity, number of improvements, selected Table A items, certification requirements, access and deadline. These are planning ranges—not a substitute for a property-specific proposal.
| Project Type | Typical Scope | Planning Range |
|---|---|---|
| Small commercial parcel | Generally under 2 acres, limited improvements and standard scope | $3,000–$5,500 |
| Standard commercial property | Approximately 2–10 acres, buildings and common Table A requests | $5,000–$9,500 |
| Large or complex site | 10–40 acres, multiple improvements, complex records or access | $8,000–$15,000+ |
| Industrial or multi-tenant property | Extensive improvements, utilities, easements or occupancy features | $6,000–$20,000+ |
| Portfolio / multi-parcel transaction | Several parcels, sites or coordinated certifications | Quoted by scope |
Review the complete ALTA survey cost guide for a deeper breakdown. The written proposal should identify the included Table A items, deliverables, assumptions and schedule.
Utah Commercial Areas We Serve
ALTA work is available for commercial properties throughout Utah. The following links connect the hub to current regional and local surveying pages:
Travel, access and property-specific field requirements are disclosed in the proposal.
Request an ALTA Survey Quote
The title commitment and Table A request are the most useful documents for an accurate proposal. Upload what you have; missing items can be coordinated after the initial review.
Your ALTA survey request has been sent.
Thank you. Our team will review the property and transaction information, then contact you about the appropriate scope and written proposal. For an urgent closing, call (435) 623-0897.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey?
It is a boundary survey prepared to the joint ALTA/NSPS minimum requirements, plus any optional Table A items selected for the transaction. It is commonly used for commercial purchases, financing, title insurance and development due diligence.
Is an ALTA survey always required for commercial property?
No. The lender, title insurer, buyer, attorney or transaction documents determine whether one is required or advisable. A standard boundary or topographic survey may be sufficient for some projects. Review when an ALTA survey is required before ordering.
How much does an ALTA survey cost in Utah?
Planning ranges commonly begin around $3,000 and rise with acreage, improvements, records complexity, Table A selections, certifications and deadline. Review the Utah ALTA survey cost guide for detailed ranges.
How long does an ALTA survey take?
Many standard commercial projects require approximately three to four weeks, but the schedule depends on title documents, record research, property complexity, access, weather, requested scope and review comments. Rush scheduling may be available when the records and field conditions allow it.
What should I provide for an accurate quote?
Provide the property address, current title commitment, legal description, requested Table A items, required certification parties, target closing date and any prior survey. Missing title information can materially change both fee and schedule.
Who selects the Table A items?
The client selects them, usually after coordinating with the lender, title company and counsel. The surveyor can explain scope implications, but the transaction team should identify which optional items are necessary.
What changed in the 2026 standards?
The 2026 standards took effect February 23, 2026 and replaced the 2021 version. They include clarified responsibilities, documentation changes and revisions to Table A. See the full 2026 ALTA/NSPS standards explanation.
Can UAV or drone data be used on an ALTA survey?
UAV mapping may be used as one component of the measurement and documentation workflow when it is appropriate for the site and supported by survey control and ground verification. The responsible surveyor remains accountable for meeting the applicable standards. See the drone ALTA survey guide.
What is the difference between an ALTA survey and a boundary survey?
A boundary survey focuses on establishing or retracing the legal property boundary. An ALTA survey includes boundary work plus the current national minimum requirements and the optional Table A scope selected for a commercial transaction.
Do you coordinate with title companies and lenders?
Yes. With the client's authorization and current contact information, we can coordinate the survey scope, certification parties, supplied title documents and review comments with the transaction team.