Commercial Land Survey Utah
Commercial Land Surveys in Utah
ALTA/NSPS, boundary, topographic, and site surveys for Utah commercial real estate — drone-led, engineer-stamped, and accepted by every major title insurer, lender, and municipality. Pricing from $1,800.
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Updated May 2026 · By the Ludlow Engineering team
A commercial land survey is any property survey performed for commercial real estate purposes — and that covers a much broader range of work than most buyers realize. Depending on the transaction, the right survey may be an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey, a boundary survey, a topographic survey, a site plan survey, or a construction stakeout. Each is engineer-stamped, but each serves a different purpose and carries a different price. Ludlow Engineering has been performing commercial land surveys across Utah since 1975. Our crews are drone-equipped, our staff includes Utah-licensed Professional Land Surveyors and Civil Engineers, and we work with every major Utah title company, lender, and municipality. Pricing starts at $1,800 for simple commercial boundary work; commercial ALTA surveys start at $3,000. Call (435) 623-0897 or request a quote online.
The fastest answer: tell us about the transaction. If a commercial lender or title insurer is involved, you almost certainly need an ALTA survey. If you’re building or renovating, you may need a topographic survey in addition to the boundary work. If you’re refinancing on a property you’ve already owned, an ALTA re-certification may be sufficient. Call us — 5 minutes on the phone usually identifies the right survey type for your specific situation.
Commercial Land Survey Types in Utah
Five survey types cover virtually every commercial real estate need in Utah. Each is offered by Ludlow Engineering and engineer-stamped by a Utah-licensed Professional Land Surveyor.
ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey
The comprehensive survey commercial lenders and title insurance companies require. Documents the boundary plus every Table A item selected — utilities, easements, encroachments, flood zones, zoning, parking, building heights. The default for commercial purchases, refinances, and major investments.
ALTA Survey DetailsCommercial Boundary Survey
Establishes property corners and the legal boundary of a commercial parcel. Less comprehensive than an ALTA — no Table A item documentation — but sufficient for many commercial purposes where a lender or title insurer isn’t requiring full ALTA scope. Common for owner-financed transactions, lot splits, and adjudication.
Boundary Survey DetailsTopographic Survey
Maps elevation, contours, and surface features of a commercial parcel. Required by architects, civil engineers, and contractors for any project that involves grading, drainage, building construction, or site work. Often paired with an ALTA or boundary survey, or produced standalone for design.
Topographic Survey DetailsSite Plan Survey
Combines boundary and topographic work to support the design of a commercial site plan — typically required when filing for municipal site plan approval, building permits, or zoning compliance. Often the foundation document for the civil engineering and architectural design that follows.
Site Planning DetailsUAV / Drone Aerial Survey
A delivery method rather than a separate survey type — we use UAV photogrammetry as the primary field method on most commercial surveys 5 acres and larger. Produces a centimeter-accurate orthomosaic and 3D point cloud that’s usable downstream by architects, engineers, and contractors.
UAV Surveying DetailsConstruction Staking & As-Built
Field surveys that support construction execution — staking out building footprints, road centerlines, utility lines, and grading control points; then as-built surveys at completion to document what was actually built versus designed. Standard on most Utah commercial development projects.
Discuss Your ProjectWhich Survey Do You Need? Match by Transaction Type
The right commercial survey depends on what you’re doing with the property. Most situations fit into one of these patterns:
| Your Transaction | Survey Type Needed | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Buying commercial property with bank financing | ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey | $3,000 – $18,000+ |
| Refinancing commercial property | ALTA update or re-certification | $600 – $4,500 |
| Owner-financed commercial purchase | Boundary survey (ALTA often optional) | $1,800 – $3,500 |
| Subdividing or splitting commercial parcel | Boundary survey + recorded plat/adjustment | $2,500 – $6,000+ |
| Building a new commercial structure | Topographic + boundary; site plan survey | $3,500 – $9,000 |
| Major addition or renovation | Topographic + site plan survey | $2,500 – $6,000 |
| Site plan approval / zoning application | Site plan survey (boundary + topo + features) | $3,500 – $8,000 |
| Commercial development due diligence | ALTA + topographic (often combined UAV-led) | $5,000 – $15,000+ |
| Commercial property dispute / litigation | Boundary survey (sometimes ALTA) | $2,000 – $5,500+ |
| 1031 exchange acquisition | ALTA Land Title Survey | $3,000 – $12,000 |
| Construction execution | Construction staking + as-built | Project-based |
For a deeper breakdown of how each survey type is priced and what drives the cost, see our comprehensive guide to commercial land survey fees and our Utah ALTA survey cost guide.
Drone-Led Commercial Land Surveying in Utah
Most Utah surveying firms still produce commercial surveys ground-only — a two- or three-person crew with a total station spending multiple days on site. Ludlow Engineering uses UAV photogrammetry as the primary field method on most commercial surveys 5 acres and larger, with ground crews verifying control points and documenting items the drone can’t see. The practical results:
- Faster delivery. Field work compresses from 2–4 days to 1 day on most parcels above 5 acres. Total project timeline runs 3–4 weeks UAV-led versus 4–6 weeks ground-only.
- Continuous site documentation. Every square foot of the parcel is mapped, not just sample points between improvements.
- Centimeter-accurate orthomosaic included. A scale-correct aerial photo of the entire site comes standard, directly usable by your architect, civil engineer, or contractor.
- 3D point cloud for design work. Topographic information across the entire site, in CAD/GIS formats, ready for downstream engineering.
- Lower cost on medium and large parcels. Field time savings produce 15–30% cost reductions versus traditional methods on parcels 5+ acres.
- Safer operation on hazardous sites. UAV covers active industrial sites, traffic corridors, and steep terrain without putting crew personnel at risk.
Where ground-only methods still win: dense urban infill with overhead obstructions (downtown Salt Lake City parcels), parcels in restricted airspace where authorization isn’t practical, and small parcels under 2 acres where setup time dominates either methodology. We tell you up front during scoping which approach fits your specific parcel. For the full methodology breakdown and how it applies to ALTA work specifically, see our drone ALTA survey page.
Commercial Property Types We Survey
From our Nephi office, our commercial land surveying work spans every major Utah commercial property type:
- Office buildings & office parks — single-tenant, multi-tenant, and campus environments along the Wasatch Front and Utah County corridors
- Retail & shopping centers — from single-pad strip retail to anchor-tenant centers; ALTA work for acquisitions, expansions, and refinancing
- Industrial & warehouse — distribution facilities, manufacturing, flex-industrial; complex utility easement documentation
- Multi-family & apartment complexes — acquisition due diligence, refinancing, and pre-development surveys for new multi-family construction
- Hospitality & hotel — including specialty Table A scope for parking, ADA compliance, and ground-lease boundary work
- Mixed-use developments — integrated commercial / residential / retail; often requires coordination across multiple ALTA scopes
- Vacant land for commercial development — pre-acquisition surveys for parcels intended for future commercial use
- Agricultural conversion to commercial — Utah-specific work where ag-zoned land transitions to commercial; significant PLSS records research
- Mobile home parks & manufactured housing communities — specialty ALTA scope under the 2026 standards’ non-fee-simple interest provisions
- Self-storage facilities — straightforward commercial boundary plus standard Table A documentation
- Medical office & healthcare — acquisitions and refinancing for healthcare real estate portfolios
- Religious & institutional properties — Utah-specific volume given the regional density of these property types
Why Commercial Clients Choose Ludlow Engineering
Several reasons commercial real estate attorneys, lenders, title officers, and investors return to us for repeat work:
Full Survey + Engineering Under One Roof
We provide boundary, ALTA, topographic, site planning, and civil engineering all in-house. On commercial projects that need surveying plus engineering — site plans, drainage design, utility design — you get one point of contact and integrated deliverables.
Drone-Equipped & FAA Part 107 Certified
Most Utah surveying firms don’t operate UAVs internally. We do. Every commercial parcel above 5 acres is a candidate for UAV-led work, with FAA Part 107 certified pilots and proper airspace coordination.
Fixed-Fee Quotes With Scope Attached
Every commercial survey we quote is fixed-fee in writing, with scope of work and confirmed deliverables attached. No hourly billing, no reimbursable surprises, no scope creep at delivery.
2026 ALTA/NSPS Compliant
Our certifications, plat templates, and Table A documentation are updated for the new 2026 ALTA/NSPS standards (effective February 23, 2026). The face-of-plat imagery notes required under Table A Item 15 are standard on every UAV-led survey.
Statewide From Nephi
Our central Utah base gives us efficient access to the Wasatch Front, central Utah, and southern Utah commercial corridors. We work directly with title companies in Salt Lake, Provo, Lehi, and St. George.
Family-Owned, Second Generation
Ludlow Engineering has been Utah-based and family-operated since 1975. The second generation runs the firm today. Continuity matters when commercial clients return for repeat surveys five and ten years apart.
Counties & Commercial Corridors We Serve
Our commercial land survey crews work statewide. Deepest coverage along Utah’s three major commercial corridors — the Wasatch Front, central Utah, and southern Utah / St. George metro.
We also work in Davis, Weber, Wasatch, Tooele, Juab, Millard, Carbon, Iron, and Washington counties. Travel costs to outlying Utah counties are disclosed in every quote up front. For commercial work anywhere in Utah, call (435) 623-0897.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a commercial land survey and a residential one?
The technical methods are similar — measuring boundaries, locating monuments, documenting improvements — but commercial surveys typically require broader scope. Commercial transactions usually involve a commercial lender and a title insurer, both of which require ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey documentation rather than the simpler boundary survey that’s sufficient for most residential work. Commercial parcels are also often larger, more complex (multiple buildings, easements, utilities), and have higher liability stakes — all of which drive cost up versus residential equivalents.
How do I know which type of commercial land survey I need?
Start with the transaction. If a commercial lender or title insurer is involved, you almost certainly need an ALTA survey. If you’re building new construction, you also need a topographic survey. If you’re applying for municipal site plan approval, you need a site plan survey. If you’re doing pre-acquisition due diligence on land for future development, an ALTA-plus-topographic combined survey is typically the most efficient approach. Call us with your transaction details and we’ll identify the right scope.
How much does a commercial land survey cost in Utah?
Pricing varies significantly by survey type and parcel complexity. Commercial boundary surveys start around $1,800. Commercial ALTA surveys start at $3,000 and can reach $18,000+ for large industrial sites. Topographic surveys typically run $1,500–$6,000 standalone. Construction staking and as-built work is project-based. See our commercial land survey fees guide and our ALTA cost guide for full breakdowns.
How long does a commercial land survey take?
Depends on the survey type and parcel. A commercial boundary survey typically takes 2–4 weeks. A commercial ALTA survey takes 3–4 weeks UAV-led or 4–6 weeks ground-only. A topographic survey for design work runs 2–3 weeks. Construction staking happens on the construction schedule, often within days of needing it. Expedited timelines are available with added fees.
Do you provide commercial surveys statewide or only central Utah?
Statewide. We work from our Nephi office and cover the entire state of Utah — the Wasatch Front (Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah counties), central Utah (Juab, Sanpete, Sevier, Millard, Wasatch), southern Utah (Washington, Iron, Kane), and rural areas. Travel costs to outlying counties are disclosed up front in every quote.
Can I combine multiple survey types in one engagement?
Yes, and on UAV-led commercial work this is often the most efficient approach. A single field effort can produce boundary documentation, topographic data, and ALTA scope simultaneously when we fly the parcel — saving you a second engagement when the architect or civil engineer needs topo data later. Tell us about the full project scope when you request a quote and we’ll structure the engagement appropriately.
Do you work directly with title companies, lenders, and attorneys?
Yes. Most of our commercial work originates through title company referrals or commercial real estate attorneys. We coordinate directly with title officers to confirm Table A scope, share field findings as they emerge, and respond to title company review revisions before final delivery. We’re familiar with the scope preferences of every major Utah title company and the major national title insurers — First American, Fidelity, Stewart, Old Republic.
What if I’m not in Utah but I own commercial property here?
That’s common — many of our commercial clients are out-of-state investors, institutional owners, and national operators. We handle the entire engagement remotely: email and phone coordination, electronic delivery of all documents, direct coordination with your Utah-based title company and counsel. Most clients never need to travel to Utah for the survey.
Do you offer commercial surveys for development projects?
Yes — pre-acquisition due diligence, ALTA survey, topographic survey, site plan survey, civil engineering for the site design, and construction staking through completion. We provide the full continuum on commercial development projects from acquisition through occupancy. See our civil engineering page for the engineering side.
How do I get a quote for a commercial land survey?
Call (435) 623-0897 or use our intake form — it captures contact information, property details, and accepts uploads for your title commitment, prior survey, or other relevant documents. We respond with a fixed-fee proposal within 1–2 business days.