How old the deed is
Recent subdivision plats are quick. Pioneer-era deeds and metes-and-bounds descriptions take more research.
2026 Utah pricing · Ludlow Engineering since 1975
Land Survey Cost in Utah: 2026 Prices.
What boundary, topographic, ALTA and construction surveys cost in Utah, by survey type and by acreage, with real Utah examples and what changes the price. Every Ludlow quote is a fixed fee before fieldwork starts.
$1,025+Boundary
$1,500+Topographic
$3,000+ALTA / NSPS
$800+House staking
The short answer
What a Utah Land Survey Costs.
A boundary survey on a typical Utah home lot costs $1,025–$2,500. Recent subdivision lots with the original pins sit at the low end; older town lots, acreage and steep or wooded parcels cost more. A topographic survey runs $1,500–$4,500, and a commercial ALTA/NSPS survey $3,000–$8,000 or more.
Most residential surveys are finished in 1–3 weeks. The price depends far more on the records and the corners than on the acreage alone.
- Home lot boundary$1,025–$2,500
- 1–5 acres$2,000–$4,000 boundary
- Commercial ALTA$3,000–$8,000+
- QuoteFixed fee, travel shown separately
01 · By survey type
Land Survey Cost by Survey Type
2026 planning ranges for typical Utah properties, with how many of each Ludlow Engineering has completed since we began tracking projects in 2000.
| Survey or service | Typical 2026 range | What you get | Ludlow jobs since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boundary survey | $1,025–$2,500 | Corners found or set, improvements located, stamped map filed with the county | 1,729 |
| Topographic survey | $1,500–$4,500 | Contours, spot elevations and site features for design | 142 |
| ALTA / NSPS survey | $3,000–$8,000+ | Title-grade survey to the lender's Table A list | 170 |
| Foundation survey & house staking | $800–$2,000 | Corners staked before digging; location and elevation checked after the pour | 122 |
| Construction staking (site work) | $1,500–$5,500+ | Grades, utilities and building lines staked for contractors | — |
| As-built survey | $500–$8,000+ | What was actually built, measured for the city or engineer | — |
| Drone (UAV) mapping | $1,500–$20,000+ | Aerial mapping and volumes for larger sites (5+ acres) | — |
| Subdivision plat / lot split | Quoted by scope | Plat prepared for city or county approval and recording | 529 |
| Lot-line adjustment | Quoted by scope | New descriptions for the moved line, ready to record | 30 |
| Easement or legal description | Quoted by scope | Recordable description for a parcel, easement or right-of-way | 177 |
| Well proof | Quoted by scope | Well located and documented for a Utah water-right proof | 206 |
| Flood elevation certificate | Quoted by scope | FEMA elevation certificate for insurance or permits | 18 |
| FHA manufactured-home foundation certification | $400–$750 | Engineer's inspection letter for the lender | 67 |
| As-built & measured drawings | $800–$3,000 | Floor plans and elevations of an existing building | — |
Not sure which survey you need? See What Is a Land Survey? or call us and describe the project. Commercial pricing in more detail: commercial land survey fees.
02 · By acreage
Land Survey Cost by Acreage
Size matters, but less than people expect. Use these ranges as a starting point; records and terrain move a quote more than acreage does.
| Survey | Under 1 acre | 1–5 acres | 5–20 acres | 20+ acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boundary | $1,025–$2,500 | $2,000–$4,000 | $3,500–$6,500 | $5,000+ |
| Topographic | $1,500–$3,000 | $2,500–$4,500 | $3,500–$6,500 | $5,000+ |
| ALTA / NSPS | $3,000–$5,000 | $3,500–$6,500 | $5,000–$9,500 | $8,000+ |
| Construction staking | $800–$2,000 | $1,500–$3,500 | $2,500–$5,500 | Quoted |
| Drone (UAV) mapping | Ground survey usually better | $1,500–$3,500 | $3,000–$7,500 | $5,000–$20,000+ |
03 · Per acre
How Much Does a Survey Cost Per Acre?
There's no honest fixed per-acre price for a boundary survey. A survey's work is in the corners and the records, not the area, so the cost per acre falls as parcels get bigger.
Example: a 1-acre lot at $1,500 works out to $1,500 per acre. A 10-acre parcel at $4,500 is $450 per acre. A 40-acre square has only four corners, but each one may be a section corner far across rough ground, so the total keeps rising while the per-acre figure keeps falling.
04 · Utah examples
What Different Utah Properties Cost to Survey
Typical ranges for the kinds of properties we survey every week in central Utah and along the Wasatch Front.
| Example Utah property | Survey | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Lot in a recent subdivision in Mona, Santaquin or Spanish Fork, pins still in place | Boundary | $1,025–$1,500 |
| Older townsite lot in Nephi, Manti or Ephraim with an old fence line | Boundary | $1,800–$2,500+ |
| 3-acre older parcel on the edge of town, described by metes and bounds | Boundary | $2,000–$3,500 |
| 10-acre farm parcel in Sanpete or Juab County tied to section corners | Boundary | $3,500–$6,500 |
| Sloped, wooded lot near Midway, Heber or Timber Lakes for a new home | Boundary + topo | $2,500–$6,000+ |
| New home in Mount Pleasant: staking before digging plus the foundation check | Foundation survey | $800–$2,000 |
| Commercial building on 1–2 acres along I-15, financed sale | ALTA / NSPS | $3,500–$7,500+ |
| Patented mining claim near Eureka | Boundary | Quoted after research |
05 · Price factors
What Changes the Cost of a Land Survey?
Eight things set the price of almost every survey we quote.
Whether corners exist
Finding the original pins is faster than re-establishing a lost corner from distant section corners.
Acreage and perimeter
Longer boundaries mean more corners to find and more line to measure.
Slope, trees and brush
Steep, wooded or overgrown ground takes longer to walk and measure.
Conflicts in the record
Overlaps, gaps or fences far off the line need more analysis.
What else you need shown
Topography, utilities, easements and building setbacks add field and office time.
Snow and crops
Winter snow and summer crops can hide monuments and slow fieldwork.
Distance from Nephi
Shown as its own line on every quote. Nearby jobs are often grouped to keep it low.
06 · Your fee
What Does Your Survey Fee Pay For?
Most of a boundary survey's cost isn't time in the field. It's the research and the professional judgment behind the line.
- Research: your deed, neighboring deeds, plats and prior surveys from the county
- Fieldwork: a crew searching for and measuring corners, fences and buildings
- Analysis: a licensed surveyor reconciling the records with the evidence
- Monuments: missing corners set with capped rebar marked with the license number
- Drafting: the stamped survey map and legal descriptions
- Filing: the map filed with the county, as Utah Code § 17-73-504 requires
Why ALTA surveys cost more
An ALTA/NSPS survey follows a national standard and adds the items your lender selects from Table A: utilities, zoning setbacks, parking counts, flood zone, building dimensions and more. It also requires a full review of the title commitment and every recorded easement, which is why it starts around $3,000.
Why a cheap survey can cost more
A pin check or stake-out without research or a filed map won't satisfy a title company, a lender or a court. When it has to be redone properly, you pay twice.
07 · Timing
How Long Does a Utah Land Survey Take?
Typical times from your approval to the finished map.
| Survey | Typical time from approval | What slows it down |
|---|---|---|
| Residential boundary | 1–3 weeks | Missing corners, old deeds, snow cover |
| Topographic | 1–4 weeks | Site size, trees and brush, level of detail |
| ALTA / NSPS | 3–6 weeks | Title commitment, zoning and utility items |
| Foundation survey | Scheduled to your pour | Book the staking before excavation |
More detail: how long a land survey takes in Utah.
08 · Saving money
Five Ways to Lower Your Survey Cost
None of these cut corners. They cut the time we'd otherwise spend looking for things you already have.
- Send your paperwork. Deed, plat, title commitment and any old survey.
- Point out pins. If you know where a corner marker is, tell us.
- Bundle services. Boundary and topo in one visit costs less than two trips.
- Plan ahead. Rush schedules cost more; spring work books fastest in late winter.
- Ask about our records. We may have surveyed your parcel or your neighbor's already.
From our files
5,606 projects since 2000.
Ludlow Engineering has completed 1,729 boundary surveys, 529 subdivisions and lot splits, and 170 ALTA surveys since we began tracking projects in 2000, on top of 25 years of work before that. These prices come from that experience, not from a national average.
09 · Direct answers
Utah Land Survey Cost FAQ.
How much does a land survey cost in Utah?
Most residential boundary surveys in Utah cost $1,025–$2,500. Larger acreage runs $2,000–$6,500 or more, topographic surveys $1,500–$4,500, and commercial ALTA/NSPS surveys $3,000–$8,000 or more. Ludlow Engineering quotes every survey as a fixed fee.
How much does a property survey cost?
A property survey of a typical Utah home lot is a boundary survey and usually costs $1,025–$1,800 on a recorded subdivision lot, or $1,800–$2,500 or more for older town lots with old deeds or missing corners.
How much does a land survey cost per acre?
There is no fixed per-acre price, because records, corners and terrain matter more than size. As a guide, a 1–5 acre boundary survey runs $2,000–$4,000 and a 5–20 acre survey $3,500–$6,500, so the cost per acre falls as parcels get larger.
How much does an ALTA survey cost in Utah?
Most ALTA/NSPS surveys in Utah cost $3,000–$8,000 or more. Parcel size, the Table A items your lender requires, utilities and zoning reports set the final price.
How much does a topographic survey cost?
Topographic surveys typically cost $1,500–$4,500 for residential and small commercial sites. Combining the topo with a boundary survey in one visit usually costs less than ordering them separately.
Why do some websites list surveys for a few hundred dollars?
Those prices usually describe a corner stake-out or a simple pin check, not a full boundary survey with research, a stamped map and county filing. Utah boundary surveys that meet state standards start around $1,025.
How long does a land survey take?
Most residential boundary surveys take 1–3 weeks from approval, topographic surveys 1–4 weeks and ALTA/NSPS surveys 3–6 weeks.
Who pays for a survey when buying a house?
In Utah the buyer usually orders and pays for the survey, but it can be negotiated in the purchase contract. Ask your title company and lender what they require before closing.
How can I lower the cost of a survey?
Send your deed, plat and any prior survey; point out pins you know about; combine services in one visit; and allow flexible scheduling. If Ludlow has surveyed your parcel or a neighbor's before, our records can shorten the research.
Is the quote a fixed price?
Yes. Ludlow Engineering quotes a fixed fee for your specific property before any fieldwork, with travel shown as its own line. The price only changes if you change the scope.
Licensed Utah surveying & engineering · Since 1975
Get a Fixed Price for Your Property.
Send the address or parcel number and what you need the survey for. We'll confirm the right survey and send a fixed fee, usually within one business day.
Get Accurate Land and Property Survey Costs with Ludlow Engineering
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Who's behind this page
Licensed Utah Surveyors & Engineers Since 1975.
Ludlow Engineering has surveyed and engineered Utah property for 51 years. Every survey and plan is prepared under a licensed professional, not handed off.
Daryl Penrod
Professional Land SurveyorState of Utah No. 5331527
Directs our boundary, topographic, ALTA and subdivision surveys.
J. Brett Ludlow
Professional EngineerState of Utah
Stamps our site plans, foundation designs and civil engineering.
Travis Ludlow
Partner & Managing MemberMBA
Managing Member of Ludlow Engineers and Associates
Since 197551 years, family-run in Nephi
5,606projects tracked since 2000
1,200+survey maps filed with Utah counties
19 countiesacross Utah where we've worked
Where we work
Projects in 19 Utah counties since 2000, from our office in the center of the state.
Recent projects
- Subdivision & plattingNephi, Juab County
- Site planSantaquin, Utah County
- Survey projectPerry, Box Elder County
- Subdivision & plattingFillmore, Millard County
- Subdivision & plattingNephi, Juab County
Counts come from Ludlow Engineering's project records (2000–present, updated Oct 2026). Client names are never shown.