Boundary Survey
From $1,025
Finds or sets your legal corners and shows the lines, fences, buildings and easements. Filed with the county.
Boundary surveys →
Land surveying · Utah · Since 1975
Land Surveys in Utah. Every Type, One Licensed Team.
Boundary, ALTA, topographic, drone, construction, foundation and flood surveys, plus plats and legal descriptions, from a family-run firm in Nephi. Every survey is stamped by a Utah PLS, and boundary surveys start at $1,025, quoted as a fixed fee.
1975Surveying Utah since
5,606Projects tracked since 2000
1,241Survey maps filed with counties
$1,025+Boundary survey, fixed fee
Start here
Which Land Survey Do You Need?
A land survey is a licensed surveyor's measurement of your property, built from the deed, recorded plats and the evidence on the ground. Which one you need depends on the question you're trying to answer:
- Where are my lines? Boundary survey: fences, additions, sales, disputes.
- What does my lender need? ALTA/NSPS survey for commercial property.
- What's the shape of the land? Topographic survey for design and drainage.
- Is it being built in the right place? Staking, foundation and as-built surveys.
- Who can signOnly a Utah-licensed Professional Land Surveyor
- BoundaryFrom $1,025 · 1–3 weeks
- ALTA/NSPS$3,000–$8,000+ · 3–6 weeks
- On recordBoundary maps filed with the county within 90 days
01 · Core surveys
Six Core Land Surveys
The counts are Ludlow projects since we began tracking in 2000. Prices are 2026 planning ranges; every quote is a fixed fee.
ALTA/NSPS Survey
$3,000–$8,000+
The title-grade survey for commercial property: boundary plus the Table A items your lender selects.
ALTA surveys →Topographic Survey
$1,500–$4,500
Elevations, contours and site features for grading, drainage and design.
Topographic surveys →Drone (UAV) Survey
$1,500–$20,000+
Aerial mapping for large parcels, active construction and stockpile volumes. Often faster on sites over 5 acres.
Drone surveying →Construction Staking
$1,500–$5,500+
Marks buildings, roads, utilities and grades so contractors build where the plans say.
Construction staking →As-Built Survey
$500–$8,000+
Records what was actually built, for final inspections, occupancy and the owner's records.
As-built surveys →02 · Compare
Land Survey Types & Costs in Utah
What each survey shows, who asks for it, and what it typically costs.
| Survey | What it shows | Usually asked for by | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boundary | Corners, lines, fences, buildings, easements | Owners, buyers, cities | From $1,025 |
| Topographic | Elevations, contours, drainage, features | Architects, engineers | $1,500–$4,500 |
| ALTA/NSPS | Boundary plus Table A items | Lenders, title insurers | $3,000–$8,000+ |
| House staking / foundation | Where the house goes; foundation location and elevation | Builders, inspectors | $800–$2,000 |
| Construction staking | Stakes for buildings, roads and utilities | Contractors | $1,500–$5,500+ |
| As-built | What was actually constructed | Cities, lenders, owners | $500–$8,000+ |
| Drone (UAV) mapping | Aerial topography, volumes, progress | Developers, contractors | $1,500–$20,000+ |
| Elevation certificate | Building elevations vs. the flood elevation | Insurers, floodplain managers | Quoted |
Full detail: Utah survey cost guide · commercial survey costs.
03 · Specialty
Specialty Surveys & Survey Documents
Beyond the core surveys, we prepare the plats, descriptions and certificates that get land divided, recorded, insured and built on.
Foundation SurveyConfirms foundation location and elevation before framing. House staking and foundation surveys $800–$2,000.FEMA Elevation CertificateFor flood insurance, LOMAs and building in a mapped flood zone.Lot-Line AdjustmentMoves or corrects a shared line between neighbors and records it.Subdivision PlatPreliminary and final plats with roads and utilities. 529 since 2000.Condominium PlatUnits, common areas and limited common areas.Easements & Legal DescriptionsAccess, utility and ditch easements; descriptions for deeds and splits. 177 since 2000.Well ProofsLocating and documenting wells for Utah water-right proofs. 206 since 2000.
Boundary Line AgreementA recorded agreement where the records and the fences disagree.
Subdivision AmendmentVacating, adjusting or combining recorded lots.
Slope & Volume CalculationsCut and fill, stockpiles and surface comparisons.
Survey Review & ConsultingAn independent review of a survey that's in question.
Interior Floor PlansField-measured plans for leases, renovations and insurance.
04 · Deliverables
What You Receive
For a boundary survey, all of the following. Other surveys add drawings and data files for your designer or contractor.
- Corner monuments, found or newly set with the surveyor's cap.
- Lines and dimensions: bearings, distances and area.
- Improvements near the lines: fences, buildings, driveways.
- Recorded easements shown on the map.
- Encroachments in either direction.
- Stamp and filing: sealed by a Utah PLS and filed with the county.
How to read one: boundary surveys explained.
05 · The process
How a Land Survey Works
Every survey starts in the records. The surveyor reviews deeds, neighbors' deeds, plats and prior surveys before fieldwork, then reconciles them with the evidence on the ground.
Scope & fixed-fee quote
Your goal, the parcel and your deadline decide the survey type and the fee.
Records research
Deeds, plats, prior surveys and corner records from the county.
Fieldwork
GNSS, total station or drone measurements, depending on the site and the survey.
Analysis & map
Field and record evidence are reconciled and the map is drafted.
Stamp & file
A Utah PLS seals the survey, and boundary surveys are filed with the county.
Design & build
The same office can carry it into site plans, plats, engineering and staking.
06 · From our files
Thousands of Surveys Since 1975. What Five Decades Taught Us.
We've tracked 5,606 projects since 2000, about 141 a year, and filed 1,241 survey maps with Utah counties. These recent jobs show how the survey types work together.
1,729Boundary surveys
529Subdivisions & plats
206Well proofs
170ALTA/NSPS surveys
Topo by drone, straight into design
A drone flight and ground checks produced the topographic surface our engineers designed from in Civil 3D. On open ground, it covers far more acreage per day than a rod on foot.
One subdivision, four surveys
Boundary, topography, existing utilities and road engineering for a new subdivision. Most development projects need several survey types; one firm keeps them on the same control.
Boundary and an easement
A boundary survey with a new access easement description, written so it can be recorded with the deed and found again by the next surveyor.
A revised well proof
In central Utah, water rights move with the land. Well proofs locate and document wells for the Division of Water Rights.
Most projects need more than one survey.
A single October 2026 job in Nephi combined a boundary, topography, utilities, an agricultural split and an annexation plat. Ordering them together, on one control network, costs less than ordering them one at a time.
Water rights shape central Utah land.
We've completed 206 well proofs since 2000. On rural parcels, wells, ditches and water shares are often as important as the boundary, so we map them.
Land gets divided, a lot at a time.
529 subdivision and platting projects since 2000, many of them one- and two-lot splits for families. Each one starts with a correct boundary.
Drones changed topography, not the license.
Drones map large sites faster, but corners, control and the stamp still come from a licensed surveyor on the ground.
07 · Choosing
How to Choose a Land Surveyor
Only a Utah-licensed PLS can set corners and sign surveys that lenders, title companies and building departments accept. Compare scope, not just price.
Questions to ask
- What's your Utah license number?
- Is this a fixed fee or hourly?
- Are missing corners included in the price?
- What exactly will I receive?
- Will the survey be filed with the county?
- When will the fieldwork be done, and when will I have the map?
Our answers
- License: Daryl Penrod, PLS, Utah No. 5331527.
- Fee: fixed, in writing, before work starts, with travel shown separately.
- Corners: recovering or setting your corners is part of a boundary survey.
- Filing: boundary surveys are filed with the county, as Utah law requires.
- Timing: most residential boundary surveys finish in 1–3 weeks.
08 · Where we work
Residential & Commercial Surveys Across Utah
From Nephi we reach most of the state within three hours. Homeowners come to us for fences, additions, purchases, splits and foundation surveys; builders, developers and businesses for ALTA, subdivisions, staking and as-builts under one contract.
Juab County · Sanpete County · Utah County · Millard County · Sevier County · Wasatch County · Salt Lake City · Projects by county
09 · Direct answers
Land Survey Questions, Answered.
What is a land survey?
A licensed measurement of a property built from the deed, recorded plats and evidence on the ground. Depending on the type, it locates the legal boundary, maps features and elevations, or marks where something will be built.
Which land survey do I need?
A boundary survey for fences, additions, purchases or questions with a neighbor; an ALTA/NSPS survey for a commercial purchase with a lender; a topographic survey for design and drainage; staking and foundation surveys during construction. If you're not sure, call and describe the project.
How much does a land survey cost in Utah?
Boundary surveys start at $1,025, topographic surveys typically run $1,500 to $4,500, and ALTA/NSPS surveys $3,000 to $8,000 or more. Size, terrain, records and travel affect the price. Every Ludlow quote is a fixed fee.
How long does a land survey take?
Most residential boundary surveys take one to three weeks from approval and ALTA surveys three to six weeks. Staking and foundation surveys are scheduled around construction dates.
What if my neighbor disputes the line?
Start with your deed and any existing survey. A Utah PLS can re-establish the corners and prepare a current, stamped survey, which is the factual basis for a conversation, mediation or legal advice.
Can I survey my own property?
You can measure for planning, but only a Utah-licensed Professional Land Surveyor can set corners and prepare surveys that lenders, title companies and building departments accept.
Is my survey filed with the county?
Boundary surveys are. Utah Code § 17-73-504 requires the surveyor to file a map with the county within 90 days of establishing or re-establishing a boundary.
What happens if I buy without a survey?
Encroachments, unrecorded fences, easements or setback problems can surface after closing, when they're harder and more expensive to fix.
Guides: what a land survey is · boundary surveys explained · how to order a survey · subdivision plats · all services
Licensed Utah surveying · Since 1975
Tell Us What You're Trying to Do.
Send the address or parcel number, your goal and your deadline. We'll recommend the right survey and send a fixed-fee quote, usually within one business day.
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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.