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ALTA Survey

An ALTA survey is a boundary survey prepared to a set of minimum standards that have been jointly prepared and adopted by the ALTA/ACSM ( and ). Additionally, an ALTA survey shows improvements, easements, rights-of-way, and other elements impacting the ownership of land. An ALTA Survey is often prepared for commercial properties, as it will provide the title company with the information required to insure the title to the land and improvements to the high degree that a commercial development may require. In addition to the minimum standards set forth, a table of optional elements is included in the ALTA/ACSM standards. A careful review of the elements from the optional "Table A" is helpful in delineating a clear scope of the land surveyor's services.

A current title commitment is required before an ALTA Survey can be completed. The surveyor will refer to the title commitment for the legal description of the property and for the legal description of any encumbrances (exceptions). Areas of ownership, improvements and encumbrances will be shown graphically. If the survey discovers any encroachments, they should be shown graphically, and a note indicating the nature of the encroachment may also be added.

The certification language of the ALTA Survey should include the names of the affected parties, including as appropriate the buyer, seller, Title Company, and lender. The surveyor must work in close association with the title insurance company, as the surveyor and the title company are relying on each other’s work to show the matters affecting the ownership of the land and improvements in a comprehensive manner.

Boundary Surveys

Boundary Survey: a survey, the primary purpose of which is to document the perimeters, or any one of them, of a parcel or tract of land by establishing or re-establishing corners, monuments, and boundary lines for the purposes of describing the parcel, locating fixed improvements on the parcel, dividing the parcel, or platting.

Topographic Surveys

Topographic Survey: a survey of selected natural and artificial features of a part of the earth’s surface to determine horizontal and vertical spatial relations.

Tree Surveys

Tree Survey: the mapping and location of trees showing their horizontal location, type and size, usually done in conjunction with a topographic survey.

Elevation Certificates

Elevation Certificate: A community’s permit file must have an official record that shows new buildings and substantial improvements in all identified Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are properly elevated. This elevation information is needed to show compliance with the floodplain management ordinance. FEMA encourages communities to use the Elevation Certificate developed by FEMA to fulfill this requirement since it also can be used by the property owner to obtain flood insurance. Communities participating in the Community Rating System (CRS) are required to use the FEMA Elevation Certificate.

LOMA

LOMA: (Letter of Map Amendment) Official amendment, by FEMA of a community’s effective national flood insurance program (NFIP) map to remove structure(s) or lot(s) from the floodplain that have not been elevated above the base flood elevation (BFE) by the placement of fill.

LOMR-F

LOMR-F: (Letter of Map Revision based on fill) Official revision, by FEMA of a community’s effective national flood insurance program (NFIP) map to remove structure(s) or lot(s) from the floodplain when they have been elevated above the base flood elevation (BFE) by the placement of fill.

Subdivision plats

Subdivision plats: the act of dividing a tract or parcel of land into three or more lots, building sites or other divisions for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale or building development according to a plat of record.

Condominium plats

Condominium Plat: Performed pursuant to Chapter 718, Florida Statutes; includes a Boundary Survey.

Construction Layout

Construction Layout Survey: the measurements made, prior to or while construction is in progress, to control elevation, configuration, and horizontal position and dimensions.

Foundation Surveys

Foundation Survey: the mapping of form boards, slab or stem wall foundation of building under construction.

Final Surveys

Final Survey: the mapping of the finished improvements of a new home or building.

Horizontal & Vertical Control Surveys

Control Survey: a survey which provides horizontal or vertical position data for the support or control of subordinate surveys or for mapping.

Quantity Surveys

Quantity Survey: a survey to obtain measurements of quantity.

Hydrographic Surveys

Hydrographic Survey: a survey having as its principal purpose the determination of data relating to bodies of water, and which may consist of the determination of one or several of the following classes of data: depth of water and configuration of bottom; directions and force of current; heights and times of water stages; and location of fixed objects for survey and navigation purposes.

As-built surveys

As-Built Survey: a survey performed to obtain horizontal and/or vertical dimensional data so that constructed improvements may be located and delineated; also known as a Record Survey.

Route surveys

Route Survey: A survey for the design and construction of linear works, such as roads and pipelines.

Wetland/Jurisdictional Surveys

Wetland/Jurisdictional Survey: The mapping and delineation of wetlands and/or other areas such as preservation areas, land grants, etc.

Wet zone Surveys

Wet Zone Survey: a survey used in conjunction with a wet zone application to obtain a license to sell or serve alcoholic beverages in restaurants, bars, clubs, stores, etc.

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