Surveying in general covers many different needs, and it’s been a practice as long as history has been recorded. Over time, it’s evolved to become specialized, encompassing many different disciplines related to mapping, engineering, and building. It makes sense that surveying has changed as our needs for property have changed. It used to be simple mapping and marking — and now it’s much more than that.
However, boundary surveys and stake surveys are two of the most common survey types, and while the premise may be simple, the work behind them is anything but. These two similar survey types are often mistaken for each other — even though they have key differences.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What a boundary survey is
- What a stake survey is
- Key differences in boundary surveys vs stake surveys
What is a Boundary Survey?
A boundary survey has a pretty straightforward definition: it established the legal boundaries of a property.
Determining the exact property lines is an important task. It’s vital for construction projects, to ensure new structures or expansions don’t spill onto property that isn’t yours. It can help resolve a legal dispute or identify “encroachment” if there’s a conflict over land ownership.
It’s also necessary for financing most real estate purchases — a lender will be hesitant to finance a transaction without a boundary survey to state exactly what the transaction includes.
Boundary surveys are also useful to identify “easements” — areas where other parties have the right to be on your land, like utilities or public pathways. Finally, boundary surveys can help when subdividing property to sell or develop.
(Want to dive a little deeper? Check out our guide to boundary surveys.)
The Process of A Boundary Survey
Since a boundary survey is designed to find a record or confirm the legal boundaries, it first begins with research. Public and private records like deeds, previous and historical surveys, maps, state, county, or township records, and subdivision plats can all be useful to identify the legal boundaries. In certain cases, surveyors may need to interview current or previous owners to get detailed information.
After the research is complete, field techs will visit the site. They will document and take measurements based on an existing marking they find for boundary corners, and record any evidence of demarcated property lines.
The measurements and data taken from the site visit will be compared to existing research to identify discrepancies. If there is a mismatch in data, the surveyor will apply “boundary law principles” to help determine the true location of the boundary line. While this is technically a professional’s opinion, it’s legally authoritative and defensible with evidence and data.
Finally, a new boundary survey document is produced that includes a description of the property, map of the precise boundary lines, any issues like an encroachment or easement, the location of the property corners, records of any existing structures, notes, and the surveyors license and information.
What is a Stake Survey?
Though often used to mean the same as boundary survey, a stake survey, also called a staking survey, is actually a follow-up to the boundary survey to physically mark the determined boundary lines and corners.
A stake survey places markers like wooden stakes flags, or iron rods along the boundary lines and at corners. These markers will oftentimes include a brass disc or some other permanent tag which includes the surveyor’s license number. This lets the property owner and only other stakeholders know exactly where the property lines are.
Staking surveys can also be used to inform construction efforts, going beyond marking the boundaries of a property line. Surveyors will review drawings, blueprints, and engineering plans, and create an accurate replica of the footprint and placement using stakes.
What Stake Surveying Is Used For
Stake surveying translates the work of a surveyor into something tangible. This can be helpful in many different situations:
For property owners, a staking survey clearly marks what belongs to them with exact markers placed at corners and along lines.
When building new structures, you can mark not only the property lines, but also the designated placement of structures within the boundaries to ensure safety, appropriate placement, and any interference with utilities.
For legal disputes, a stake survey shows clearly the limits of a property and will indicate any encroachment or violations of the property lines.
Key Differences in Boundary Surveys vs Staking Surveys
A boundary survey is the first step — without the data, a stake survey can’t take place. The stake survey is about physically marking the boundaries.
There are differences in scope: the boundary survey requires detailed research and information gathering to document the legal boundaries. The stake survey then takes that information, and makes it visible to the property owner on their site.
In short: a boundary survey tells you where your property is with documents and maps, and a stake survey shows you where your property is with physical markers in the ground.
Need a Land Surveyor?
M&M&Co. is a locally-owned surveying and mapping provider for both residential and commercial customers in the Los Angeles and Ventura County areas. In addition to boundary and stake surveys, we offer lot line adjustments, slope analysis, topography surveys, and more to ensure you have all the information you need for a successful project.
To learn more about our boundary and staking survey offerings, get in touch for a free estimate.
