Permit requirements to clear land vary by municipality, so whether or not you need permits depends on where you live and what you’re removing from the land. Some building departments will require permits for any underground work or excavation, meaning grinding down tree stumps on your property would require permits. Others mandate individual permits for each tree you remove. You can contact your local building department or a land-clearing specialist near you to see if permits are necessary for your job.
When planning for land survey costs, you should consider the following elements as major contributors to the overall cost:
Size of your property in terms of acres or square feet
Complexity of the terrain in terms of hills, elevation changes, rocks, water, and other features
Type of survey you need (boundary survey, topographic survey, or a combination of survey types)
Distance traveled for the professional surveyor
ALTA/ACSM surveys are the most comprehensive type of land survey and, as such, tend to be the most expensive. These surveys have standardized guidelines and reports and are used in many kinds of real estate transactions to ensure consistent and accurate information is available for properties.
Land surveying can help give clear guidance on your property boundaries for numerous situations. And in some cases, having your land surveyed is a requirement. Some common reasons to have your land surveyed include:
Planning for construction projects, like building a fence
Locating utilities, such as plumbing fixtures
Settling property line disputes
Creating subdivisions
Meeting mortgage requirements
Selling your property
Land survey reports have a boatload of information relevant to several scenarios. Here are the types of information contained with a survey, though it depends on your chosen type of land survey. Exact boundaries and dimensions of a given property General topography, including both natural and artificial landmarks Location of utility fixtures, like water mains Confirmation of any easements or encroachments on a piece of property Assessment of land elevation to buy flood insurance Updated information to add to a pre-existing property map
The Eldon, MO homeowners’ guide to land surveying services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Wondering whether you need a land survey or a plot plan? Learn about the differences between the two, when to do each, and what information they provide.