Which Survey is Right for Me?

Navigating Oregon land requirements can be complex. Use this guide to identify the most common professional surveying services your project may require.

Boundary Surveys/Corner Search

Best for: Homeowners, Fencing, and Property Disputes.

• The Goal: Legally establish the physical location of your property corners.

• When you need it:

  • Building a fence, deck, or outbuilding near a property line.

  • Resolving a boundary dispute or potential encroachment with a neighbor.

  • Purchasing land and verifying the acreage matches the deed.

• The Result: Physical corners located or set.

  Note: A Record of Survey is required to be filed with the County Surveyor in accordance with Oregon Statutes if new corners are set.

Topographic (Topo) Surveys

Best for: Architects, Engineers, and New Construction.

• The Goal: Create a 3D map show existing improvements and terrain relief.

• When you need it:

  • Designing a new home or ADU

  • Planning for drainage, grading, or driveway placement.

  • Identifying existing utilities, trees, and structures for site design and development.

• The Result: A detailed digital map with contour lines and elevation data.

Elevation Certificates & LOMAs

Best for: Flood Insurance, Mortgages, and developing property in the floodplain.

• The Goal: Certify a building’s elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), commonly known as the 100-year flood elevation.

• When you need it:

  • Elevation Certificate: Required by lenders or insurance agents to determine flood insurance rates for properties in high-risk zones.

  • LOMA (Letter of Map Amendment): If you believe your structure is incorrectly mapped in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), we provide the data to request its removal from the flood map.

  • New Construction: To verify that a new build meets local floodplain management ordinances.

• The Result: Official FEMA documentation that can potentially lower insurance premiums or remove the requirement for flood insurance entirely.

Land Partitions & Adjustments

Best for: Developers and Large Lot Owners.

• The Goal: Changing the legal configuration of a property.

• When you need it:

  • Land Partition: Dividing one property into two or three new parcels.

  • Property Line Adjustment (PLA): Moving/Extinguishing a line between two existing properties.

  • Subdivision: Creating a large-scale housing development of 4 or more lots.

• The Result: A legal Plat/Survey recorded with the County to create new property identities.

PRO-TIP: In the State of Oregon, only a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) is legally authorized to determine property boundaries.