Guides

Public-data base plan vs a boundary survey

A public-data base plan is enough for feasibility, proposals, concept design and site visit prep. You need a survey by a licensed land surveyor once anything depends on the exact boundary or exact grades: permit submittals that require one, building or grading near setbacks or property lines, fences and walls on the line, construction documents, and any dispute.

Side by side

	Public-data base plan	Boundary / topographic survey
Source	Assessor parcels, USGS LiDAR, FEMA, NWI, SSURGO	Field measurement, deed and plat research, monuments
Boundary accuracy	Often 5 to 50 ft off	Legal boundary, to hundredths of a foot
Topography	LiDAR, about 10 cm vertical in open ground, dated	Current, with curbs, walls and breaklines
Legal standing	None	Stamped, recordable
Time	Minutes	Days to weeks
Cost	Free	Varies widely with site and scope

A public-data base plan is fine for

• Is this site worth pursuing? Rough buildable area and constraints
• Fee proposals and scoping
• Concept and schematic options
• Planning a site visit
• Deciding what survey scope to order

Order a survey when

• A permit or lender requires one
• Anything is placed near a setback or the property line
• Grading, drainage or walls need real spot elevations
• You're producing construction documents
• There's any question about where the line is

Types to know: a boundary survey establishes the lines; a topographic survey adds elevations and features; an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey is the detailed standard for commercial transactions.

Everything here is planning-level public data. Confirm boundaries, topography, wetlands and flood status with a licensed surveyor and the right specialists before design decisions depend on them.

Related

• Assessor parcel lines vs legal boundaries
• LiDAR contours vs a topographic survey
• What is a base sheet?

Updated October 2026.