Frequently Asked Questions About Land Surveying in San Antonio

A land surveyor measures and maps property boundaries, easements, and site features for accurate deeds, permitting, and construction. In San Antonio and Bexar County, licensed surveyors provide boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, and construction staking services that prevent encroachments and disputes.

A land surveyor is a Texas-licensed professional who determines the legal limits of real property using field measurements and records research. Their sealed surveys are relied on by title companies, lenders, and local jurisdictions in San Antonio.

Standard surveys for smaller residential lots start around $400 plus tax. Larger tracts, complex boundaries, ALTA standards, or construction staking may increase cost; we provide clear, upfront estimates.

Boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS land title, tree surveys, construction staking, and property line staking. We tailor scope to lender, title, and City of San Antonio permitting requirements.

Field work for a typical residential lot often takes a few hours; research, drafting, and QA add time based on complexity and workload. ALTA and large-tract projects require longer timelines.

No. Only a Texas-licensed surveyor can produce a boundary survey accepted by title companies, lenders, courts, and permitting authorities in San Antonio and Bexar County.

A straightforward boundary survey for a small, well-documented residential lot is typically least expensive. Costs rise with acreage, terrain, prior errors, ALTA requirements, or construction staking.

There is no standard free-survey program. In some San Antonio transactions, the seller, builder, or lender may agree to pay for the survey as a negotiated term.

It is negotiable in real estate contracts. For private projects and improvements, the San Antonio property owner commissioning the work typically pays directly.

Surveyors set iron rods with caps, concrete monuments, or nails with washers at corners, with witness stakes and flagging as needed. These markers match bearings and distances shown on your signed survey.

Yes. A professional survey helps avoid boundary disputes, encroachments, and construction errors, supports smooth closings with San Antonio lenders and title companies, and provides court-reliable documentation.

Yes, but lenders and title companies often require a recent survey for financing and coverage. Even cash buyers in Bexar County benefit from a new survey to reveal easements and encroachments.

Courts routinely consider surveys prepared and sealed by Texas-licensed surveyors along with deeds and other evidence. Outcomes depend on the record and facts, but a proper survey is key evidence.

Surveys do not legally expire, but lenders and title companies often want a recent survey or an affidavit of no change. New improvements or easements can make older surveys outdated.

Monuments should not be disturbed; removing them can violate Texas law and destroys boundary evidence. If stakes are missing in San Antonio, call your surveyor to reset and document.

Unlicensed work, inadequate research, poor measurement control, or altered drawings can undermine validity. Ensure your survey is sealed by a Texas-licensed surveyor and reflects current conditions and recorded documents.

You can decline to order one, but lenders, title companies, HOAs, or the City of San Antonio may require a survey for financing, approvals, or permits. Refusing access can delay projects or closings.

When properly set, monuments reflect high-accuracy measurements meeting Texas standards for the survey type. Modern GPS and total-station workflows used in San Antonio support precise boundary and construction decisions.

A survey identifies the boundary and fence location, but removal involves property rights and local ordinances. Document the issue, consult your survey, and consider legal or City of San Antonio guidance before acting.