Boundary Retracement Survey

The primary goal of a boundary retracement survey is to locate and mark the existing boundaries of a property based on a current deed legal description or an existing subdivision/plat of survey, ensuring that everyone knows where their land begins and ends. 

This type of survey is crucial for resolving boundary disputes, highlighting possible encroachments, and also facilitating in the construction or development of projects, such as new fences, landscaping, and building additions.

Plat of Survey

A plat of survey is a scaled map that is used for the creation of a new parcel of land. This type of survey is used to combine multiple lots into a singular tract, create a separate parcel from an original single tract of land, or resolve encroachments through the transfer of ownership of a specific area.

A plat of survey is used to accurately define new property boundaries, identify existing improvements (like fences or buildings), and establish legal descriptions for new land parcels. They are often required for legal purposes, such as property transactions, adverse possession claims, building permits, and zoning approvals. 

Rural/Farm Survey

See Boundary Retracement and Plats of Survey above. Simply applies to agriculture and farm ground that is typically much larger in acreage size compared to city subdivision lots and tracts.

A Rural Plat of Survey is specific to Polk County and used to subdivide larger land tracts within unincorporated areas of the county. This type requires additional topographic survey of the area to show existing buildings and features on the entire property to ensure proper open space minimum requirements set forth by the County.

Easement Exhibit

FEMA Elevation Certificate

An easement exhibit is a visual representation that shows the location and dimensions of an easement, which is a legal right allowing someone to use another's property for a specific purpose. The drawing will show the specific area where the easement right applies and is accompanied by a legal description.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) delineates land areas near bodies of water that could potentially be inundated by flood events. Structures that are built within these areas are required to have flood insurance unless it is shown that the elevations at a specific structure are higher than the base flood elevation, in which case, flood insurance would not be necessary. These certificates are prepared as official documentation stating those elevations around a structure.