What’s Missing from Your Plans? (Hint: It’s a Licensed Surveyor.)
Ambitious blueprints and an eager construction crew. Most believe that is all they need to transform their property from vision to reality, especially with the bright stamp of approval from their community zoning board, which affirms their plan. However, these plans can be missing a critical component: a certification by a registered professional land surveyor. Without it, we have witnessed miscalculations that have caused project delays, encroachments onto neighboring properties, costly redesigns, and even the emergence of lawsuits.
Massachusetts 250 CMR 5.00 requires a professional land surveyor to certify any plans for the delineation of existing or proposed structures, features, or boundaries relative to property lines. Too often, plans are getting approved that lack the required certification, resulting in widespread frustration for homeowners, wasted time for local zoning boards, and financial strain for everyone involved.
Such an avoidable mistake has a simple solution: reminding everyone that any plan depicting dimensions to property lines must be prepared and certified by a licensed surveyor. Skipping this step not only violates professional regulations but also exposes all parties to significant risk. As described in the CMR, we have a collective duty to protect public health, safety, and welfare; accordingly, approving authorities and engineering firms should take precautions to ensure the appropriate plans are only authorized if they bear the stamp of a Registered Professional Land Surveyor.
With decades of experience, Merrill’s licensed surveyors ensure your plans are done right—professionally prepared and certified to meet all legal standards.