Land surveys for buying and selling, plot plans for construction
Land surveys provide information about boundary lines, topography, structures, elevation, zoning, and more.
Plot plans are more useful for construction, as they show details about the lay of the land that can affect structures.
Land surveys are more helpful when buying or selling a home, while plot plans are best if you’re carrying out a construction project.
One of the first things you should schedule before buying a home or carrying out a construction project is a survey, which will give you vital information on what you’re buying and the legality of the construction. But when it comes to land surveys versus plot plans, which do you choose? In this guide, we’ll explain what both are, how each is helpful, and which you need in your situation.
Ultimately, a plot plan is a type of land survey that includes information that’s helpful for planning out construction projects. Land surveys can provide more detailed information, including easements, locations of underground utilities, and more. Plot plans are more for your own construction needs, while land surveys can also serve other purposes, like settling boundary line disputes, determining zoning, or determining if flood insurance is necessary.
A land survey is really just any report that provides detailed information about your land. There are a few different types of land surveys, including boundary surveys to determine property lines for disputes or to confirm your construction project follows setback regulations, ALTA/ACSM surveys that provide necessary information for buying a piece of land, and more.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lots of information | Expensive |
| Many options | Requires a pro |
Best for:
People who are buying a property and need information for lenders and insurance companies
Solving boundary line disputes or determining where you can build fences and other structures on your land
Getting zoning information or determining if you need flood insurance
Land surveys are helpful in more situations than a plot plan. First, a plot plan is a type of land survey, so they can provide the same information. Land surveys can also just include boundary line information, zoning information, topographical information, and much more, making them more valuable. In comparison, plot plans are really only useful for determining where on your property you can carry out a construction project.
Not only do land surveys provide more information, but you also have more options for the information you get. While they tend to be more expensive than plot plans, you can also customize what information your professional includes to bring down the cost.
The last thing you want is to end up in a boundary dispute with your neighbor. Having a land survey readily available can prevent the need for legal proceedings and preserve your relationship.
Land surveys can be more expensive than plot plans, so that’s one potential drawback to consider. You could spend as much as $3,000 on the cost of a land survey, while a plot plan will cost just $100 to $500.
Additionally, you can’t carry out land surveys yourself. For the results to be official, you need to hire a local land surveyor.
A plot plan is a less specific layout of your plot, which includes rough boundary lines and to-scale drawings of structures on your property. Some may include topographical information, as well. Plot plans are most useful as pre-construction drawings to ensure your land can support your project.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| More affordable | Less information |
| Helpful for construction | Requires a pro |
Best for:
Homeowners who are planning add-on or outbuilding construction on their properties
Ensuring construction projects adhere to local setback regulations
One upside to ordering a plot plan over a comprehensive land survey is the cost. You can expect to pay somewhere between $100 and $500 for a plot plan, whereas a land survey could cost up to around $3,000.
In addition to the low cost, plot plans provide more concise information that’s useful for construction projects. Complete land surveys are often needlessly specific about zoning, boundary lines, elevation, and more for the purposes of simple construction, so plot plans are a better option if you’re building on your plot.
Of course, the other side of the coin is that plot plans may not provide all the information you need, depending on your situation. They’re good for planning out construction projects, but they lack the information you’d need to determine if you need flood insurance, locate easement lines, settle boundary line disputes, and more.
Similarly to a land survey, you need a professional to complete your plot plan if you want the results to be helpful and actionable.
There are a few key differences to understand between land surveys and plot plans if you want to ensure you order the right one.
Land surveys can provide much more information than plot plans, including details about your proximity to flood plains, precise boundaries around your property, easements, and more. Plot plans really only provide information that helps plan out construction projects on your land.
Plot plans cost between $100 and $500, with an average of around $300. A land survey costs up to $3,000 if you need a comprehensive report when buying a piece of land. Land surveys can cost as little as $100 to $600 if you’re just ordering a boundary survey, but they tend to come with higher costs.
Keep in mind, though, that buyers pay for land surveys in a real estate transaction, so you may not have to worry about the price if you’re selling your home. Since plot plans are for construction, you’ll almost always be the one paying.
Since land surveys offer more information, they’re more useful in more situations. You can use them to confirm property size and easements when purchasing a home, determining if you need flood insurance, locating underground utilities on your land, and more. You can ask your land surveyor what surveys you need based on your situation.
A plot plan only offers rough boundary lines and drawings of structures and landscaping features to help you plan out projects.
Both land surveys and plot plans require a professional if you want to be able to act on the information. You can draw a plot plan yourself for your own reference, but it won’t mean much to an architect or builder unless you hire a land surveyor.
Site surveys are good for five to ten years, although it depends on your location and your professional. Since plot plans are for planning construction projects, they should be valid as long as you don’t make changes to your property.
