One of the most frequently asked questions heard by our land surveyors in Texas is what the difference is between an RPLS and an LSLS. These are two different types of land surveying professionals, but the services they perform might be somewhat different.
Here’s a quick overview of the two and when you might require their services.
Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS)
A registered professional land surveyor (RPLS) is someone who works in the field of land surveying and provides their services to the general public. This surveyor performs all services necessary when a piece of property must be surveyed for any reason whatsoever. Whether you’re a residential or commercial client, you’re almost definitely going to be seeking the services of an RPLS.
Because an RPLS is the type of surveying professional you’re going to want to call whenever you need survey work done, you might be wondering about what situations actually call for the services of a professional surveyor.
Here are a few examples of some of the most common situations in which members of the general public call for the services of an RPLS:
- Boundary disputes: Occasionally people who own neighboring properties will have disputes over where boundary lines lie on their properties. This tends to be an issue if one property owner wants to put up a fence or another structure, or if there are arguments over whose responsibility it is to maintain a fence. The surveyor can analyze the land and existing documentation to determine where the boundary line officially lies.
- Improvements: Improvements to a property can include, as mentioned, new structures, fences, landscaping or irrigation systems. It’s important to make sure any improvements you put on your property are actually on your owned land, which can make the assistance of a surveyor necessary.
- Purchasing or dividing tracts of land: Professional surveyors can assist in the process of purchasing or dividing tracts of land in legally binding ways.
- Flood insurance: If you are in a flood plain area and are seeking flood insurance, the bank through which you seek the insurance policy may require a copy of a survey to prove that the land is indeed in a flood zone area.
Licensed State Land Surveyor (LSLS)
A licensed state land surveyor (LSLS) is a professional who provides services for the state of Texas and the federal government, rather than the public at large. These services are much more specialized, and meant almost entirely just for government bodies. As such, these surveyors make up only a very small percentage of the community of surveyors in the state of Texas, and most people will never have to seek their services.
This is just a brief overview of the differences between an RPLS and an LSLS. For more information about the work performed by land surveyors in Texas and to inquire about our services, we encourage you to contact the team at D.G. Smyth & Company today with any questions you have for us. We look forward to assisting you soon.