What statement is required on a plat about Minimum Standards of Practice?"This professional service conforms to the current Illinois minimum standards for a boundary survey." Administrative Rule 1270.56 b)
Is a PLS subject to trespass?No, a Professional Land Surveyor, or persons under his direct supervision, together with his survey party, who, in the course of making a survey, finds it necessary to go upon the land of a party or parties other than the one for whom the survey is being made is not liable for civil or criminal trespass and is liable only for any actual damage done to the land or property. 225 ILCS 330/45
What is direct supervision and control?Direct supervision and control means the personal review by a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor of each survey, including, but not limited to, procurement, research, field work, calculations, preparation of legal descriptions and plats. The personal review shall be of such a nature as to assure the client that the Professional Land Surveyor or the firm for which the Professional Land Surveyor is employed is the provider of the surveying services. 225 ILCS 330/4 (d)
What is responsible charge?Responsible charge means an individual responsible for the various components of the land survey operations subject to the overall supervision and control of the Professional Land Surveyor. 225 ILCS 330/4 (e)
Who can prepare legal descriptions?A Licensed Professional Land Surveyor may prepare descriptions for the determination of title or real property rights to any portion or volume of the earth's surface, subsurface, or airspace involving the lengths and direction of boundary lines, areas, parts of platted parcels or the contours of the earth's surface, subsurface, or airspace. 225 ILCS 330/5 (c)
What is the Statute of Limitations for Land Surveyors?In no event may such an action be brought if 10 years have elapsed from the time of the act or omission. Any person who discovers the act or omission before expiration of the 10 year period, however, may in no event have less than 4 years to bring an action. 735 ILCS 5/13-222
Can a PLS file a lien?Yes, surveyor may file a lien. 770 ILCS 60/1
What are the minimum standards for an ALTA/ACSM Survey?All land title surveys shall be subject to the "2005 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys", published jointly by the American Land Title Association (ALTA), 1828 L. St., N.W., Suite 705, Washington, D.C. 20036 and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), 6 Montgomery Village Avenue, Suite #403, Gaithersburg MD 20879. This incorporation does not include any later amendments or editions Administrative Rule 1270.56 a)
What are the minimum standards for a condominium survey?Condominium surveys are a specialized class of boundary surveys and are governed by the Condominium Property Act [765 ILCS 605]. The plat requirements referred to in Section 5 of that Act must be the result of actual field measurements and are not to be transcribed from plans or other informational materials. The exterior boundaries of a condominium parcel shall be monumented as required by the Plat Act [765 ILCS 205]. Notes on the condominium plat must indicate whether the interior measurements shown are referring to finished or unfinished surfaces or planes and what data was used for any elevations depicted on the plat. Administrative Rule 1270.56 c)
What are the minimum standards for subdivision survey?Subdivision surveys are properly included in the boundary survey category and are primarily governed by the Plat Act. Subdivision surveys differ from the typical boundary survey in that monumentation for subdivision surveys is mandatory according to the statute. All exterior corners of the subdivision must be monumented prior to recordation of the subdivision plat. If, in the opinion of the subdividing surveyor, a disproportionate number of interior monuments would be destroyed by grading, utility installation, etc., monumentation of the interior corners may be delayed unless local regulations or ordinances specify otherwise. Interior corners of the subdivision must be monumented prior to the conveyance of any lot, block, parcel or unit within the subdivision and in all cases the monumentation must be in place within 12 months after the recording date of the subdivision plat. All of the interior corners subject to delayed staking shall be denoted on the record plat as "to be set", either by labeling or appropriate symbols. Upon completion of the monumentation the subdividing surveyor shall file an affidavit with the Recorder of the county in which the subdivision is located certifying that the monumentation of the subdivision has been completed. The affidavit shall include the name of the subdivision, date of plat recording and recording location information (book and page and/or document number). Administrative Rule 1270.56 d)
Can I delay setting the interior monuments of a subdivision?Yes, if, in the opinion of the subdividing surveyor, a disportionate number of interior monuments would be destroyed by grading, utility installation, etc., monumentation of the interior corners may be delayed unless local regulations or ordinances specify otherwise. Interior corners of the subdivision must be monumented prior to the conveyance of any lot, block, parcel or unit within the subdivision and in all cases the monumentation must be in place within 12 months after the recording date of the subdivision plat. All of the interior corners subject to delayed staking shall be denoted on the record plat as "to be set", either by labeling or appropriate symbols. Administrative Rule 1270.56 d)
What are the standards for a mortgage inspection?A Mortgage Inspection does not approach the standards of other survey categories, though by the provisions of Section 5 of the Illinois Professional Land Survey Act of 1989 [225 ILCS 330/5] the services of an Illinois Professional Land Surveyor are required. A mortgage inspection is not a type of boundary survey or ALTA/ACSM survey and does not constitute a boundary survey of the subject real property. A mortgage inspection includes field investigation, measurements and graphic representation of improvements. Administrative Rule 1270.56 e)
Does a land surveyor have to contact JULIE when searching for a survey monument? Land surveying operations as defined by the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act (that do not use power equipment or roadways surface milling) is exempt.
