Arkansas land survey rules
The Arkansas board, part of the Department of Labor and Licensing, enforces the laws and rules on engineering and surveying practice.
Who licenses land surveyors in Arkansas
Arkansas Code 17-48-103 declares land surveying subject to regulation in the public interest; the board's standards quote it.
The board's rules are codified in the Code of Arkansas Rules at 17 CAR 285; Rule 285-102 covers the practice of surveying.
Arkansas Standards of Practice No. 1 for Property Boundary Surveys and Plats (effective August 7, 2020) apply to every licensed surveyor in the state.
Sources: Board: State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors (PEPS); Governing law: A.C.A. 17-48-101 et seq; Board rules: 17 CAR 285
Who may survey
Board Rule 17 CAR 285-102(b) makes it unlawful to practice or offer to practice surveying in Arkansas without a license.
A firm practicing surveying needs licensed personnel and a Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the board.
The COA requirement does not apply to a sole proprietorship practicing in the licensee's own name.
The board warns that offering, contracting for or starting surveying work before the applicant or firm is licensed may be a violation.
Sources: Unlawful to survey without a license; No offering services before licensure
Minimum standards for a boundary survey
Standards of Practice No. 1 sets minimum accuracies and minimum requirements for research, investigation, monumentation and plat preparation.
The surveyor must locate or confirm the prior location of permanent monuments at each boundary corner of the parcel surveyed.
Among other items, every plat must show reasonably observed encroachments and possession lines.
Under A.C.A. 17-48-107, each survey of a parcel must state the number of acres in the parcel.
Copies of the plat go to the State Surveyor's office and the client within 30 days of completion (A.C.A. 17-48-106).
A survey is complete when the plat has been dated, sealed and signed and the surveyor has been paid.
Source: Purpose of the standards
Checking a surveyor's license
The board's PEPS Rosters page offers an individual roster search and a firms roster search.
The renewal page points to the board's Licensee Search to check a license's expiration date.
Sources: Individual and firm roster search; Licensee Search shows expiration dates
Filing a complaint
Any person may file a written complaint; it must be signed and filed with the board (17 CAR 285-802).
The board does not investigate anonymous complaints or complaints made by telephone.
The complaint form can be downloaded or requested by email, fax or mail.
The board cannot resolve property boundary disputes, fee disputes, or award damages; only a court can resolve boundary disputes.
The surveyor or firm named in a complaint has 20 days to respond on the board's answer form.
Source: Written, signed complaints
Common questions
What must a boundary survey include in Arkansas?
Standards of Practice No. 1 sets minimum accuracies and minimum requirements for research, investigation, monumentation and plat preparation.