Delaware land survey rules
Delaware's State Board of Professional Land Surveyors administers and enforces the state's land surveyor law (24 Del. C. §2703).
Who licenses land surveyors in Delaware
Delaware's land surveyor law is Chapter 27, Professional Land Surveyors, of Title 24 (Professions and Occupations) of the Delaware Code.
The board's rules (24 DE Admin. Code 2700) are adopted under 24 Del. C. Chapter 27 and include minimum technical standards for licensees.
Sources: Board: State Board of Professional Land Surveyors; Board rules: 24 DE Admin. Code 2700, with minimum technical standards
Who may survey
No one may practice land surveying in Delaware, or present themselves as qualified to, without a Delaware license (24 Del. C. §2707).
A land surveying corporation or partnership must hold a certificate of authorization from the board to practice or offer land surveying (24 Del. C. §2722).
Land surveying businesses that are sole proprietorships do not need a certificate of authorization.
A licensed surveyor who works under a name other than their own licensed name must obtain, or work under, a certificate of authorization (24 Del. C. §2722(h)).
A certified firm must designate an officer or employee who holds a Delaware license as the person in responsible charge of its surveying activities and decisions (24 Del. C. §2722(b)).
Sources: Unlawful to survey without a license; Corporations and partnerships need a certificate of authorization; Sole proprietorships are exempt
Minimum standards for a boundary survey
Every boundary survey must produce a plat showing the results, and that plat must be titled "Boundary Survey Plan" (Regulation 2700, 12.2).
Monuments must be set at all corners of every survey, except along meandering lines such as streams (Regulation 2700, 12.2.4).
Any monument the surveyor sets must be ferrous metal at least half an inch in diameter and 18 inches long (Regulation 2700, 12.2.4).
The plat must show visible or suspected encroachments onto or from neighboring property or abutting streets, and how far they extend (Regulation 2700, 12.2.14).
The plat carries the original signature and seal of the licensed surveyor in responsible charge, which certifies that the survey meets the board's minimum requirements (Regulation 2700, 12.2.15).
Required accuracy depends on the survey's class: unadjusted closure of at least 1 in 15,000 for urban, 1 in 10,000 for suburban, 1 in 7,500 for rural and 1 in 5,000 for marshland surveys (Regulation 2700, Attachment A).
A mortgage survey plan is accepted as a minimum standard in place of a boundary survey only in New Castle County, and only when the ultimate user requests it (Regulation 2700, 12.12).
Source: Plat titled Boundary Survey Plan
Checking a surveyor's license
You can check a Delaware surveyor's license status with the Division of Professional Regulation's DELPROS Search & Verify License tool.
Source: Verify a license in DELPROS
Filing a complaint
All complaints about land surveyors are received and investigated by the Division of Professional Regulation, which issues a final written report (24 Del. C. §2713).
File a complaint online in DELPROS; it must give the name and location of the surveyor or business the complaint is against.
The Division sends its first notices within 15 days of receiving a complaint and advises you of its progress at least every 90 days.
Sources: The Division of Professional Regulation investigates; File online in DELPROS
Common questions
What must a boundary survey include in Delaware?
A Delaware boundary survey must produce a plat titled "Boundary Survey Plan", with monuments set at every corner (ferrous metal at least half an inch in diameter and 18 inches long) and any visible or suspected encroachments shown. The licensed surveyor in responsible charge signs and seals the plat, certifying that it meets the board's minimum requirements.