Nebraska land survey rules
Nebraska's Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors is an independent board that administers and enforces the Land Surveyors Regulation Act (81-8,110).
Who licenses land surveyors in Nebraska
The Land Surveyors Regulation Act is Nebraska Revised Statutes sections 81-8,108 to 81-8,127.
The board's rules are Title 234 of the Nebraska Administrative Code and include the Minimum Standards for Land Surveys in Nebraska; surveyors may seal only work that conforms to them.
Sources: Board: State Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors; Board rules: Title 234 NAC, with minimum standards
Who may survey
It is unlawful to practice or offer to practice land surveying in Nebraska without a license under the Act (81-8,108).
A licensed surveyor may practice through a company only if the company holds a certificate of authorization from the board (81-8,121.02).
The company must designate at least one professional land surveyor in responsible charge of its surveying; someone who works only occasionally for it does not qualify.
Certificates of authorization renew every two years and expire on December 31 of odd-numbered years.
Sources: Unlawful to survey without a license; Certificates expire December 31 of odd years
Minimum standards for a boundary survey
Nebraska's written minimum standards define the lowest acceptable level of performance for land surveys in the state.
The surveyor must establish, reestablish or confirm permanent monuments at each corner or end point on the boundary lines surveyed.
Any monument the surveyor sets must be detectable with common magnetic locators.
The client must receive a record of the survey (plat or certificate of survey) that, among other items, accurately describes every monument found or set.
Under Nebraska law (81-8,122.01) the record of survey must be filed within 90 days after the survey is completed.
Where construction makes it impractical to set corners when a plat is recorded, the surveyor must set them within 60 days after construction ends, or as local rules require.
Source: Purpose of the minimum standards
Checking a surveyor's license
The board posts active rosters of professional land surveyors (alphabetical and numerical), surveyors in training and companies holding a certificate of authorization.
Source: Online rosters
Filing a complaint
To complain about a land surveyor's services, download the board's complaint form, complete it and mail it to the board office in Lincoln.
The board must investigate a surveyor when any person files a sworn written complaint (81-8,123).
A committee or investigator may review the complaint, and the board decides whether there is probable cause; without it the complaint may be dismissed.
Sources: Mailed complaint form; Sworn written complaints must be investigated; Probable cause review
Common questions
What must a boundary survey include in Nebraska?
Nebraska requires permanent monuments at each corner of the boundary lines surveyed, made of material magnetic locators can detect, and a record of the survey for the client that describes every monument found or set. The record of survey must be filed within 90 days after the survey is completed.