West Virginia land survey rules
The West Virginia Board of Professional Surveyors regulates surveying in the state to protect the public interest.
Who licenses land surveyors in West Virginia
Surveying is governed by Chapter 30, Article 13A of the West Virginia Code (Land Surveyors), Article 1 of Chapter 30 and the board's rules (30-13A-2).
The board's rules are Title 23 of the Code of State Rules; Series 5 holds the standards for the practice of surveying.
Sources: Board: West Virginia Board of Professional Surveyors (WVBPS); Governing law: W. Va. Code 30-13A; Board rules: Title 23 of the Code of State Rules
Who may survey
It is unlawful for anyone to practice or offer to practice surveying in West Virginia without a license from the board (30-13A-1).
A firm may not practice or offer surveying in West Virginia without a certificate of authorization from the board.
A surveying firm must run all its surveying under the supervision and management of a surveyor-in-charge licensed in West Virginia (30-13A-21).
A surveyor who works for a firm only part time or as a consultant cannot be its surveyor-in-charge unless they are an officer, majority interest holder or owner.
Minimum standards for a boundary survey
Before the work starts, the surveyor in charge must discuss with the client the purpose, scope of services, time frames and fees (23CSR5 7.2.a).
A licensee, or someone under a licensee's supervision, must go to the site and perform a field survey.
Monuments are required at all new or reestablished corners, with reference monuments for corners that cannot be reached.
Except for natural objects, set monuments must carry caps or other marks identifying the surveyor or firm that set them.
Boundary surveys get a plat showing the field results, given to the client; the client may waive the plat in the contract unless law requires one.
The plat must describe all corners or reference monuments and say whether each was found or set.
Checking a surveyor's license
The board's online License Verification searches surveyors by name, license number or county, and firms by company name or COA number.
The board also posts rosters of active professional surveyors and of firms holding a certificate of authorization.
Sources: Online license verification; Rosters of active surveyors and firms
Filing a complaint
Anyone harmed by a licensed surveyor or by someone surveying without a license may file a complaint with the board.
Complaints use the board's form, sent with supporting documents to the board office in Charleston; send copies, because documents are not returned.
The surveyor receives the complaint and has 30 days to respond before the board's Complaint Review Committee reviews it.
The board enforces the surveying laws and rules but does not settle boundary disputes.
Common questions
What must a boundary survey include in West Virginia?
West Virginia requires monuments at all new or reestablished corners, with caps or other marks identifying the surveyor or firm, and a plat for the client that says whether each monument was found or set. The client may waive the plat in the contract unless a law or rule requires one.