Utah CountySurveyor
Protecting property rights through reliable survey records and a trusted land survey system (PLSS).
Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is a standardized method for dividing and describing land in the United States. It uses a rectangular grid system to organize land into measurable sections. The system is regulated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Learn more about the Public Land Survey System
County Surveyor
Anthony Canto
The County Surveyor oversees the Surveyor's Office, identifying and protecting section corner monuments defining title interests, protecting property rights, acting as a depository for all records of survey, and performing survey work for Utah County.
Frequently Asked Questions
The duties of the surveyor are set by the Utah State Code 17-73, including:
- Maintain and monitor survey monuments which control rights for all properties within Utah County.
- Review Subdivision Plats within unincorporated Utah County, Final Local Entity Plats countywide. Approval of the County Surveyor is required prior to recording.
- We serve as a depository for all Record of Survey Maps and corner records countywide and provide copies of those maps and records to the general public.
- We perform or arrange for the performance of all survey work of county owned property and execute all orders directed to the county surveyor by any court or by legislative body.
- Provide private surveying services.
- Resolve boundary disputes.
- Give legal advice.
- Police private surveyors, or surveying practices.
- The Utah County Surveyor's Office cannot perform property surveys on privately owned parcels of land. It is the duty of the County Surveyor's Office to maintain the control network used by private surveyors.
- Property surveys of privately owned land shall be done by a privately practicing professional land surveyor (P.L.S.) who is licensed in the state of Utah.
Since 1987 the State of Utah enacted a law requiring surveyors to file their surveys with the County Surveyor's Offices. On the County Surveyors website under Map of Boundary Surveys, you can see if a survey has been filed on your property. If so, you can view or download a copy for your records. Map of Boundary Survey (Record of Surveys)
The cost of a survey can vary widely. Some factors that may impact the price of a survey are:
- The physical location, size, and terrain of the property as well as the trees, buildings, and other obstacles on the land.
- The history (or lack of history) and accuracy pertaining to the deeds and occupation associated with the property and the adjoining properties.
- The availability of survey control of the property.
- Professional land surveyors (P.L.S.) gather all the information available to discover the facts and apply the appropriate survey laws when making a boundary determination.
- Occasionally, a surveyor may not discover important evidence that might influence or alter their boundary determination. If you believe this to be the case, we recommend that you discuss the evidence in question directly with the surveyor.
- We work together with the cities of Utah County to be part of their review process for any development project to make sure that if a PLSS monument will be disturbed we get the required permit.
- To get a PLSS clearance letter you just need to email a copy of your plans showing the limits of your project to the County Surveyor and we will respond with the clearance letter. The best email to use is surveyor@utahcounty.gov