<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 09.13.06.03" title_num="09" subtitle_num="13" chapter_num="06" heading="Boundary Surveys.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Purpose.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The boundary survey is a means of marking boundaries for sufficient definition and identification to uniquely locate each lot, parcel, or tract.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The purpose of a boundary survey is to establish, reestablish, or describe, or all of these, the physical position and extent of the boundaries of real property.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Result. Unless otherwise directed by the party requesting the survey, sufficient monuments or reference control points which were used to determine the property lines shall be:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Set or recovered on the ground, to the extent feasible; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Shown on a plat upon completion of the boundary survey so that the property lines can be determined or readily reestablished.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Research and Investigation.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The surveyor shall be provided by the party requesting the survey with copies of public records and private records, if any, in sufficient scope and depth that a surveyor of ordinary prudence and skill may consider in identifying with reasonable certainty the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The location of the property's record boundaries, so long as the information exists in the public records and is properly indexed; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Conflicting record property boundary line locations which may differently locate the property's boundaries.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The surveyor shall make a reasonable effort to identify, locate, and review private survey records which are cited in the provided public records and which may:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be material in locating the property's boundaries,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Have the potential for disclosing conflicting descriptions of the property's boundaries, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Affect the location of the property's boundaries.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Monumentation. In providing appropriate monumentation for boundary surveys, a surveyor shall comply with the minimum standards for survey markers set forth in COMAR 09.13.03.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Field Procedures.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Field measurements shall be made by methods that will provide the precision required by this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Observable physical evidence, including boundary, possession, visible encroachments, and visible indications of rights, including evidence of recorded servitudes or those that may be acquired by prescription or adverse possession, shall be located.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Plats.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An original plat of a boundary survey shall be a reproducible drawing at a suitable scale, clearly indicating the results of the field work, computations, research, and record information, as compiled, checked, and analyzed.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A plat shall be prepared in conformity with the following procedures:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A reasonably stable and durable drawing paper, linen, or film of reproducible quality, is considered suitable material for boundary survey plats;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Plats may not be smaller than 8-1/2 x 11 inches;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Dimensions, bearings, or angles, including sufficient data to define curves, shall be neatly and legibly shown with respect to each property boundary line;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Markers shall be labeled as “found” or “set”, with a brief description of the marker and relevant reference markers, if any, along with their spatial relationship to the subject corner;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Relevant natural or artificial visible features shall be labeled, dimensioned, and referenced to the nearest property boundary line or represented by a symbol on the plat in its proper location, and each symbol shall clearly indicate what is represented or shall be labeled for identification either individually or in a separate key to symbols;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Plats shall show a north arrow;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>A statement indicating the origin and method of determination of the bearings or coordinate system shall be made on a plat, and shall include one of the following:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A reference to true north, as determined by astronomic observation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A reference to the Maryland Coordinate System with the controlling stations and a combination factor comprised of an elevation factor and a scale factor noted;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>A reference to a local coordinate system with the controlling stations listed;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>A reference to the record bearing of a well-established line found monumented on the ground, as called for in a relevant deed or plat; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>If the above alternatives in this paragraph are not practical, a dated magnetic bearing may be used;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>If separate intricate details or inserts are required for clarity, they shall be properly referenced to the portion of the plat where they apply, particularly in areas where:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Lines of occupation do not conform to the deed lines; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A comparison of adjoining properties' deed descriptions indicates the existence of a gap or an overlap;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Cemeteries and burial grounds found by the surveyor within the premises being surveyed shall be noted on the plat;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>All relevant evidence of monuments found beyond the subject tract, on which establishment of the corners of the subject tract are dependent, and their application related to the survey shall be indicated;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(k)">
        <text>Different line weights or delineating letters or numbers shall be used to clearly show the limits of the survey; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(l)">
        <text>Evidence of any easements, servitudes, or uses burdening the surveyed property, whether or not disclosed in the record documents provided to the surveyor, observed in the process of conducting the survey.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>In addition to the criteria set forth in §F(2) of this regulation, each plat shall show the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Caption or title and general location of the property or a vicinity map;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Scale;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Date;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Land area;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Name and address of the surveyor or firm;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>A statement to the effect that a licensee either personally prepared a boundary survey or was in responsible charge over its preparation and the surveying work reflected in it, all in compliance with requirements set forth in Regulation .12 of this chapter; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Seal and signature of the surveyor who personally prepared or was in responsible charge over the preparation of the boundary survey.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Accuracy Standards.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The maximum allowable relative positional precision for boundary surveys shall be 0.07 feet (or 2 centimeters) plus 50 parts per million, based on the direct distance between the two corners being tested.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The surveyor shall ascertain that the positional uncertainties resulting from the survey measurements do not exceed the allowable relative positional precision.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If the size or configuration of the property to be surveyed or the relief, vegetation, or improvements on the property will result in survey measurements for which the relative positional precision will exceed the allowable amount, the surveyor shall add a note to a survey explaining the site conditions that necessitated the deviation from the relative positional precision.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The surveyor shall, to the extent necessary to achieve the standards set forth in §G of this regulation, compensate or correct for systematic errors, including those associated with instrument calibration.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The surveyor shall use appropriate error propagation and other measurement design theory to select the proper instruments, field procedures, geometric layouts, and computational procedures to control and adjust random errors to achieve the allowable relative positional precision tolerance.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>