Boundary survey
Title records, old plans and marks on the ground compared, the corners found or set again, and a signed plan of the boundary.
Residential plotfrom $950
Lines, levels and boundaries you can build on
Meridian measures land and buildings for owners, architects and builders. Boundary surveys, topographic surveys and measured building surveys, delivered as signed plans and drawing files your designer can open.
Fixed feequoted within two working days
Signed planswhere the law asks for a licensed surveyor
DWG and PDFfiles for your designer
Surveys we carry out
Fees are a guide for an ordinary residential plot or house. Every quote is a fixed fee for the site and the purpose you describe.
Topographic survey
Levels, contours, trees, walls, drains and service covers, drawn to the accuracy an architect or engineer asks for.
Up to 0.5 hectarefrom $1,200
Measured building survey
Floor plans, elevations and sections of an existing building, ready for a renovation or an extension design.
Two storey housefrom $1,400
Setting out
Corners, foundations and levels pegged on site from the approved drawings, then checked before the digger starts.
Single housefrom $650
Subdivision survey
Survey and plan prepared for a lot split or a lease area, in the form the local land authority accepts.
Two lotsfrom $2,200
Earthworks and volumes
Before and after surveys of cut, fill and stockpiles, so contractors are paid for the material actually moved.
Per visitfrom $800
Fees include the research, the fieldwork within 40 km of the office and the finished files. Travel further out is shown separately in the quote.
What each survey delivers
You know before you instruct us what will arrive, in which format and roughly when. Turnaround counts from the day the fieldwork finishes.
| Survey | What you receive | Usual turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Boundary | Signed plan with bearings and distances, the marks set on site, and a short note on any fence that strays from the line | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Topographic | DWG and PDF drawing with contours at an agreed interval, spot levels, features and a point file | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Measured building | Plans, elevations and sections in DWG and PDF at the level of detail agreed in the quote | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Setting out | Pegs and offset marks on site with a check sheet for the builder | On the day |
| Subdivision | Survey plan prepared for the land authority's approval, plus the field records | Set in the quote |
When the fence is not the boundary
Fences get moved, hedges spread and old marks vanish under driveways. A boundary survey sets the title plans, older surveys and the marks still in the ground side by side, and shows where the legal line runs today.
How a boundary is fixed in law differs by country and sometimes by region. In some places a licensed surveyor's plan settles the line, while in others only a land registry or a court can decide a dispute. We explain which rules apply to your land before you instruct us.
- Neighbours told before we work near their side
- Differences between fence and line shown on the plan
- New marks set where old ones are lost
- Plan signed by a surveyor licensed where the law requires it
How a survey runs
Most residential surveys are delivered within three weeks of the quote being accepted.
Quote
Send the location and the purpose. A fixed fee and a list of deliverables follow within two working days.
Research
Title plans, registry records and older surveys gathered for the land before anyone goes out.
Fieldwork
Total station, GNSS and levels on site, usually in one or two days, tied to a known reference.
Drawing and checks
The drawing is drafted, then checked against the field data by a second surveyor.
Delivery
Signed plans and files sent, and a call to walk you or your architect through them.
Measured to the accuracy the job needs
A boundary in a town centre, a level for a drain run and a measured survey of a listed building each need a different accuracy. We agree it with you, or with your architect or engineer, before the fieldwork, and print it on every drawing.
Coordinates and levels are tied to the national reference system where one is used, or to a site datum that can be found again by the next surveyor.
- Total stations, GNSS receivers and digital levels
- Laser scanning for detailed building surveys
- Accuracy and datum stated on each drawing
- Field records kept for at least ten years
In the field
Plots, buildings, roads and boundaries measured for owners, designers and builders.
From owners and architects (example reviews)
The fence had been moved twice over forty years. The plan showed exactly where the line ran, and the neighbour accepted it once the old marks were found.
Topographic drawings came through with the levels, trees and drains in clean layers, and the point file opened first time in our design software.
The measured survey of a three storey terrace caught a wall that leans by several centimetres, which changed how the extension was designed.
Questions before a survey
Is a boundary survey needed when buying land?
It is often wise, and in some places a lender or the registry asks for one. A survey shows whether the fences, buildings and access match the title before the purchase completes.
Can a survey settle a dispute with a neighbour?
A survey gives clear evidence of where the line runs. Whether that settles a dispute depends on the law where the land is: in some countries the plan is decisive, in others it supports a registry or court decision.
Are your surveyors licensed?
Licensing differs between countries and regions. Wherever boundary work must be done by a licensed or registered surveyor, a licensed member of our team signs the plan, and we say before quoting if a job falls outside what we can sign.
Do you need to go onto the neighbour's land?
Sometimes, to find an old mark or measure a building corner. We ask the neighbour first and only enter with permission.
What helps with an accurate quote?
The location, the purpose of the survey, any title plan or old survey you hold, and who will use the drawings. A short description of the site in words is enough.
When is the fee paid?
Surveys under $2,000 are invoiced on delivery. Larger jobs take 30 percent when the quote is accepted. Payment is arranged directly with us.
Request a fixed fee quote
Describe the site and what the survey is for. A surveyor reads every request and sends a fixed fee with the deliverables listed within two working days.
- Fixed fee, with travel shown separately
- Accuracy and formats agreed up front
- Urgent setting out? Call +1 555 0112
Speak to a surveyor
Calls in office hours go straight to a surveyor rather than a switchboard.
Office
Office in the town centre, fieldwork across the region and further by arrangement
Office hours
| Monday to Friday | 08:00 to 17:30 |
| Saturday | Fieldwork by appointment |
| Sunday | Closed |
Where we survey
Fieldwork across the region, with travel within 40 km included in the fee. Larger projects further away are welcome, and the travel is priced in the quote.