Survey Requirements When Selling a Home in Virginia
Virginia has no state law requiring a land survey as a condition of selling a residential property. If you are selling your house and wondering whether you need to commission a survey before closing, the short answer is probably not, but the full answer depends on your lender, your title company, and the specifics of your transaction.
What Virginia Law Actually Says
Virginia statutes governing real estate transactions do not include a blanket survey requirement for residential home sales. The Virginia Property Disclosure Act (Code Section 55.1-700 et seq.) governs what sellers must disclose, and it does not mandate a survey. The state's deed and title recording requirements do not require a fresh survey for standard resale transactions.
So from a purely legal standpoint, you can sell your Virginia house without ever hiring a surveyor. That said, there are several practical situations where a survey ends up being required anyway.
When Lenders Require a Survey
Conventional Loans
Most conventional lenders in Virginia do not require a new boundary survey for a standard residential resale. They typically rely on an existing plat recorded at the county circuit court and may require only a mortgage location survey or accept a survey waiver signed by the buyer. A survey waiver acknowledges that no new survey was ordered and waives objections to issues a survey might have found.
FHA and VA Loans
FHA and VA loan programs have their own guidelines, and individual lenders applying those programs may have stricter requirements. Some lenders require a recent survey or at minimum a mortgage location survey showing that structures are within the property and comply with setback requirements. Ask your lender's requirements before assuming no survey is needed.
When There Are Known Boundary Issues
If the title search reveals a question about the boundary, an encroachment from an adjacent property, or a gap in the chain of title related to a boundary description, the lender or title company may require a survey to clear the issue before closing. These situations are not common on typical suburban residential parcels, but they come up on older properties, rural land, and properties with unusual legal descriptions.
When Title Companies Require a Survey
Virginia title companies issue title insurance as part of most real estate closings. To issue a clean title policy, the title company needs to understand the state of the property's boundaries. On straightforward residential transactions with a recent plat, title companies often proceed with a survey waiver.
However, if the title search reveals prior survey exceptions, if the property has an older or ambiguous legal description, or if there are visible encroachments (a neighbor's shed that appears to cross the line, a fence that doesn't match the plat), the title company may require a boundary survey before issuing coverage.
It is worth asking your title company early in the process whether a survey will be required. They can review the existing plat and title history and give you a clear answer before you are close to the closing date.
Commercial Properties: ALTA Surveys Are Standard
The residential no-survey norm does not apply to commercial real estate in Virginia. Lenders and title companies handling commercial transactions almost universally require an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey. This is an industry standard that has nothing to do with Virginia-specific law. The ALTA survey documents boundaries, easements, encroachments, utilities, and other matters relevant to the title insurance policy and the lender's security interest.
ALTA surveys for commercial properties in Virginia typically cost $1,200 to $5,000 or more depending on the size and complexity of the parcel. Budget for this cost on any commercial transaction.
When a Seller Might Voluntarily Commission a Survey
Even when a survey is not required, a seller might choose to get one in specific situations:
- The property has had boundary disputes in the past, and resolving them before listing can prevent issues during due diligence
- The property has extensive acreage or irregular boundaries that buyers may question
- A new survey can document that a fence or structure in question is within the property, removing a buyer concern
- The existing plat is very old and monuments are missing, creating uncertainty a buyer might use to negotiate price
A clean, recent boundary survey can also be a marketing asset for rural or large properties where buyers want confidence about what they are buying.
When a Buyer May Request a Survey
Buyers in Virginia routinely waive surveys on standard suburban residential purchases. But buyers have every right to request a survey as a contract contingency or to order one during the due diligence period. If the buyer's survey reveals a problem, they typically have the right to raise it with the seller or exit the contract, depending on the contingency language.
For buyers purchasing rural land, properties with uncertain legal descriptions, or any parcel where the boundary location matters to their plans, a survey is worth the investment even if the lender and title company do not require one.
What Triggers a Survey Requirement in Virginia Real Estate
- Commercial transaction: ALTA survey virtually always required by lender
- New construction: Building permits typically require a plat showing setbacks
- Subdivision of the parcel: A recorded plat prepared by a PLS is legally required
- Lender-specific requirements on FHA or VA loans
- Title search reveals boundary exceptions or encroachment issues
- Buyer makes survey a contract contingency
- Existing plat is too old or too imprecise for the title company to rely on
The Bottom Line for Virginia Home Sellers
If you are selling a standard suburban residential home in Virginia with a clear title and a reasonably recent plat, you most likely will not need a new survey. Talk to your lender and title company early to confirm, and address any boundary questions before they become closing-day problems.
If you are selling rural land, a property with a complex history, or a commercial parcel, plan on a survey being part of the process.
Find a Licensed Virginia Surveyor
If your transaction does require a survey, or if you want to get one for peace of mind, browse licensed surveyors serving your area at Find a Land Surveyor in Virginia.