Not every person who calls themselves a land surveyor in Colorado is licensed to perform boundary surveys. Hiring someone without a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license means the survey has no legal standing, which can create problems when you try to record a plat, resolve a dispute, or sell the property. This guide explains what Colorado requires of its land surveyors, how to find and vet a licensed PLS, and what to ask before you sign a contract.
Colorado Licensing Requirements for Land Surveyors
Colorado regulates Professional Land Surveyors through the State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors, which operates under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). To earn a PLS license in Colorado, a candidate must:
- Hold a four-year degree in land surveying, civil engineering, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and experience)
- Complete four years of progressive surveying experience under the direct supervision of a licensed PLS
- Pass the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam
- Pass the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam
Licensed surveyors must maintain continuing education credits for license renewal. The license must be current and active to perform boundary surveys, set monuments, or sign and seal survey plats in Colorado.
Every surveyor in our Colorado land surveyor directory is sourced from state licensing records. Each listing reflects an active, licensed Professional Land Surveyor.
Finding Surveyors in Your County
Survey experience varies by region. A firm based in Denver and specializing in urban infill may not have the equipment or experience needed for a remote mountain parcel in La Plata County. A surveyor familiar with Larimer County’s flood zone history and the Big Thompson Canyon will work more efficiently on elevation certificates there than a firm from another part of the state.
Search our directory by county to find surveyors who work in your area. Counties with the most active survey markets in Colorado include Denver, El Paso, Arapahoe, Jefferson, Larimer, Weld, Boulder, and Adams on the Front Range, plus La Plata in the southwest.
Types of Work Colorado Surveyors Do
Not all surveyors in Colorado handle all types of work. Common specializations include:
- Residential boundary surveys and ILCs: The most common survey type in suburban Colorado; most firms handle these.
- Elevation certificates: Required in flood zones; most residential surveyors handle these, especially in areas near the South Platte, Cherry Creek, Arkansas River, and other FEMA-mapped waterways.
- ALTA/NSPS surveys: Used for commercial real estate; not all residential surveyors are set up for ALTA work.
- Mining claim surveys: Common in mountain counties with historical mining activity; requires specialized knowledge of mining law and federal land records.
- Water rights boundary surveys: Common in western Colorado; involves mapping irrigation ditch easements and water rights boundaries.
- Construction staking: Supporting active construction projects with precise staking for foundations, roads, and utilities.
What to Ask Before Hiring
Before signing any agreement with a Colorado land surveyor, ask these questions:
- What is included in the scope of work? What deliverables will I receive?
- Is this a flat fee or is part of the fee hourly? What triggers additional charges?
- What is your estimated turnaround time?
- Have you worked in this county before, and are you familiar with the county clerk and recorder records?
- For mountain or rural properties: How will you access the property? Do you have the equipment needed for this terrain?
- For commercial or ALTA surveys: Do you carry professional liability (E&O) insurance?
Red Flags to Avoid
Walk away if a surveyor:
- Refuses to provide a Colorado PLS license number
- Offers only a verbal quote with no written scope of work
- Quotes dramatically below market rate (often signals skipping the research phase)
- Cannot explain what deliverables are included in the quote
- Has no familiarity with the county where your property is located
Understanding the Survey Quote
Most Colorado surveyors quote boundary surveys as a flat fee based on their initial research into the property. The quote typically covers legal research, field work, monument placement, and plat production. Additional charges can arise if field conditions are significantly different from what was expected, such as finding no prior monuments when the deed implied they existed.
Ask whether recording fees are included. Colorado requires certain survey plats to be recorded with the county clerk, and recording fees vary by county.
Timing Your Survey
The busy season for Colorado surveyors runs from April through October. During peak months, expect 3 to 5 week booking lead times at popular firms. If you need a survey for a real estate closing, start the process at least 4 to 6 weeks before the closing date. Mountain properties may need even more lead time if they are accessible only in certain seasons.