How much does a boundary survey cost in Washtenaw County?

Most residential boundary surveys in Washtenaw County run $700 to $2,000. Straightforward platted lots in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti with good records fall toward the lower end. Agricultural parcels in western Washtenaw or lots with disputed histories can push past $2,000.

Does Ann Arbor's real estate market affect survey costs?

Indirectly, yes. High property values in Ann Arbor mean buyers and sellers treat surveys as a standard precaution, which keeps local survey firms busy. Demand tends to push turnaround times out and may limit negotiating room on price.

Do I need a survey to sell a home in Washtenaw County?

Michigan does not require a survey for a home sale. However, older Ann Arbor neighborhoods with disputed lot lines or Ypsilanti properties near flood zones are common situations where buyers request surveys before closing.

Are agricultural land surveys different from residential ones?

Agricultural parcels often use metes-and-bounds descriptions rather than recorded plats, which requires more deed research. Western Washtenaw County has significant agricultural land being subdivided for residential development, and those parcels typically cost more to survey than established subdivisions.

Who licenses land surveyors in Michigan?

The Michigan Board of Professional Surveyors through LARA at michigan.gov/lara. Verify your surveyor's active license before signing any contract.

Land Survey Cost in Washtenaw County, Michigan (2026)

Key takeaway

Land survey costs in Washtenaw County, MI range from $600 to $2,500. See what drives prices in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, and Chelsea.

What Land Surveys Cost in Washtenaw County

Washtenaw County spans a range of property types: dense urban neighborhoods in Ann Arbor, post-industrial lots in Ypsilanti, walkable small-town blocks in Saline and Chelsea, and working farmland in Dexter and Manchester townships. Survey costs reflect that variety. A standard boundary survey on a well-platted Ann Arbor lot runs $700 to $1,400. The same scope on a metes-and-bounds agricultural parcel in Freedom Township or a disputed lot in older Ypsilanti can reach $1,800 to $2,500.

Survey Types and 2026 Price Ranges

Boundary survey: $700 to $2,500 for residential lots. Larger or rural parcels run higher.
ALTA/NSPS survey: $2,000 to $5,000 or more. Used for commercial transactions near University of Michigan campus and in Ann Arbor's downtown and research corridor.
Elevation certificate: $300 to $700. Required for properties in Ypsilanti near the Huron River floodplain or other FEMA-mapped zones.
Topographic survey: $1,000 to $3,000. Common for new construction and grading projects on the rolling glacial terrain of western Washtenaw.
Lot staking: $400 to $1,200 to set or reset corner markers on an already-surveyed property.

Ann Arbor: High Demand, Complex Older Lots

Ann Arbor's real estate market is one of the most active in Michigan, driven by the University of Michigan and a dense concentration of technology and medical employers. Survey demand here is consistently high. The challenge is that many of Ann Arbor's most desirable neighborhoods, including Burns Park, Kerrytown, and the Old West Side, were platted between the 1890s and 1930s. Lot lines in these areas do not always match what is physically on the ground.

Fences built in the wrong place, additions that encroach on setbacks, and contested lot lines between neighbors are common in these older neighborhoods. Surveyors working in Ann Arbor spend meaningful time researching historical deed records at the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds before fieldwork begins, and that research time is baked into the quote.

Near the University of Michigan campus, commercial and mixed-use properties changing hands frequently require ALTA surveys. These run considerably more than residential boundary surveys and are priced to reflect the liability and documentation standards national title insurers require.

Ypsilanti and the Huron River Floodplain

Eastern Ypsilanti includes neighborhoods along the Huron River that sit within FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas. Properties here may require elevation certificates on top of any boundary survey work. The Ypsilanti area also has a significant inventory of older industrial and mixed-use parcels with irregular lot configurations that require additional research.

The City of Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township have distinct parcel records systems, and surveyors familiar with both save time switching between them. Ask prospective surveyors whether they have recent experience in both jurisdictions if your property is near the city-township boundary.

Western Washtenaw: Agricultural Land in Transition

Chelsea, Dexter, and the townships to the west have seen steady residential development pressure as buyers seek larger lots outside Ann Arbor. Agricultural parcels described in metes and bounds rather than recorded plats require more deed research and often more fieldwork to establish corner positions. If you are buying or subdividing agricultural land in this part of Washtenaw County, budget toward the higher end of the range and plan for a 3 to 6 week turnaround.

In Saline, the pace of residential subdivision has been particularly active. New subdivision surveys are a standard part of the local surveying workload, and firms experienced with Washtenaw County plat approval processes can navigate approvals more efficiently than those without local experience.

Getting Accurate Pricing

Pull your parcel information from the Washtenaw County GIS at ewashtenaw.org before reaching out to surveyors. Provide each firm with the parcel ID, property address, project type, and any known complications. Get at least three quotes and verify each surveyor's Michigan license at michigan.gov/lara.

Find a land surveyor in Washtenaw County and compare quotes from licensed Michigan professionals.