Frequently Asked Questions

Land survey costs in Florida vary depending on the type of survey, property size, terrain complexity, and location. Factors like access difficulty, vegetation density, and the level of detail required all play a role in the final price. ALTA/NSPS surveys for commercial properties generally cost more than a standard residential boundary survey due to the additional research and detail involved. The best way to get an accurate number is to request a quote for your specific project. Contact SurveyFy for a free, no-obligation estimate — we offer competitive pricing across South and Central Florida.

While not legally required in every municipality, getting a boundary survey before building a fence is highly recommended. A boundary survey clearly marks your property lines, preventing you from accidentally building on a neighbor's land — which could lead to costly legal disputes, forced removal, or fines. Many HOAs and local building departments in Florida also require a survey before issuing fence permits. It's a small investment that protects you from much larger problems down the road.

A boundary survey establishes the exact property lines and corners of a parcel based on the legal description in the deed. An ALTA/NSPS survey is a more comprehensive survey that meets national standards set by the American Land Title Association. It includes everything in a boundary survey plus additional details like easements, rights-of-way, encroachments, building setback lines, and improvements on the property. ALTA surveys are typically required by title companies and lenders for commercial real estate transactions.

Turnaround time depends on the type of survey and project complexity. A standard residential boundary survey typically takes 2 to 5 business days from the time we receive the order. ALTA surveys may take 1 to 2 weeks due to the additional research and detail required. Elevation certificates usually take about 2 to 3 business days. SurveyFy also offers expedited services for time-sensitive projects — just let us know your deadline and we'll do our best to accommodate it.

An elevation certificate (EC) is an official FEMA document that records the elevation of your building relative to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) in your area. It's primarily used to determine flood insurance rates. If your property is in a FEMA-designated flood zone, your insurance company will almost certainly require an elevation certificate to calculate your premium. Even if you're not in a high-risk zone, an EC can sometimes help you qualify for lower flood insurance rates. In Florida, where flooding is a significant risk, elevation certificates are among our most requested services.

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses laser pulses to measure distances and create highly accurate 3D maps of terrain and structures. In land surveying, we mount LiDAR scanners on tripods, vehicles, or drones to rapidly capture millions of data points, creating a detailed 'point cloud' of the surveyed area. LiDAR is especially valuable for large-scale topographic surveys, construction site monitoring, corridor mapping for roads and utilities, and creating as-built documentation. It's faster and more detailed than traditional surveying methods for complex projects.

While Florida law doesn't require a survey for every home purchase, title companies and lenders often require or strongly recommend one. A survey protects you by revealing potential issues before closing — such as encroachments from neighboring properties, fence lines that don't match property boundaries, structures built over easements, or discrepancies between the legal description and actual property lines. Many buyers skip the survey to save a few hundred dollars, only to discover expensive problems later. We always recommend getting a survey before closing on any property purchase.

SurveyFy provides land surveying, LiDAR scanning, drone mapping, and topographic services across South and Central Florida. Our primary service areas include Miami-Dade County, Broward County, Palm Beach County, Monroe County, Collier County, Lee County, St. Lucie County, Indian River County, Sarasota County, Manatee County, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, and Polk County. We serve major cities including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Lakeland. Contact us for projects outside these areas — we're happy to discuss availability.

To help your survey go smoothly, here are a few things you can do: Gather any existing survey documents, property deeds, or plat maps you may have. Clear access to your property boundaries by trimming overgrown vegetation along fence lines and property edges. Make sure the surveyor can access all areas of the property, including locked gates. If you have pets, please secure them during the survey. Mark any known property corners or monuments if you're aware of them. And let your neighbors know that a surveyor will be working in the area, as property line surveys sometimes require brief access to adjacent properties.

Getting a quote is easy! You can call us directly at (786) 936-4540, email us at info@surveyfy.net, or fill out the contact form on our website. To help us provide an accurate estimate, please include: the property address, the type of survey you need (or describe your project and we'll recommend the right service), any deadline requirements, and your contact information. We typically respond to quote requests within 24 hours during business days. All of our quotes are free with no obligation.

A bathymetric survey maps the underwater topography of bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, canals, retention ponds, and coastal areas. It measures water depth at multiple points to create a detailed contour map of the bottom surface. These surveys are commonly needed for dredging projects, marine construction, dock and seawall permitting, stormwater management, environmental studies, and flood risk assessment. SurveyFy uses advanced sonar and GPS equipment to deliver precise hydrographic data for engineering, environmental, and development projects throughout Florida.

SurveyFy offers a full range of drone (UAV) surveying services including aerial topographic mapping, drone LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry, orthomosaic imagery, volumetric calculations, and construction progress monitoring. Drone surveying allows us to cover large or difficult-to-access areas quickly and safely while delivering high-resolution data. It is ideal for construction sites, mining operations, agricultural land, environmental assessments, and infrastructure inspections. Our FAA-certified drone pilots and licensed surveyors work together to ensure all deliverables meet professional surveying standards.

Vegetation encroachment analysis identifies trees, branches, and other vegetation that have grown too close to power lines, pipelines, or other utility infrastructure within designated corridors. This is critical for preventing power outages, wildfires, and safety hazards. SurveyFy uses LiDAR scanning and drone technology to accurately measure vegetation proximity to utility assets, generate detailed encroachment reports, and help utility companies prioritize trimming and clearing operations. Our analysis supports compliance with NERC reliability standards and local vegetation management requirements.

Mobile mapping is a surveying technique that uses vehicle-mounted LiDAR sensors, cameras, and GPS equipment to capture highly detailed 3D data of roads, corridors, and surrounding environments while driving at normal speeds. This technology is ideal for highway and roadway surveys, utility corridor mapping, asset inventory, right-of-way documentation, and infrastructure planning. Mobile mapping dramatically reduces field time compared to traditional survey methods and minimizes traffic disruption. SurveyFy's mobile mapping services deliver georeferenced point clouds, 360-degree imagery, and accurate measurements for transportation, utility, and municipal projects across Florida.