This question is of some debate among many professional surveyors.
Property/Boundary Surveys (there are two) require monumentation to be set at all corners along the boundary, except where natural or manmade monuments already define or occupy the line/corner. The requirement to set corners can be waived if done so in writing between the surveyor and client, and, when waived, there must be additional notation on the face of the map.
The issue we have with this is that some surveyors hide the required “waiver” within their agreements without specifically bringing this to the attention of the client. As such, when an individual executes an agreement, they are waiving the requirement to have property corners set. Interestingly, even if waived by mutual agreement, these surveys should still comply with the monumentation requirements as defined in Section 20-300b-13 of the Standards and Suggested Methods and Procedures for Surveys and Maps in the State of Connecticut.
As for the six types of Limited Property/Boundary Surveys, there is no such waiver language as part of the definitions of these types of surveys. Therefore, these types of surveys must adhere to Section 20-300b-13 of the Standards and Suggested Methods and Procedures for Surveys and Maps in the State of Connecticut, regardless of what a surveyor’s agreement states. We would even go one step further, stating that the Boundary Stakeout Survey specifically requires that the corners be recovered or set, and nothing would release the surveyor from doing so.
Section 20-300b-13 states that there shall be a minimum of three monuments, markers or a combination thereof; each monument or marker found or set shall be adequately described and noted; of the three minimum monuments or markers, two shall be within 600 feet of the boundary; and finally, each boundary monument shall be within 600 feet of two other boundary monuments or a boundary monument and reference marker.
Here at Juliano Associates, we set missing property corners and mark property boundaries for all Property/Boundary and Limited Property/Boundary surveys we conduct…period. Conducting a survey and not setting corners or worse, charging the client an additional fee to do so when it is a requirement, is not only unprofessional but unethical in our opinion.