What is a Property Survey? Do I need a Property Survey for Installing a Fence?

If you're planning to install a fence, one of the most important first steps might surprising you: getting a property survey. This might feel like extra work — but doing the survey right can save you headaches, money, and even legal trouble down the road. Here’s what a property survey is, and why it’s so valuable when building a fence.

What Is a Property Survey?

A property survey is a detailed, professional assessment of your land. A licensed land surveyor will map out your property’s exact boundaries 

Key elements of a survey often include:

• Boundary lines: Where your property legally begins and ends.

• Property markers or monuments: Physical markers (like iron rods or stakes) placed to mark corners.

• Easements: Areas where other parties (like utility companies) have rights to access your land.

• Encroachments: Structures that might cross over the true property line (your neighbor’s shed or their fence, for example).

• Zoning and setback information: How close you legally can build your fence relative to property lines or public rights-of-way.

Why You Absolutely Should Do a Survey Before Installing a Fence

Here are some of the biggest reasons why a survey is a smart (and sometimes essential) step before building your fence:

Avoid Encroachment & Boundary Disputes

• Without a survey, you might assume where your property ends but those “gut feeling” lines could be wrong.

• If your fence ends up on your neighbor’s land (even by a few inches), it could lead to serious tension or even legal action.

• A survey documents your legal boundary clearly, giving you peace of mind and a defensible reference if conflicts arise.

  
  

Identify Easements & Restrictions

• Some parts of your land might be subject to utility easements. If you build over them, you could be forced to remove or modify your fence later.

• Public setbacks (for roads, alleys, or rights-of-way) often require the fence to be placed a certain distance from property lines. In some jurisdictions, building inspectors may demand survey pins before issuing a fence permit.

• Knowing where easements are helps you design your fence to avoid future disruptions or legal restrictions.

  

  Save Time, Money & Stress

• If you skip the survey and later find out the fence is in the wrong place, you might have to relocate or tear it out . Which is both costly and frustrating.

• A survey helps your fencing contractor build to a real plan instead of making guesses. This improves accuracy and efficiency.

• For local permitting: some cities or HOAs require a survey (or proof of property line) before approving a fence permit.

Legal Protection & Long-Term Value

• A survey provides legal documentation of where things are, which can be useful in future disputes, property sales, or insurance claims.

• In Minnesota, for example, only a licensed land surveyor can legally reestablish property corners if monuments are missing.

• Removing or defacing survey markers (monuments) is even subject to legal penalties under Minnesota law.

  
  

Better Neighbor Relations

• Sharing a survey with your neighbor before the fence goes up can help ensure everyone agrees on placement beforehand.

• When both parties trust the boundary, you’re less likely to end up in a fence-ownership or cost-sharing dispute later.

What the Survey Process Looks Like

Here’s a simplified breakdown:

1. Hire a Licensed Surveyor Make sure they’re certified. In Minnesota, for example, only a licensed surveyor can legally set or reset property monuments.

2. Preliminary Research The surveyor will review your deed, plat maps, and any old survey documents.

3. On-site Measurement They’ll locate existing markers (if any), place new ones if needed, and measure your property using professional equipment.

4. Create Drawing / Certificate After the fieldwork, they’ll produce a certified survey drawing (often called a “Certificate of Survey” or boundary survey).

5. Use for Planning With the survey in hand, you (or your fence installer) can mark exactly where the fence should go. You’ll also know where to avoid easements or restricted zones.

   
   

Real-World Examples & Risks

• A city may refuse a fence permit unless survey stakes are set permanently. For instance, St. Anthony Village (Minnesota) requires a registered surveyor to place permanent survey pins for permit approval.

• Without a survey, you might build over a utility easement leading to future conflicts or even the fence needing to be removed.

• In Minnesota, if a survey monument is removed or destroyed, there are legal consequences: a person who “intentionally removes, destroys, or defaces” a monument “is guilty of a misdemeanor.”

Conclusion: Survey First, Fence Later

If you're serious about installing a fence, a property survey is not just a “nice-to-have”. It's a foundational step. It protects you legally, ensures your fence is built in the right place, and can save you from costly rework or neighbor disputes. By investing in a survey up front, you're making sure that your fence project is built on solid ground, literally and figuratively.