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Maps can be picked up in person at the Pine County Public Works Building or at the Courthouse in Pine City. 

If it is on a County road, please call Public Works at 320-216-4200.  If , however, it is on a township or city road please call the appropriate representative.

Whenever a new access is created or there is a change in the property on a Pine County road.

Land Surveying is the science of measuring and mapping relative positions above, on or under the surface of the earth, or establishing such positions from legal or technical documents. One may also consider the Land Surveyor to be a “professional measurer”. The Land Surveyor also deals not only with both mathematical and physical aspects of measuring, but applies them to the legal aspects of boundary law. Modern technology has changed how the Land Surveyor uses physical measuring and applying mathematics to the work. Modern instruments used to measure the land now reduce the physical labor involved in measuring. Advancements in computer technologies has increased the speed and reduced computation errors. A Land Surveyor is a person who has qualified by education and experience, and who has passed an examination for Registration required by the laws of the State in which he or she is practicing. When a Land Surveyor is licensed, the State Board of Registration “registers” that license of the Land Surveyor. 

A Land Surveyor offers a highly technical and complex service that often is misunderstood by the public. The Land Surveyor is often a member of a professional team, working closely with the Attorney, Title Company, Architect, Civil Engineer, and others as needed. If needed, the Land Surveyor may appear in court in your behalf as an expert witness. The possession of a license enables the Land Surveyor to assume responsibility for the accuracy and precision of the boundary measurement. Often, the Land Surveyor acts as a clients' representative at public meetings when local government approval is required for certain projects.

ALTA/ACSM Survey
A survey made for the purpose of supplying a title company and lender with survey and location data necessary for the issuing of title and/or mortgage insurance. A detailed map is required to be done to “ALTA” specifications. The acronym "ALTA" stands for American Land Title Association. Specifications of this type of Survey include (but are not limited to) determining property lines, location of improvements, identifying all easements, utilities and other conditions affecting the property. ALTA surveys are very comprehensive surveys. Any ALTA Land Survey must meet the "Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys" as adopted by the American Land Title Association, the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, and the National Society of Professional Surveyors. The Alta Survey is most often performed on commercial properties. 
Boundary Survey
A boundary survey establishes the property corners and property lines of a parcel of land based upon title documents. Boundary surveys are typically performed to obtain building permits, to resolve property disputes, and for erecting fences. Easement lines may also be located, if requested, with this type of survey.

Cadastral Survey
Original survey, resurvey, or retracement of public lands within the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) for restoration of property lines.

Construction Survey
Survey measurements made prior to or while construction is in progress to control elevation, horizontal position, dimensions, and configuration of buildings, fences, roads, etc.

Control Survey
A Land Survey providing precise locations of horizontal and/or vertical positions of points for use in boundary determination, mapping for aerial photographs, construction staking or other needs.

Judicial Survey
Analysis of various legal documents and survey maps; field locating of record, existing monuments, and physical features; and mapping showing this information for the purpose of presenting a visual exhibit to be used in a courtroom. In Minnesota this may also me known as a “Torrens” Survey of “Registered” or “Torrens” land. A “Judicial” Survey is a Land Survey ordered by the courts system, at times setting “Judicial Land Marks" (JLMs). Also called "JMs" which stands for "Judicial Monument", or "Judicial Marker".

Floodplain Survey
Floodplain surveys determine the elevation of various sections of a building or land. Typically these are used to aid in building plans and to determine if a property is in a flood zone.

Geodetic Survey
A Land Survey that is affected by and takes into account the curvature of the earth.

Hydrographic Surveys
Collect data relating to bodies of water, and may include the water depth, bottom contours and configuration, directions and velocity of current, heights and water stages, and the location of fixed objects for water navigation purposes.

Lot Split Survey
Are performed when you divide an existing parcel of land into two or more parcels. All surveys for lot splits include a drawing of the new parcels and the required legal description to record the split. It is important to note the size of the original parcel as well as the size of the proposed new parcel(s) in order to receive accurate quotes of proposed survey work to be performed.

Site Plan Survey
A combination of boundary and topographic surveys for preparation of a site plan to be used for designing improvements or developments.

Mining and other Subsurface Surveys
A survey that determines the location and dimensions of parts of a mine, including the natural and artificial features of the mine, both above and below ground. These surveys are done with both vertical and horizontal components, locating the features in a three dimensional manner. Mortgage Inspections: (Not necessarily a Land Survey!) They are often a product that is provided on residential loans. A drawing may or may not be provided. Be aware that many of these “Mortgage Inspection” surveys are NOT BOUNDARY SURVEYS. Often they are required by lending institutions. Fences and other improvements should not be constructed based on a mortgage inspection. Boundary lines are not determined on many “Mortgage Inspection” surveys. Look for the “Certification” of the Land Surveyor, which usually includes the signature of and license number of the Land Surveyor.

Mortgage Location Survey: (Not necessarily a Land Survey!)
These surveys are typically used by title companies and mortgage lenders to obtain proof that the major improvements on the property are free of encroachments onto neighboring properties or into recorded easements. Mortgage surveys do not establish property corners or property lines and should not be used for building purposes.

Quantity Surveys
Obtains measurements of quantities, usually in conjunction with a construction process, earthwork, etc.

Record or As-Built Survey
A survey performed to obtain horizontal and/or vertical dimensional data so that a constructed facility may be delineated. An As-Built Survey is a survey to physically locate structures and improvements on a parcel of land, generally for mortgage purposes. This does not always include boundary monumentation and/or location.

Registered Land Survey (aka R.L.S.)
A survey of “registered” (Torrens title) land, usually done to shorten lengthy legal descriptions, or divide larger parcels of “Torrens title” land into smaller tracts.

Route Survey
Reconnaissance, preliminary survey and location survey for an alignment or linear type feature such as a road, railroad, canal, pipeline or utility line.

Subdivision Survey
Also known as a “Subdivision Plat”, it is the subdivision of a tract of land into smaller parcels, showing monumentation and mathematical survey data on a map, conforming to State Statutes and local Government (usually County) ordinances.

Topographic Survey
A Land Survey locating natural and man made features such as buildings, improvements, fences, elevations, land contours, trees, streams, etc. Engineers and/or Architects may use this type of survey for the design of improvements or developments on a site.

• Many people wish to know where there boundary lines are, or know more about the land they are about to purchase prior to the final purchase of the property. In some areas, it is required. 
• The list below may give you some more ideas about why and when you would benefit from a Land Survey.
• When buying land. 
• When selling land. 
• When land is not clearly defined by a plat or by an older Land Survey.
• When you cannot be certain of the location of your property corners. 
• When building, Land Surveys are often used to determine drainage, setbacks, and proper planning. 
• Before land is divided. 
• Before building a fence, building, shed, or anything near an unknown property line. 
• Before timber is to be cut near an unknown property line. When purchasing title insurance. 
• When applying for a "Torrens Title" to "register" your land title. 
• Whenever a boundary line or corner is unknown or in disagreement. 
• To settle a boundary dispute of some type. 
• When you think you might have an encroachment onto your land.
• When clearing or doing construction in "wetland" areas. 
• Before developing property. 
• To clear up an ambiguous legal description of land or verify the location of structures on the property.

• Consult and advise you whether or not you need a Land Survey, and what type of Land Survey you may need to suit your best interests.
• Examine your deed and adjoining deeds for potential problems.
• Find or replace, then mark property corners and property lines so that they can easily be identified on the ground. 
• Create subdivision “plats”. 
• Draw topographic and contour maps when elevations are required for drainage and other planning needs. 
• Advise and cooperate with your Attorney, Title Insurer, Realtor, Banker, Architect, or Civil Engineer.
• Locate potential encroachments relative to the property line. 
• Appear in court as an expert witness on your behalf in a lawsuit. 
• Assist you in preparing drawings to be used in proposed construction for building permit applications. 
• Perform preliminary route surveys for roads and engineering designs, perform construction staking from engineering or architectural design plans. 
• Perform Land Surveys to assist in creating a "base map" to develop a GIS Geographic Information System.

DO NOT mistake this as a complete list, but here are some ideas that will help you and the Land Surveyor . . .

• Contact the surveyor well before the survey is needed. 
• When contacting a Land Surveyor, you need not visit their place of business.
• Allow enough time. Researching and planning project will be needed, and your job has to fit into the workload of the Land Surveyor.
• Ask if they have worked in your area, surveyed your property before, or maybe your neighbors. (Land Surveyors familiar with the area are often more cost effective than those who are not.)
• Ask the Land Surveyor what experience they have in performing the type of survey that you are requesting. 
• Ask the Land Surveyor to show you proof that he or she is a Licensed Land Surveyor. 
• Ask if they are able to complete the Land Survey within the time frame you require. 
• Ask if the cost per hour, or is the cost per job. 
• Ask when do you have to pay the Land Surveyor. 
• Ask if you need some extra copies of the Land Survey. 
• Ask if the Land Survey will be “filed”, and if so, where.
• Ask if you would like to be shown your property lines and corners in the field. 
• Ask how you could find your property lines years from now based on your Land Survey. 
• Ask where your property corners and lines are, and feel free to ask the Land Surveyor for help and advice.
• This is one of the reasons you hired the Land Surveyor.
• Inspect your property lines regularly, protect your property corners from destruction, and never move or relocate property corners. 
• Don't seek the cheapest Land Surveyor; select one who will do the best, satisfactory job for you.
• Ask questions if you do not understand what is being presented or discussed.

The more information you can furnish the Land Surveyor prior to the fieldwork the likelihood is that the work will be more efficient thus reducing your costs. Often more time is spent "verifying the correctness" of property corners than is spent in setting property corners.
Supply information even though you might think that it might negatively affect your boundaries. It is important to understand that although you may really only want your own property lines surveyed, the Land Surveyor is also determining the boundary of the neighbors land, and must be impartial in the location of any boundary line. Some of the information you should supply may include, but is not limited to the following:
Explain the exact purpose of the survey and define your needs. The Land Surveyor may often suggest ideas that you have not considered. 
Ask questions if you do not understand what is being presented or discussed. 
Supply “proof of ownership” from a reliable source. 
This may include but is not limited to: The recorded deed or Certificate of Title. Note: title insurance and abstracts of title are not “proof of ownership.” 
Make available any additional old surveys, plats, plot plans or building plans. 
Make known all disputes over corners or boundaries. 
Supply any information you may have about the location of your property lines or corners.
Provide information about adjoining landowners.

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