Denver County, the City and County of Denver, is Colorado’s largest urban market for land surveying. With dense development, an active commercial real estate sector, significant flood zones, and ongoing infill construction, Denver generates a wide range of survey needs year-round. Here is what to know when selecting a licensed Professional Land Surveyor for work in Denver County.
What Denver Surveyors Work On
Survey demand in Denver is driven by several distinct markets.
Residential ILC and boundary surveys: Most Denver homeowners encounter surveys when buying or selling. The mortgage lender typically requires an ILC, and buyers who want legal certainty about their boundaries commission a full boundary survey. Infill development across Denver, where a single large lot is split to build duplexes or row homes, requires boundary surveys and lot line adjustments.
Elevation certificates: The South Platte River corridor through LoDo, LoHi, and the Platte River Corridor neighborhoods, and Cherry Creek running through the Cherry Creek neighborhood and into downtown, have active FEMA flood zones. Properties near these waterways regularly need elevation certificates for flood insurance or building permits.
Commercial ALTA surveys: Denver’s LoDo, RiNo, Golden Triangle, and Baker neighborhoods have seen major commercial and mixed-use development. ALTA/NSPS surveys are standard for these transactions.
What to Look for in a Denver County Surveyor
When selecting a surveyor for work in Denver County, consider:
- Familiarity with Denver records: The Denver County Clerk and Recorder and the Denver Assessor maintain the plat and deed records surveyors rely on. A surveyor who works in Denver regularly will know these records systems and pull research more efficiently.
- Experience with older neighborhoods: If your property is in an older Denver neighborhood, look for a firm with experience in early 20th-century Denver plats. Curtis Park, Whittier, Potter-Highlands, and similar neighborhoods have layered records that require careful research.
- ALTA experience for commercial: For commercial transactions, confirm the firm has ALTA/NSPS survey experience and carries professional liability insurance.
- Turnaround expectations: Denver survey firms book out 2 to 5 weeks during peak season. If you have a closing date, start the process early.
Verifying a Surveyor’s License
Use the directory as a starting point, then confirm the responsible surveyor's current license before hiring.