How Much Do Land Surveys Cost in Baltimore County?
Baltimore County is a separate jurisdiction from Baltimore City. With Towson as its county seat, Baltimore County surrounds the city on three sides and includes communities like Essex, Middle River, Dundalk, Catonsville, Pikesville, Reisterstown, Owings Mills, Cockeysville, Hunt Valley, and White Marsh. Survey costs here run $700 to $1,500 for a standard boundary survey, on par with other Baltimore metro counties.
Location surveys for mortgage purposes cost $400 to $700. Elevation certificates for waterfront and low-lying areas in Essex, Middle River, and Dundalk cost $400 to $750.
Why Survey Costs Vary Across Baltimore County
Eastern County Communities
Essex, Middle River, and Dundalk are low-lying tidal communities along Back River and the Chesapeake Bay estuary. These areas have complex boundary situations: tidal waterways, small lots, older subdivisions from the mid-20th century, and recurring flood issues. Surveys in these communities often involve FEMA floodplain research in addition to standard boundary work. Costs here run $800 to $1,400 depending on the project.
Northern County Suburbs
Towson, Cockeysville, Hunt Valley, and Perry Hall are in the northern rolling hills of the county, within the Gunpowder Falls watershed. These communities have standard suburban subdivision plats and are generally more straightforward to survey than the eastern waterfront areas. Costs here run $700 to $1,100.
Western Suburbs
Catonsville, Arbutus, and Lansdowne are dense close-in suburbs west of Baltimore City. Properties here often have small lot sizes and close-set structures, similar to urban surveys. Deed research can be complex because of the age of the subdivisions. Costs run $700 to $1,200.
Wooded Northern Lots
The northern tier of Baltimore County near Hereford, Monkton, and the Pennsylvania border has larger lots with wooded terrain in the Gunpowder Falls and Western Run watersheds. These properties have more complex fieldwork and older deed histories. Costs run $900 to $1,500.
Common Survey Types
- Boundary survey: $700 to $1,500
- Location survey: $400 to $700
- Elevation certificate: $400 to $750 for eastern county tidal areas and Patapsco River floodplain near Catonsville
- ALTA survey: $2,500 to $6,000 for commercial properties in White Marsh, Owings Mills, Timonium, and Hunt Valley
Find a Licensed Surveyor in Baltimore County
Search our land surveyor directory for Baltimore County to find licensed professionals in Towson, Essex, Catonsville, Dundalk, Pikesville, and surrounding communities. Use the directory as a starting point, then confirm the responsible surveyor's current license before hiring.