Maryland's unusual distinction changes hiring
Business Occupations and Professions section 15-101 defines both “practice land surveying” and “practice property line surveying.” Property line surveying is a narrower credential focused on locating and describing boundaries, easements, and rights-of-way. The broader professional land-surveying scope includes additional measurement, planning, subdivision, condominium, topographic, and design-coordination work described in the statute.
Do not decide from the business name. Compare the assignment with the two scopes in section 15-101, then ask which licensed individual will be responsible for the complete work.
Maryland regulates both individuals and business practice
Section 15-301 requires board licensure before an individual practices land surveying or property line surveying, subject to listed exceptions and supervised work. Maryland also uses permits for corporations and partnerships offering these services.
Before a licensee issues a surveying plan, plat, report, or specification to a client or submits it to a public authority, section 15-502 requires the licensee's name and seal. Ask to see exactly which document will carry that responsibility.
A survey and a legal resolution are different
A surveyor can retrace records, locate monuments, and report the boundary evidence. If the parties dispute ownership or lost bounds, Maryland Real Property section 14-111 describes a circuit-court process and permits the court to appoint surveyors or other experts. It also penalizes willful damage or removal of qualifying survey markers on another's property.
The homeowner takeaway is not to start with adverse-possession theories. Preserve the markers, obtain a defensible survey, and seek legal advice if the disagreement remains.
Match the credential and deliverable
Use the two credential definitions in section 15-101 to match the licensed responsibility to the work, then make the resulting deliverable explicit.
| Need | Confirm before hiring |
|---|---|
| Fence or disputed line | Boundary retracement, corner or line marking, and a sealed survey document. |
| Topographic or site design | The broader professional scope and the data format needed by the designer. |
| Subdivision or condominium | Planning scope, local approvals, recordable plat, and the credential responsible. |
| Firm engagement | Individual license, business permit where applicable, and responsible charge. |
Verify before relying
Use the Maryland State Board public query to check the person and credential. Use the Maryland land surveyor directory to locate firms, then compare written scopes rather than titles alone.