The American Land Title Association (ALTA) and the National Society of Professional Land Surveyors (NSPS) meet every four to five years to revise survey standards related to title insurance matters. These changes happen as a result of verbiage updates, technology advancement, and business practice across the United States.
The 2026 ALTA survey standards contain several revisions that affect the surveyor’s duties and responsibilities as well as improvements for land title issues on the survey. These survey standards will remain in effect until the next ALTA/NSPS meeting takes place. Those who are involved in commercial real estate development should be aware of and understand the following changes:
- The new survey standards took effect on February 23, 2026, superseding the 2021 specifications. Use and review of surveys prepared under the 2021 specifications may need to be updated, depending on the requirements of the title company and/or buyer/seller’s counsel.
- Property surveys in Wisconsin, as defined in Wisconsin Administrative Code A E 7, are required to be filed with the county surveyor or other agency responsible for collecting and maintaining survey records. While raSmith has always filed ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys, this filing is now explicitly required under the 2026 ALTA/NSPS standards.
- The surveyor can add notation(s) of any verbal information provided by interested landowners or occupants (parol statements) as to title or boundary issues relating to the surveyed property.
- In Table A, Item 15, the use of drone imagery has been revised. The use of drone imagery to capture improvements that are not in close proximity to the property boundary or set back line must include a written agreement with the client on the source of imagery and licensing costs and requirements. The agreement should discuss the ramifications of such practices, including accuracy, precision, and completeness of the imagery.
- Table A, Item 20 has been revised to require a potential encroachment table addressing five typical instances of encroachments.
- Potential encroachments over boundary lines
- Potential encroachments into right-of-way or easements
- Potential encroachments into zoning setbacks (if zoning requirements are provided to the surveyor)
- Visible physical access between adjoining parcels without the benefit of an easement
- Visible use of adjoining parcels by apparent occupants of the surveyed property
- Table A, Item 21 has been added for the client to identify any requirements not addressed in the specifications or Table A.
raSmith is Available to Assist
Our professional surveyors stay up to date with all of the ALTA/NSPS requirements to serve clients on a variety of projects. As one of the largest land survey and geospatial services firms in Wisconsin and the Midwest, we have extensive experience with providing land title, boundary, topographic, and volumetric surveys; hydrographic surveys; LiDAR (3D laser scanning); unmanned aircraft systems (UAS); and other surveying services.
