New requirements for ALTA/ACSM land title survey standards have been proposed by a joint committee of the American Land Title Association and the National Society of Professional Surveyors. The first standards were adopted by ACSM and the American Title Association (now ALTA) was in 1962 which was last updated in 1986. The final draft of the proposed 2011 Minimum Standard detail Requirements could go into effect February 23, 2011. The final document will now go up for a vote by the members of ALTA in October and the NSPS Board of Governors in November. Hundreds of suggestions and comments were gathered over the course of two years. Some Comments from interested surveyors and attorneys were incorporated into the new draft. Some effort was made to standardized wording and varying terms such as visible, observed, observable and physical. Significant addition changes include what defines an ALTA/ACSM land title survey for non-standard types of properties such as marinas, trailer parks and campgrounds. Other changes include clarifying the survey and depiction of easements, both on-site and off-site, plus one section related to wetlands locations.

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