Category 1B Standard Land Survey
THE TEXAS STANDARD FOR BOUNDARY DETERMINATION.A Category 1B Standard Land Survey, commonly known as a boundary survey, establishes or retraces a property's legal boundary using record research, field evidence, monuments, applicable Texas boundary principles, and professional judgment.
A boundary is a determination, not a measurement.
Records describe what the parties intended. Monuments and occupation show what was actually done on the ground, sometimes generations earlier, by different hands. The two do not always agree, and when they disagree the answer is not found in the equipment.
Resolving that disagreement is the work. A deed can be plotted in minutes and coordinates can be collected in an afternoon, but neither one decides where the line belongs.
Boundary determination comes from more than one source.
The record and the field do not always line up perfectly. The surveyor's responsibility is to evaluate the available evidence together and determine the boundary under applicable Texas surveying principles.
Subject property records
Deeds, plats, legal descriptions, and other available records establish the documented history of the parcel being surveyed.
Adjoining property records
Neighboring deeds and plats help the surveyor evaluate how the subject boundary relates to the surrounding ownership framework.
Found monuments and field evidence
Existing corners, monuments, and relevant physical evidence are searched for, measured, and evaluated against the record information.
Apparent conflicts
Where record calls, monuments, occupation, or other evidence do not appear to agree, the surveyor evaluates the conflict rather than forcing the data to fit one source.
Professional boundary analysis
The final boundary determination reflects applicable Texas boundary principles and professional judgment applied to the evidence found for that specific property.
How Eagle runs a boundary survey.
Every property carries its own record history, so the findings differ every time. The sequence does not.
Review the subject property together with the relevant adjoining deeds, plats, and boundary records, and build the search information the field crew will need.
Search for existing corners and monuments, measure what is found, and document the physical evidence along the boundary.
Compare record against field, examine apparent conflicts, reach the boundary determination, and set or reestablish corners where appropriate.
Provide the final plat showing the boundary, dimensions, area, monuments, and relevant evidence, in the agreed format.
Where a Category 1B boundary survey fits.
Category 1B, Category 1A, or ALTA/NSPS?
The right product depends on who will rely on it.
Category 1B Standard Land Survey
Establishes or retraces the legal property boundary without the broader title-reporting scope associated with the two land title survey products.
Category 1A Land Title Survey
Texas-specific land title survey used where the transaction requires title-related documentation beyond the Category 1B boundary determination.
Explore Category 1A →ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey
National land title survey standard commonly used for commercial transactions, lenders, title companies, and multi-party real estate due diligence.
Explore ALTA/NSPS →Category 1B Boundary Survey FAQs
What is a Category 1B Standard Land Survey?
A Category 1B Standard Land Survey, commonly known as a boundary survey, establishes or retraces the legal boundary of a parcel using deeds, plats, adjoining property records, found monuments, field evidence, applicable Texas boundary principles, and professional judgment. It is generally used when the primary objective is to determine and document property lines rather than obtain the broader title-related reporting included in an ALTA/NSPS or Category 1A Land Title Survey.
When is a Category 1B boundary survey the right fit?
A Category 1B Standard Land Survey is generally appropriate when the main objective is to establish or retrace property lines. Common uses include commercial and development-tract boundary confirmation, acreage and rural-tract retracement, locating or marking corners for planning, supporting future platting, easement and access planning, and evaluating apparent boundary conflicts.
What records does Eagle review for a boundary survey?
Eagle researches the subject property and adjoining tracts using available deeds, plats, adjoining property records, and other relevant record information. The record research is evaluated together with found monuments and field evidence rather than treating any one document or measurement as the complete boundary answer.
Will Eagle set or reestablish property corners?
Eagle searches for and evaluates existing boundary monuments and sets or reestablishes corners when appropriate. Whether a corner is recovered, accepted, reestablished, or set depends on the record and field evidence and the professional boundary determination for the property.
What does the final Category 1B survey show?
The signed and sealed survey plat documents the determined boundary together with dimensions, area, monuments, and relevant boundary evidence. The final product is intended to clearly communicate the boundary determination made from the record research, field investigation, and professional analysis.
How is Category 1B different from Category 1A or an ALTA/NSPS survey?
Category 1B primarily establishes or retraces the legal property boundary. Category 1A and ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys add broader title-related reporting and transaction requirements. If a lender, title company, attorney, buyer, or other party requires title-specific information, Eagle can help determine whether Category 1A or ALTA/NSPS is the more appropriate survey product.
Need the property boundary established or retraced?
Send the property location, available deed or plat information, intended use, site access considerations, and requested schedule. Eagle performs Category 1B boundary surveys throughout Texas from our Denton and Waco offices.