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Bill

SB 545

Land Surveyors and Property Line Surveyors - Private Property Access - Prohibition

2026 Regular Session Introduced by William Folden and 2 co-sponsors

SB 545 requires written permission before surveyors access private property, potentially restricting a historically protected professional practice necessary for real estate transactions and boundary disputes.

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Bill Summary · SB 545

Legislative bill overview

SB 545 prohibits land surveyors and property line surveyors from accessing private property without explicit written permission from the property owner. The bill creates legal restrictions on surveyors' traditional ability to access neighboring properties as needed to complete boundary surveys, a practice historically protected under "surveyors' rights" doctrines in most states.

Why is this important

Property boundary surveys are fundamental to real estate transactions, construction projects, and dispute resolution. Restricting surveyor access could complicate or delay these activities, potentially increasing costs for homebuyers, developers, and property owners resolving boundary disputes. The bill directly impacts the practical ability of surveyors to perform their professional duties and may create liability questions if surveyors cannot access necessary sightlines or monuments.

Potential points of contention

  • Surveyor industry opposition: Professional surveyors rely on access rights to complete accurate work; this prohibition could make many surveys impossible or require costly workarounds
  • Property owner privacy vs. legitimate needs: Balances homeowner privacy rights against the practical necessity of surveys for legitimate real estate and legal purposes
  • Implementation ambiguity: Unclear how surveyors obtain "explicit written permission" in advance when property owners may be unknown, unreachable, or uncooperative, and whether emergency or court-ordered surveys are exempted

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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