Improvement Survey Plats

 An Improvement Survey Plat, commonly referred to as an ISP, is a detailed boundary and improvement survey prepared in accordance with Colorado requirements. It is based on a monumented land survey and documents the relationship between the property boundaries, existing structures, visible improvements, easements and other physical conditions affecting the property.

An ISP shows structures, visible utilities, fences, hedges and walls located on the property and within five feet of its boundaries. It also identifies conflicting boundary evidence, visible encroachments and recorded easements, underground utilities or tunnels when supporting documentation is available.

Improvement Survey Plats are commonly requested for property additions, garages, accessory structures, permit applications, real estate transactions and projects where the relationship between existing improvements and property boundaries must be clearly established.

1. Records and Title Research — Review of deeds, subdivision plats, previous surveys, title documents and other records affecting the property.
2. Monumented Boundary Survey — Field measurements and analysis to determine or retrace the property boundaries and locate existing or newly set corner monuments.
3. Structures and Improvements — Location of buildings and other required improvements situated on the property.
4. Features Near Property Lines — Location of structures, visible utilities, fences, hedges and walls within five feet of the property boundaries.
5. Visible Utilities — Location of observable utility features such as meters, utility poles, manholes and utility structures.
6. Recorded Easements and Rights-of-Way — Depiction of applicable easements, rights-of-way and other recorded matters disclosed by the available title and property records.
7. Underground Utilities and Tunnels — Depiction of underground facilities for which properly recorded or documented information is available.
8. Boundary Conflicts and Encroachments — Identification of conflicting boundary evidence and visible improvements that may cross property lines, easements or rights-of-way.
9. Setback Information — Depiction or verification of setback requirements when applicable zoning or recorded information is provided and included in the survey scope.
10. Signed and Sealed Survey Plat — Preparation of a professional survey drawing showing the boundary, monuments, dimensions, improvements and relevant property information. The plat may also be deposited or recorded when required by Colorado law or the reviewing jurisdiction.

An Improvement Survey Plat is a true boundary survey based on a monumented land survey. An Improvement Location Certificate, or ILC, is not a boundary survey and does not establish property corners. When accurate boundary locations or detailed improvement information are needed for construction, permitting or resolving property concerns, an ISP provides a substantially greater level of survey information.