Frequently Asked Questions

Land survey costs in Perth vary depending on the type of survey, property size, and complexity. Here's a general guide:

• Boundary identification (2-4 pegs): $800 - $1,200
• Full boundary survey (all corners): $1,500 - $3,000
• Detail/feature survey: $1,200 - $2,500
• Construction setout: $500 - $1,500
• Subdivision survey: $3,000 - $10,000+
• Strata survey: $4,000 - $15,000+

Contact us for a free, detailed quote for your specific property.

Several factors influence the cost of a land survey in Perth:

• Property size: Larger properties take longer to survey
• Terrain: Steep, rocky, or heavily vegetated sites are more challenging
• Access: Remote locations or difficult site access increases costs
• Complexity: Properties with many boundaries or irregular shapes
• Research required: Older properties may need more title research
• Urgency: Rush jobs incur additional fees

We provide transparent, upfront quotes with no hidden fees. Our quotes include all survey work, plan preparation, and standard deliverables. Additional charges may apply for:

• Landgate search fees (title documents, survey plans)
• Government lodgement fees for subdivisions
• Additional site visits if conditions change
• Urgent/rush processing

We'll always discuss any potential additional costs before proceeding.

Survey turnaround times depend on the type of work:

• Boundary surveys: 5-7 business days from site visit to plan delivery
• Detail surveys: 5-7 business days
• Construction setout: Often same-day or next-day turnaround
• Subdivision surveys: 3-6 months including WAPC approval

The field work itself typically takes 2-4 hours depending on property size.

Subdivision approval timelines vary depending on the type and complexity:

• Two-lot subdivision: 3-4 months (may be delegated to council)
• Multi-lot subdivision: 4-6 months for WAPC approval
• Complex or larger subdivisions: 6-12 months or longer

These timeframes include the approval process, condition clearance, and Landgate registration. Delays can occur if conditions are difficult to satisfy or if additional agency referrals are required.

Yes, we offer expedited services for urgent projects. Same-day or next-day site attendance is often possible depending on our schedule and your location. Rush processing of survey plans can also be arranged. Additional fees apply for urgent services. Call (08) 5122 5501 to discuss your urgent requirements.

While our standard operating hours are Monday to Friday, we can arrange weekend surveys for urgent projects or where site access is restricted during weekdays. Weekend surveys may incur additional fees. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

You don't need to be present during the survey, but we do need access to your property. Please ensure:

• Gates are unlocked or access arrangements made
• Dogs are secured or contained
• We know about any access restrictions

For boundary work, we may also need to briefly access neighbouring properties to locate survey marks. We'll coordinate this with you beforehand.

A boundary identification locates and marks your property corners based on existing survey marks and title information. It shows you where your boundaries are.

A title re-establishment (or re-peg) is a more comprehensive survey that re-establishes the legal boundaries and may involve placing new permanent survey marks. Re-establishments are typically required for:

• Subdivisions
• When original survey marks are missing or disturbed
• Legal disputes requiring certified boundaries

A detail survey (also called feature or topographic survey) captures all existing features on a property including:

• Buildings, fences, and structures
• Trees and vegetation
• Ground levels and contours
• Driveways and paved areas
• Underground services (where visible)

Architects and engineers use this information for designing extensions, new buildings, or development projects. It's essential before most construction work.

Survey strata divides land into lots based on surveyed ground boundaries (like traditional subdivisions). Buildings don't need to exist before registration. It's commonly used for townhouses and grouped dwellings.

Built strata defines lots by reference to a building's structure (floors, walls, ceilings). The building must be completed before the strata plan can be registered. It's used for apartments and multi-storey buildings.

Read more on our strata survey page.

An engineering survey supports construction and infrastructure projects. It includes:

• Pre-construction site surveys and topographic mapping
• Construction setout - marking building positions on ground
• As-built surveys - documenting what was actually built
• Monitoring surveys - tracking movement and settlement

Engineering surveys provide the spatial data engineers and contractors need for design and construction verification.

Construction setout is the process of marking the positions of planned structures on the ground so builders know exactly where to construct. This includes positioning:

• Foundations and footings
• Walls and columns
• Road alignments and kerbs
• Services and drainage

Accurate setout is critical to ensure buildings comply with approved plans and setback requirements.

While not legally required under the Dividing Fences Act 1961, we strongly recommend a boundary identification survey before building a fence in Perth. This prevents:

• Costly disputes with neighbours
• Having to move a fence built in the wrong location
• Legal action for encroachment

Many fence disputes end up requiring surveys anyway, so it's more cost-effective to survey first. A basic boundary identification for fence purposes typically costs $800-$1,200.

In Western Australia, only surveys conducted by a licensed surveyor registered with the Land Surveyors Licensing Board are legally recognised for property boundary matters. Unlicensed surveys cannot be used for:

• Lodging subdivision plans with Landgate
• Resolving boundary disputes in court
• Certifying building setbacks for council approvals
• Property settlements requiring boundary verification

Whether you can subdivide depends on your property's zoning, size, and local council requirements. General guidelines:

• R20 zones: Minimum 900m2 for subdivision (450m2 per lot)
• R30 zones: Minimum 600m2 for subdivision (300m2 per lot)
• R40 zones: Minimum 440m2 for subdivision (220m2 per lot)

Other factors like frontage, access, and services also affect subdivision potential. Our team can assess your property and advise on options. Visit our subdivision survey page for more information.

If a survey reveals your fence is on the wrong boundary, options include:

• Moving the fence: Relocate to the correct boundary (costs may be shared under Dividing Fences Act)
• Encroachment agreement: Formal agreement with neighbour to leave fence in place
• Adverse possession: In rare cases, long-term occupation may support a claim (complex legal process)

We recommend getting a boundary survey before building any new fence to avoid these situations.

Modern land surveyors use a range of precision equipment:

• GPS/GNSS receivers: Satellite-based positioning accurate to 10-20mm
• Robotic total stations: Angle and distance measurement with sub-millimetre accuracy
• Digital levels: Precise height measurements
• 3D laser scanners: Rapid capture of complex structures
• Drones/UAVs: Aerial mapping for large sites

All equipment is regularly calibrated to ensure accuracy meets Landgate standards.

Modern survey-grade GPS equipment achieves accuracy of 10-20mm horizontally and 20-30mm vertically under good conditions. Factors affecting accuracy include:

• Number of visible satellites
• Atmospheric conditions
• Proximity to buildings or trees
• Duration of observation

For higher precision work (construction setout, monitoring), we use robotic total stations which can achieve sub-millimetre accuracy.

We provide survey plans in various formats to suit your needs:

• PDF: Standard format for all surveys
• DWG/DXF: CAD files for architects and engineers
• CSV/TXT: Coordinate data for further processing
• LandXML: For machine control and GIS applications

Let us know your preferred format when requesting a quote, and we'll include it in your deliverables.

We service all of Perth and surrounding suburbs including:

• Northern suburbs: Joondalup, Wanneroo, Scarborough, Stirling
• Southern suburbs: Fremantle, Rockingham, Mandurah, Cockburn
• Eastern suburbs: Midland, Armadale, Kalamunda, Gosnells
• Inner suburbs: Perth CBD, Subiaco, Cottesloe, South Perth
• Perth Hills: Kalamunda, Mundaring, Darlington

We also travel to regional Western Australia for larger projects. Contact us for a quote.

You can get a general idea of your boundaries from:

• Your certificate of title (available from Landgate)
• Online mapping tools like Landgate's Property Interest Report
• Existing survey pegs or marks (if present)

However, these are not accurate enough for construction or legal purposes. Only a licensed cadastral survey can legally establish your exact boundary positions.

Yes, we provide free, no-obligation quotes for all survey work. To prepare an accurate quote, we typically need:

• Property address or lot details
• Type of survey required
• Purpose of the survey
• Any specific requirements or timeframes

Call (08) 5122 5501 or submit an enquiry online for your free quote.