National ALTA/NSPS Land Surveys & Zoning Services

An ALTA/NSPS survey is a boundary survey that meets the standards set by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). It is required by lenders and title insurers for commercial real estate transactions because it reveals boundary lines, easements, encroachments, setbacks, and access conditions that title searches alone may not disclose.

Commercial ALTA survey costs vary based on property size, complexity, location, and required turnaround. CBRE manages ALTA surveys at both single-site and portfolio scale — contact our team for a project-specific estimate.

A boundary survey establishes property lines. An ALTA survey is a more comprehensive boundary survey that also documents easements, improvements, encroachments, zoning setbacks, and access rights per ALTA/NSPS standards — making it suitable for lender and title insurer requirements.

A zoning compliance report verifies that a property's current use and improvements conform to local zoning codes. It typically includes written verification from the municipality, the certificate of occupancy, applicable zoning code sections, and analysis of any nonconforming conditions.

A land surveyor measures and maps property boundaries, topography, and physical features of land. In commercial real estate, surveyors produce ALTA surveys, boundary surveys, topographic surveys, and plot plans used in transactions, financing, and development.

Turnaround times vary based on property complexity, location, and research requirements. CBRE coordinates and manages the full process, providing regular project updates.

An ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey is the most comprehensive type of survey used in commercial real estate transactions. It is prepared to the standards jointly adopted by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS).

These surveys are required by lenders and title companies for most commercial transactions, providing a clear picture of property boundaries, easements, encroachments, and improvements.

CBRE delivers ALTA surveys that meet the 2026 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements — lender-ready, title-ready, and deadline-ready.

A topographic survey is a detailed mapping of a land surface that records its natural and man-made features — including elevations, contours, slopes, water bodies, vegetation, and structures on a piece of land?

A precise field survey conducted by a licensed land surveyor to locate, establish, and mark the legal boundaries of a parcel of land based on deeds, legal descriptions, historical records, and physical evidence on the ground.

A Lot Split or Lot Consolidation Survey is a professional land survey service that allows property owners, developers, and investors to restructure the legal boundaries of one or more parcels of land — either by dividing a single parcel into multiple smaller parcels or by combining two or more adjacent parcels into one unified tract. Both processes result in newly defined legal parcels each with their own recorded legal description, boundary, and parcel identification.

An official document prepared by a licensed land surveyor, engineer, or architect that determines and records the elevation of a structure and its surrounding land in relation to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) established by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

A survey conducted after construction is complete to verify and document that a structure or improvement was built in accordance with the original approved plans, permits, and design specifications — and to record exactly where everything was constructed on the ground.

A thorough and accurate design survey is the critical first step in any cell tower or renewable energy project. It eliminates guesswork, reduces design errors, accelerates the permitting process, and ultimately saves time and money by ensuring that every decision made during design and construction is based on real, verified, on-the-ground data.

Whether you are deploying a new monopole in a rural corridor, installing a small cell in an urban environment, or rolling out a network of EV charging stations across a commercial portfolio — our design survey services give your project team the accurate foundation it needs to succeed.

A Zoning Analysis Report confirms that a property's current use, structure, and site configuration conform — or legally non-conform — to the applicable zoning ordinance. It's a critical component of commercial real estate due diligence.

Lenders and title companies require zoning reports to understand the property's legal standing and any risks associated with non-conforming uses or structures.

CBRE's zoning team researches directly with local jurisdictions to produce reports that are accurate, defensible, and ready for your closing.

Report Includes

• Zoning district & classification
• Permitted use confirmation
• Legal non-conforming status
• Setback & dimensional standards
• Parking requirements
• Rebuild rights analysis
• Overlay districts & special conditions
• Jurisdictional contact & verification

A Zoning Feasibility Study is a pre-acquisition analysis that determines what a property can legally be used for under current zoning — and what it would take to change or expand that use. It's the first question any buyer or developer should answer before committing to a deal.

Unlike a Compliance Report, which looks backward at current conformity, a Feasibility Study looks forward — evaluating entitlement risk, rezoning potential, variance requirements, and development constraints.

CBRE's zoning team delivers feasibility studies that give buyers, developers, and lenders a clear picture of what's possible — before money is on the line.

Feasibility Study covers

• Permitted & conditional use analysis
• Rezoning & variance pathways
• Development potential & density limits
• Entitlement risk assessment
• Timeline & approval process overview
• Overlay & special district constraints

A Zoning Letter is an official written confirmation from the local jurisdiction stating the zoning classification and permitted uses of a specific property. It serves as formal, government-issued verification that can be relied upon by lenders, title companies, and attorneys in a transaction.

Unlike a zoning analysis prepared by a third party, a Zoning Letter carries the authority of the municipality itself — making it the strongest form of zoning confirmation available.

CBRE coordinates directly with zoning departments nationwide to obtain Zoning Letters quickly, keeping your timeline on track.

Zoning Letter confirms

• Official zoning district & classification
• Permitted uses as of the date of issuance
• Government-issued & municipality-signed
• Accepted by lenders & title underwriters
• Strongest available zoning verification

A Zoning Debrief is a live, expert-led walkthrough of your zoning report findings. Rather than leaving your team to interpret complex regulatory language on their own, a CBRE zoning specialist walks through the key conclusions, flags any issues, and answers questions in real time.

It's particularly valuable for transactions involving non-conforming uses, complex overlay districts, or properties with ambiguous entitlement histories — situations where a written report alone isn't enough.

Debriefs can be conducted with buyers, lenders, legal counsel, or any combination of deal parties — by phone, video, or in writing.

Debrief includes

• Expert walkthrough of report findings
• Plain-language explanation of key issues
• Risk flagging & deal implications
• Q&A with a CBRE zoning specialist
• Available by phone, video, or written summary