1. A. Purpose. The purpose of a planimetric survey is to locate, describe, or map, or all of these, the horizontal positions of the physical features and characteristics of the surface of the earth and other features.

2. B. Result.

   1. (1) The results of a planimetric survey shall clearly show the results of the field and office work, and shall be presented, depending on the type of professional services requested, in the form of:

      1. (a) A plat;
      2. (b) A worksheet;
      3. (c) Raw data; or
      4. (d) Adjusted data.
   2. (2) Plats are intended for a release as stand-alone products. Worksheets and raw data are intended as components to be included in other surveying or engineering documents and are not intended as stand-alone products. Worksheets and raw data are not required to comply with this regulation.

3. C. Field Procedures.

   1. (1) Field work shall be performed in accordance with accepted surveying theory, practice, and procedures specified in this section.
   2. (2) Field data satisfying the requirements of these regulations shall be gathered, and the surveyor shall make a reasonable effort to maintain the data.

4. D. Plats.

   1. (1) An original plat of a planimetric survey shall be a reproducible drawing at a suitable scale clearly indicating the results of the field work, computations, research, and record information, as compiled, checked, and analyzed.

   2. (2) The plat shall be prepared in conformity with the following procedures:

      1. (a) A reasonably stable and durable drawing paper, linen, or film of reproducible quality is considered suitable material for planimetric survey drawings;
      2. (b) Plats may not be smaller than 8-1/2 X 11 inches;
      3. (c) Relevant natural or artificial visible features shall be labeled and represented by a symbol on the plat in its proper location, and each symbol shall clearly indicate what is being represented or shall be labeled for identification either individually or in a separate key to symbols;
      4. (d) The plat shall show a north arrow;
      5. (e) A statement indicating the source of the bearings shall be made on the plat;
      6. (f) The source of a coordinate system, if used on the plat, shall be identified;
      7. (g) Cemeteries and burial grounds found by the surveyor within the premises being surveyed shall be noted on the plat; and
      8. (h) Different line weights or delineating letters or numbers shall be used to clearly show the limited of the survey.

   3. (3) In addition to the criteria set forth in §D(2) of this regulation, the plat shall show the following:

      1. (a) Caption or title and general location of the property or a vicinity map;
      2. (b) Scale;
      3. (c) Date;
      4. (d) Name and address of the firm or surveyor;
      5. (e) A statement to the effect that a licensee either personally prepared a planimetric survey or was in responsible charge over its preparation and the surveying work reflected in it, all in compliance with requirements set forth in Regulation .12 of this chapter; and
      6. (f) Seal and signature of the surveyor who personally prepared or was in responsible charge over the preparation of the planimetric survey.

5. E. Tolerances.

   1. (1) Horizontal tolerances for planimetric mapping shall meet the accuracy standards of this subsection. On maps with publication scales larger than 1:20,000, not more than 10 percent of the points tested shall be in error by more than 1/30 inch, measured on the publication scale, and on maps with publication scales of 1:20,000 or smaller, 1/50 inch. These limits of accuracy shall apply in all cases to positions of well-defined points only. Well-defined points are those that are easily visible or recoverable on the ground, such as the following monuments or markers, including:

      1. (a) Property boundary monuments;
      2. (b) Intersections of roads;
      3. (c) Railroads;
      4. (d) Corners of large buildings; and
      5. (e) Other similar points.
   2. (2) In general, what is well defined may also be determined by what is plottable on the scale of the map within 1/100 inch.

Authority: Business Occupations and Professions Article, §15-208(b)(4), Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: December 1, 1994 (21:22 Md. R. 1875)

Annotation: Regulations .01—.10, which were adopted effective December 1, 1994, can be found at 21:21 Md. R. 1875 and 21:11 Md. R. 958. Judicial action stayed the effectiveness of these regulations. Maryland Society of Surveyors et al. v. William A. Fogle et al., Case No. 94314037/CE 188625, Circuit Court for Baltimore City. A consent order, dated January 27, 1995, required the repeal of these regulations without taking effect. The consent order included new regulations to be adopted.

Regulations .01—.10 repealed and new Regulations .01—.14 adopted as an emergency provision effective March 1, 1995 (22:5 Md. R. 364); adopted permanently effective June 5, 1995 (22:11 Md. R. 820)

Regulation .03A, F amended effective February 10, 1997 (24:3 Md. R. 186)

Regulation .04 amended effective February 10, 1997 (24:3 Md. R. 186)

Regulation .05D amended effective February 10, 1997 (24:3 Md. R. 186)

Regulation .06A, D, E amended effective February 10, 1997 (24:3 Md. R. 186)

Regulation .08 amended effective February 10, 1997 (24:3 Md. R. 186)

Regulation .10C amended effective February 10, 1997 (24:3 Md. R. 186)

Regulation .11 amended effective February 10, 1997 (24:3 Md. R. 186)

Regulation .12A, D amended effective February 10, 1997 (24:3 Md. R. 186)

Regulation .13 amended effective February 10, 1997 (24:3 Md. R. 186)

Chapter revised effective August 1, 2005 (32:15 Md. R. 1320)

Regulation .02B amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1569); December 12, 2022 (49:25 Md. R. 1049)

Regulation .03 amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1569)

Regulation .04 amended effective December 12, 2022 (49:25 Md. R. 1049)

Regulation .04B, D amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1569)

Regulation .05 amended effective December 12, 2022 (49:25 Md. R. 1049)

Regulation .05B, D amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1569)

Regulation .06 amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1569)

Regulation .07C repealed effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1569)

Regulation .07 amended effective August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .08B amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1569)

Regulation .09B amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1569)

Regulation .09 amended effective August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .10D repealed effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1569)

Regulation .12 amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1569)

Regulation .12H adopted effective June 13, 2011 (38:12 Md. R. 704)

Regulation .12I amended effective August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .12J amended effective August 27, 2018 (45:17 Md. R. 802)