Category 1A Land Surveys in Houston and Nearby Texas Counties
"Texas, often referred to as the Lone Star State, is a thriving hub for economic growth and innovation, making it an attractive destination for commercial real estate investment." - Chris Evans
Understanding Category 1A Land Surveys in Houston-Area Counties
What Is a Category 1A Land Survey—and Why Does It Matter?
In Texas, especially across the Greater Houston region, Category 1A surveys have become the gold standard for real estate transactions, new construction, and municipal compliance. These surveys are often required by title companies, lenders, and city planning departments to ensure clear ownership and accurate boundaries for a property.
If you're buying, building, or refinancing in Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston, Chambers, Liberty, or Waller County, understanding Category 1A surveys—and when you need one—can help you avoid delays and protect your investment.
What Is a Category 1A Survey?
A Category 1A survey, as defined by the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS), is a title survey that meets a strict set of standards to document:
Legal property boundaries
Improvements on the property (buildings, fences, driveways, etc.)
Easements and right-of-way access
Encroachments on or from neighboring lots
Compliance with zoning or setback requirements
📌 It’s one of the most commonly requested surveys during real estate closings and is essential for obtaining title insurance.
When Is a Category 1A Survey Needed?
You’ll typically need one when:
✔️ Buying or selling property
✔️ Refinancing or securing a loan
✔️ Verifying property improvements and boundary lines
✔️ Preparing for new construction or additions
✔️ Resolving boundary disputes
✔️ Finalizing platting or subdivision applications
County-Specific Survey Considerations Around Houston
Each county around Houston may have unique conditions that make Category 1A surveys particularly useful or required. Let’s look at how they apply throughout the region:
📍 Harris County (Houston, Spring, Bellaire)
With high-density development, boundary conflicts and utility easements are common.
Title companies in Houston often require a Category 1A survey before closing on residential or commercial property.
Used frequently in Houston’s inner loop neighborhoods, where homes are close together and improvements may encroach on neighboring lots.
📍 Fort Bend County (Katy, Sugar Land, Richmond)
Growing master-planned communities often require 1A surveys to verify new construction compliance with setbacks and zoning.
Lenders in Fort Bend regularly request 1A surveys for residential and mixed-use properties, especially near major roadways and development corridors.
📍 Montgomery County (The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia)
As land is subdivided and custom homes are built, Category 1A surveys help validate legal boundaries and plat changes.
Local municipalities often require surveys for permits, especially when building on wooded lots or in extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJs).
📍 Brazoria County (Pearland, Alvin, Manvel)
In flood-prone areas, 1A surveys are used in tandem with elevation certificates for insurance and permitting.
Essential for confirming clear access and utility easements on properties in rural subdivisions and planned developments.
📍 Galveston County (League City, Texas City, Santa Fe)
Coastal areas often require 1A surveys before issuing permits due to floodplain regulations and erosion zones.
Used by title companies to confirm encroachments and improvements on bayfront or near-beach properties.
📍 Chambers County (Baytown, Mont Belvieu, Anahuac)
Frequently used to confirm access easements, pipeline rights-of-way, and road frontage on rural tracts.
Required for commercial and residential development in expanding suburban areas.
📍 Liberty County (Cleveland, Dayton, Liberty)
Helpful in resolving boundary line confusion on large rural lots, especially those passed down generationally.
Used when platting or replatting land for subdivision or sale.
📍 Waller County (Brookshire, Hempstead, Prairie View)
Developers use 1A surveys to finalize land acquisitions for industrial parks and logistics centers along I-10 and US-290.
Useful for property owners updating deeds or preparing for construction or refinance.
What Does a Category 1A Survey Include?
Your survey will show:
Property corners and metes & bounds description
Dimensions of all visible improvements
Distance from structures to boundary lines
Recorded easements, utility corridors, and rights-of-way
Any encroachments or inconsistencies with the legal description
It’s prepared by a licensed professional land surveyor and signed with a certificate confirming the survey meets Texas Category 1A standards.
Why Work with South Texas Surveying for Category 1A Surveys?
At South Texas Surveying, we’ve been helping property owners, developers, and real estate professionals across Houston and all surrounding counties for over 40 years. We provide:
✔️ Fast and accurate 1A surveys for residential, commercial, and rural properties
✔️ ALTA/NSPS surveys, boundary surveys, platting, and elevation certificates
✔️ Support for title companies, attorneys, and lenders
✔️ Expertise in local permitting across Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Chambers, Liberty, and Waller Counties
📞 Need a Category 1A survey? Call South Texas Surveying and schedule your survey today—anywhere in the Greater Houston area.
Don’t Close, Build, or Develop Without a 1A Survey
Category 1A surveys offer the level of detail and legal accuracy that real estate professionals, lenders, and municipalities rely on to move projects forward. If you're buying, refinancing, or preparing to build in the Houston area or nearby counties, this is the survey that gives you (and your investment) full protection.
📍 Let South Texas Surveying help you complete your transaction with confidence—serving Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Chambers, Liberty, and Waller counties.
