Blog · September 27, 2026
When a Recorded Plat Is Not an ALTA Survey
An ALTA/NSPS land title survey is a current survey contracted to a title company's checklist. A recorded plat is the older subdivision drawing.
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The ALTA product locates improvements, easements from the title commitment, and the boundary as it can be recovered now. The plat created the lots in the first place.
On the recorded sheet
You can have a perfect plat book citation and still need an ALTA survey for a commercial closing because the plat does not show the encroachment that happened in 2004.
The mix-up to avoid
The plat does not expire. It also does not update itself when the building changes.
Find the county map
The county GIS map is the practical place to start. Find it from the Platbookmapper directory, then treat the recorded plat and deed as the documents behind the picture.
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey.