When Do You Need an ALTA Survey Instead of a Standard Boundary Survey?

The short answer: if a lender, title company, or buyer's attorney is involved in a commercial transaction, you almost certainly need an ALTA survey rather than a boundary survey. Most title insurers won't issue extended coverage on a commercial deal without one, since it's the only survey type that documents the full set of conditions their policy needs to account for.

A few situations point clearly toward ALTA. You're buying, selling, or refinancing commercial property. Your lender has specifically requested an ALTA/NSPS survey as a closing condition. The property has easements, shared access, or boundary conditions complex enough that a simple boundary survey wouldn't give a buyer or lender the full picture. You're assembling multiple parcels for one development and need everything documented in a single, standardized survey.

A standard boundary survey is usually enough when the situation is simpler. You're a homeowner confirming a property line before building a fence or an addition. You're resolving a boundary dispute with a neighbor. You're subdividing a residential lot and just need the new boundaries established. No lender or title company involved in the transaction is requiring anything more.

If you're not sure which category your project falls into, that's a quick conversation to have before ordering either one, since starting with the wrong survey type usually means paying for a second one later. For a rundown of exactly what each survey covers, see: What's the Difference Between a Boundary Survey and an ALTA/NSPS Survey?