What is a "Cadastral Survey"?

A "Cadastral Survey" is defined as a survey that establishes property boundaries for taxation and ownership purposes. This type of survey plays a crucial role in delineating land parcels and ensuring that ownership rights are clear and legally recognized. Such surveys are typically conducted to create or update property maps, which may then be used in local, state, or federal tax assessments. Cadastral surveys help maintain accurate records of land ownership, which is vital for real estate transactions, land development, and urban planning.

In contrast, the other types of surveys listed, although valuable, serve different objectives. Assessing agricultural potential focuses on evaluating the capability of land for farming rather than establishing ownership. The identification of potential hazards is critical for safety and environmental management, but it does not pertain to property boundaries. Lastly, surveys centered on environmental impacts aim to understand how land use affects ecosystems and natural resources, which again diverges from the primary function of defining property lines and ownership rights inherent in cadastral surveys.