Legal Definitions - inclusive survey

An inclusive survey is a type of land survey that combines two or more existing, separately described parcels of land into a single, larger parcel with a new, unified legal description. Essentially, it "includes" all the smaller parcels within one new boundary, replacing their individual descriptions with one comprehensive description for the consolidated property.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Commercial Development

  A real estate developer plans to build a large retail center. They purchase three adjacent, individually surveyed residential lots, each with its own distinct legal description (e.g., "Lot 1, Block A," "Lot 2, Block A," and "Lot 3, Block A" of a specific subdivision). To facilitate the construction and financing of the single large retail center, the developer commissions an inclusive survey. This survey consolidates all three residential lots into one new, larger commercial parcel, which is then assigned a single, new legal description (e.g., "Parcel A, Commercial Subdivision No. 1").

  This illustrates an inclusive survey because multiple pre-existing, separate parcels (the three residential lots) are combined into one new, unified parcel with a single new legal description, simplifying ownership and development.

• Example 2: Expanding a Residential Property

  A homeowner owns a property described as "Lot 10 of the Oakwood Subdivision." They decide to purchase a small, unused strip of land directly behind their existing property from a neighbor, which was previously described as "Tract B, Section 12." To ensure their entire backyard is legally recognized as one contiguous piece of land under a single ownership document, they commission an inclusive survey. This survey merges their original Lot 10 with the newly acquired Tract B, resulting in a single, expanded property with a new, comprehensive legal description that covers both areas.

  This demonstrates an inclusive survey as two distinct, previously surveyed parcels (the original lot and the acquired strip) are legally joined into a single, larger property under a new, unified legal description.

• Example 3: Municipal Land Consolidation

  A city government owns several small, irregularly shaped parcels of land in a downtown area, acquired over many years for various public purposes. These parcels have separate legal descriptions and are difficult to manage individually. To create a new public park, the city decides to consolidate these parcels. They commission an inclusive survey to combine "Parcel 1," "Parcel 2," and "Parcel 3" (each with its own existing description) into one large, cohesive area for the park. The survey produces a single, new legal description for the entire park property.

  This is an example of an inclusive survey because multiple separate, existing municipal land parcels are brought together under a single new boundary and a single new legal description to form a unified park property.