Acreage & Farm/Ranch Survey in San Antonio, TX
Buying, selling, or fencing rural land? Alliance Land Surveyors provides boundary surveys for acreage, farms, ranches, and large rural tracts across San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country — from 1 acre to 500+ acres.
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Include property address and approximate acreage.
What Is an Acreage / Farm & Ranch Survey?
An acreage survey is a boundary survey for larger rural properties — farms, ranches, unplatted tracts, and Hill Country land. The surveyor researches the deed description and chain of title, locates or sets corner monuments, and produces a sealed plat showing the property boundaries, dimensions, acreage, easements, and any encroachments.
Unlike surveying a subdivision lot where the plat is recorded and corners are relatively easy to find, acreage surveys often involve older deed descriptions that reference creeks, fence lines, rock piles, or long-gone landmarks. Corner monuments may be buried under decades of soil, overgrown in cedar brush, or missing entirely. The deed may describe the property in metes and bounds rather than referencing a recorded plat. All of this makes acreage surveys more research-intensive and field-intensive than typical residential surveys.
In the San Antonio area, acreage surveys are common in Kendall County (Boerne, Comfort), Medina County (Castroville, Hondo), Guadalupe County (Seguin, Marion), Wilson County (Floresville), Atascosa County (Pleasanton), and the Hill Country portions of Bexar and Comal counties.
Why rural surveys are different:
Longer boundary lines — more ground to cover means more field time. A 50-acre tract might have a mile or more of boundary to traverse.
Difficult terrain — Hill Country properties feature steep limestone slopes, dense cedar and brush, creek crossings, and rocky ground that slow field crews.
Older deed descriptions — rural deeds may reference natural features that have changed or disappeared over time. Reconciling old descriptions with modern evidence requires experienced research.
Missing monuments — original corner markers from decades ago may be buried, destroyed, or never set properly. The surveyor must recover what exists and set new monuments where needed.
Multiple adjoining tracts — establishing a rural boundary often requires researching several adjoining property deeds to reconcile where all the boundaries fit together.
Fence line discrepancies — old ranch fences were often built by eye along convenient terrain features, not on the legal boundary. It's common for fence lines to be off by feet or even yards from the actual property line.
When You Need an Acreage Survey
Buying or Selling Land
Before exchanging money on rural land, you need to know exactly what you're buying or selling — acreage, boundary locations, easements, and whether the fence lines match the deed. Lenders financing land purchases often require a current survey.
Subdividing a Tract
Splitting a larger ranch or tract into smaller lots for sale or family division starts with a boundary survey of the parent tract, followed by a platting survey for the subdivision.
Fencing the Property
Before building miles of ranch fencing, you need to know the legal boundary — not just where the old fence was. An acreage survey marks the true corners so your fencing matches your deed.
Neighbor & Boundary Disputes
When adjoining ranchers disagree on where the property line is, a survey sealed by a licensed RPLS provides the objective evidence to resolve it — or to support your position in court if needed.
Tax & Exemption Verification
Verifying acreage for property tax purposes, agricultural exemptions, or Veterans Land Board purchases. The survey confirms the exact acreage and boundary, which directly affects your tax assessment.
Building on Rural Land
Planning a home, barn, or other structure on rural acreage? A boundary survey verifies setbacks and easements before you design. Combine with a topographic survey if your engineer needs elevation data.
Acreage Survey Costs in San Antonio
Acreage survey costs vary significantly based on tract size, terrain, vegetation, and deed complexity. Here's a general framework.
| Tract Size | Typical Range | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 5 acres | $800 – $1,500 | Accessible terrain, recoverable corners, recorded plat |
| 5 – 20 acres | $1,200 – $2,500 | More boundary length, brush clearing may be needed |
| 20 – 50 acres | $2,000 – $3,500 | Extensive fieldwork, multiple adjoining tracts |
| 50 – 100 acres | $3,000 – $5,000 | Full-day or multi-day fieldwork, complex deed history |
| 100+ acres | $4,000 – $8,000+ | Multi-day crew, steep terrain, creek crossings, missing monuments |
For an accurate quote: Call (210) 369-9509 or email orders@alliancelandsurveyors.com with your property address, approximate acreage, and a copy of your deed if available.
Acreage Survey FAQ
Request Your Acreage Survey Quote
Whether you're buying a ranch, subdividing a tract, fencing your property, or settling a boundary dispute, Alliance Land Surveyors has the equipment, experience, and licensed RPLSs to handle rural acreage throughout the San Antonio Hill Country.
Get Your Free Quote
Include property address and approximate acreage.
Acreage & Farm/Ranch Surveys for the Hill Country
Rural boundary surveys from $800. Equipped for Hill Country terrain.
