Can Surveyors Survey in the Snow?

If you live in Wisconsin, winter is part of life — and so is land surveying. One of the most common questions we hear is whether surveying can be done when there’s snow on the ground.

The answer is yes — in most cases.

Surveyors rely on permanent monuments like iron pipes, rebar, and concrete markers that remain in place year‑round. Using metal detectors, GPS, and total stations, along with property legal descriptions we can locate these points even when they’re covered by snow.

Most boundary surveys, land divisions, and ALTA/NSPS surveys can be completed in winter without sacrificing accuracy. Snow does not affect the legal position of property corners or the precision of our measurements.

Some specialty surveys like topographic surveys or wetland delineations may need to wait until the ground is visible, since they rely on surface features and vegetation.

Winter surveying often speeds up projects by avoiding the spring rush. Getting your survey done now means permits, closings, and construction can move forward sooner.

Land Surveys Inc. works year‑round across Southeast Wisconsin — snow boots included.