Harrity Land Surveying in Baltimore: Property Line Surveys for Residential and Commercial Projects
Harrity Land Surveying is a licensed surveying firm serving Baltimore property owners, developers, and legal teams who need boundary lines established, property disputes resolved, or development sites mapped. The firm handles residential lot surveys, commercial site plans, boundary disputes, and preliminary surveys required by lenders and title companies. It operates within Baltimore City and surrounding counties, competing in a market where survey costs vary significantly by project scope and timeline.
What Harrity Land Surveying actually does
A land survey is a legal document that establishes property boundaries, locates structures, and identifies easements or encroachments. Unlike a property appraisal or title search, a survey requires fieldwork: a licensed surveyor uses equipment to measure distances, angles, and elevations, then produces a plat (map) that a title company, lender, or court can rely on. Harrity operates as a full-service surveying firm, meaning it handles the entire process in-house rather than subcontracting field work or drafting. This matters because communication stays direct and turnaround times depend on the firm's own schedule, not a chain of vendors.
Services and pricing
Harrity offers four main service tiers:
Residential lot surveys run $400 to $800 for a standard half-acre lot in Baltimore City or County. Price climbs if the lot is larger, heavily wooded, or has title issues that require extra research. A standard survey takes 1 to 2 weeks from job start to final plat.
Boundary dispute surveys cost $800 to $2,000 and require field investigation, record research, and sometimes testimony-ready documentation. These take 2 to 4 weeks because disputes often demand deeper historical research.
Commercial and development surveys range from $1,500 to $5,000 or more, depending on site size and complexity. Multi-phase projects or sites with significant environmental or utility complications push fees higher. Turnaround is typically 2 to 6 weeks.
ALTA surveys (American Land Title Association standard, required by lenders for commercial transactions) cost $2,500 to $4,500 and include additional detail work. These take 3 to 6 weeks.
Verify current pricing by phone; survey fees fluctuate based on project-specific conditions and market rates.
How Harrity compares to other Baltimore surveying options
Baltimore has roughly a dozen licensed surveying firms. Most fall into three categories: large engineering firms that offer surveying as one service among many (such as departments within companies like Whitman, Requardt & Associates), small independent surveyors with 1 to 3 staff, and mid-size firms like Harrity that maintain in-house crews.
Choose a large firm if you need surveying plus engineering, site design, or permitting under one roof; expect higher fees (often 20 to 40 percent above independent rates) but streamlined coordination on complex projects. Choose an independent surveyor if you want the lowest cost and don't mind longer turnaround; these operators often work solo and charge $300 to $600 for basic residential surveys. Choose Harrity if you value speed, direct communication, and don't need ancillary services; the firm sits between those endpoints in cost and complexity capacity.
For boundary disputes or litigation-grade surveys, Harrity's in-house team means the surveyor who did the fieldwork is also available to explain findings or testify, avoiding the confusion that sometimes arises when field and office staff are separate.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Harrity suits homeowners buying a property in Baltimore who want a survey before closing (lenders increasingly require one, especially for older homes or disputed lot lines), commercial developers planning projects in the City or County, and lawyers handling boundary disputes. It also works for property owners expanding existing structures and needing confirmation that the addition won't cross a line.
Harrity is not the right fit if you need a quick, budget survey in a single afternoon (a few independent surveyors sometimes offer same-day residential work for small lots, though rare). It is also not the option if you require surveying plus architectural design, permitting, and engineering on a large development; you would be better served by a full-design firm.
What the first visit involves
Contact Harrity by phone or email with your property address and the reason for the survey (purchase, dispute, development, refinance). The firm will ask for the deed, any existing surveys, and a description of the boundary question or concern. For a residential survey, this call is usually the last direct contact; Harrity will schedule field work, perform it, and deliver the plat by mail or digital copy. For commercial or dispute work, expect a brief in-person or video consultation to walk through the scope and timeline. You do not need to be present during fieldwork, though access to the property is required.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Harrity operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office is located within Baltimore City. Fieldwork scheduling is flex; surveyors can accommodate evening or weekend access if the property owner requests it and the scope allows. There is no public walk-in service; all work is initiated by phone, email, or referral from a lawyer or real estate agent.
Harrity's combination of reasonable pricing, prompt turnaround, and in-house expertise makes it a reliable choice for Baltimore property owners and developers who need legal-grade boundary documentation without the overhead cost of a large engineering firm.
