Colorado land surveyor stamp-type seals are required for all licensed surveyors. As these seals are required on all documents that will be used to complete projects and for official business, it is important that you understand the regulations and rules that govern them. Here you will learn more about the appearance and usage requirements that are applicable to licensed land surveyors in Colorado.
Size and Appearance Requirements
The first thing to understand about Colorado land surveyor stamps is that they must create a seal that is 1 5/8” in diameter. Inside this outer circle, a smaller, inner circle that is 15/16” in diameter must also be included. The space between the two circles must include the words “Colorado Licensed” at the top and “Professional Land Surveyor" at the bottom. For those who have both an engineer and land surveyor license, the seal can contain “P.E. AND P.L.S.” along the bottom space. The certificate holder’s name will appear inside of the inner circle along the top, with the license number in a straight line in the center. Unlike many other states, Colorado land surveyor stamps do not include the prefix “No.” prior to the license number.
Using a Colorado Land Surveyor Stamp
In Colorado, land surveyor stamps, embossers, and digital images are acceptable methods for affixing seals. Any documents that are created from information gathered from land surveying, including plats and other professional documents must have a seal, date, and signature applied to each page. Surveying reports require a seal on either the title page or the signature page in order to be in compliance with Colorado land surveyor stamp regulations.
There may be instances where a public agency requires a seal on preliminary reports or other
documents. In these cases, the report must be clearly marked as preliminary or for review to ensure there is no confusion and that the information is not used prior to finalization.Each time a Colorado land surveyor stamp is used, the person adding the seal is also required to provide an explanation of what their work included, or that they were in responsible charge of if others created the documents. This protects the surveyor by limiting the scope of responsibility to only the information they were directly in charge of, rather than being responsible for the entire document. As a surveyor’s seal signifies that they have verified the information and that it is in compliance with applicable codes, this is obviously an important part of using a Colorado land surveyor stamp for sealing documents.
Understanding how your Colorado land surveyor stamp needs to look and be used is an important part of your duties after becoming licensed. If you have additional questions or concerns, be sure to check the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies website for more information on using your seal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Colorado land surveyor stamp requirements for a licensed Professional Land Surveyor?
A Colorado land surveyor stamp must be 1 5/8" in diameter with an inner circle 15/16" in diameter. The outer ring must include the words “Colorado Licensed” at the top and “Professional Land Surveyor” at the bottom. The surveyor’s name appears inside the inner circle at the top, and the license number is shown in the center without the prefix “No.”
When is a Colorado land surveyor seal required on plans, plats, or reports?
A seal is required on documents created from land surveying work that will be used for official business or to complete a project. This typically includes plats, survey drawings, and professional reports. For surveying reports, the seal should appear on either the title page or signature page to meet Colorado land surveyor stamp regulations.
Can Colorado land surveyor stamps be embossed or digital, or do they have to be inked?
In Colorado, surveyor seals may be applied using a stamp, embosser, or digital image. The important factor is that the seal is clear, compliant with state requirements, and placed correctly on the document. This gives surveyors flexibility while still meeting Colorado seal requirements.
Do Colorado land surveyor stamps include the license number with “No.” before it?
No. Unlike some other states, Colorado land surveyor seals do not use the prefix “No.” before the license number. The license number should appear directly in the center of the seal inside the inner circle.
What should be included when a Colorado surveyor seals documents prepared by others?
When sealing documents, the surveyor must include an explanation of what work they performed or confirm that they were in responsible charge of the work. This helps define the scope of responsibility and protects the surveyor from being held accountable for information outside their direct oversight.
Do preliminary survey reports need a Colorado land surveyor seal?
Sometimes a public agency may require a seal on preliminary reports or documents for review. If that happens, the report should be clearly marked as “preliminary” or “for review” so it is not mistaken for a final, approved document. This helps prevent confusion and improper use before finalization.
