After receiving your surveying license, you will have to obtain a Maryland land surveyor seal in order to begin practicing in your discipline. However, there are several appearance and use guidelines that you need to follow to make sure you are in compliance with the state requirements.
Appearance
Your Maryland land surveyor seal must be either 1-5/8” in diameter, which is often referred to as a pocket size, or 2” in diameter, which may also be called a desk stamp. Either size is acceptable and can be either a rubber stamp or an embossing seal.
Types of Seals
There are two different types of seals available. The most common is the Maryland land surveyor seal consisting of two concentric circles around the Seal of Maryland. In the space between the larger outer circle and the smaller inner one, the words “State of Maryland” must appear in the top arc, with the words “Professional Land Surveyor” along the bottom arc. In the space between the smaller inner circle and the outer circle of the Seal, the licensee’s name appears along the top of the arc, while the license number is entered in the bottom arc.
The second option is the Maryland licensed property line surveyor seal. This seal has the same requirements as the Maryland land surveyor seal with the exception of the wording along the bottom arc in the space between the concentric circles. For this seal, the words included are “Licensed Property Line Surveyor” in place of the "Professional Land Surveyor."
Using a Maryland Land Surveyor Seal
There are also strict guidelines governing the use of your Maryland land surveyor seal. It is important to understand that any time you use your seal on a survey, report, plat, specification or other document, you assume full responsibility for the information contained therein. This means that you need to ensure that all information is accurate and follows the codes and regulations that are applicable to it.
You are only permitted to affix your Maryland land surveyor seal to documents that you are responsible for preparing. You can also do so when you oversee the creation of the documents by employees that are under your direct supervision. In these cases, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information is verified and correct. Failing to do so could result in your being liable for any damages or issues that arise due to information that is false or incorrect.
You will need to include your signature and the date each time you use a Maryland land surveyor seal. It is also unlawful for any surveyor to use his or her Maryland land surveyor seal on any documents on which he or she did not contribute or oversee. Doing so can result in fines and penalties that can include suspension or revocation of your licensing.
