CHAPTER 12
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR U.S. PUBLIC LAND SURVEY
CORNER CERTIFICATES
[Prior to 11/14/01, see 193C—2.8(355)]
193C—12.1(542B) General statement. Each professional land surveyor shall comply with the minimum standards for preparing a U.S. Public Land Survey Corner Certificate as described by statute or administrative rule. The minimum standards in this chapter shall apply to every corner certificate prepared in this state.
[ARC 0362C, IAB 10/3/12, effective 11/7/12]
193C—12.2(355) U.S. Public Land Survey Corner Certificate.
	12.2(1) A corner is considered a part of the U.S. Public Land Survey System if it has the status of a corner of a:
	a. 	Quarter-quarter section or larger aliquot part of a section.
	b. 	Fractional quarter-quarter section or larger fractional part of a section.
	c. 	Government lot.
	12.2(2) A U.S. Public Land Survey Corner Certificate shall be prepared by the surveyor as part of any land surveying which includes the use of a U.S. Public Land Survey System corner if one or more of the following conditions exist:
	a. 	There is no certificate for the corner on file with the recorder of the county in which the corner is located.
	b. 	The surveyor in responsible charge of the land surveying accepts a corner position which differs from that shown in the public records of the county in which the corner is located.
	c. 	The corner monument is replaced or modified in any way.
	d. 	The reference ties in an existing public record are incorrect or missing.
	12.2(3) A U.S. Public Land Survey Corner Certificate shall comply with the following requirements:
	a. 	The identity of the corner, with reference to the U.S. Public Land Survey System, shall be clearly indicated.
	b. 	The certificate shall contain a narrative explaining:
	(1)	The reason for preparing the certificate.
	(2)	The evidence and detailed procedure used in establishing or confirming the corner position whether found or placed.
	(3)	The monumentation found or placed perpetuating the corner position with an accurate description of each monument including but not limited to size, shape, material type, capped with license number, and color.
	(4)	The extent of the search for an existing monument when the corner is reset as obliterated or lost.
	c. 	The certificate shall contain a plan-view drawing depicting:
	(1)	Relevant monuments including the reference monumentation and an accurate description thereof.
	(2)	Physical surroundings including highway and street centerlines, fences, structures and other artificial or natural objects as applicable that would facilitate recovery of the corner.
	(3)	Reference ties in sufficient detail to enable recovery of the corner. There shall be at least three reference ties from the corner to durable physical objects near the corner which are located so that the intersection of any two of the ties will yield a strong corner position recovery. All ties shall be measured to one-hundredth of a foot.
	d. 	The certificate shall bear the signature of the professional land surveyor, a statement certifying that the work was performed by the surveyor or under the surveyor’s direct personal supervision, the date of signature, and the surveyor’s Iowa license number and legible seal as provided in rule 193C—6.1(542B).
	12.2(4) The surveyor shall record the required U.S. Public Land Survey Corner Certificate and forward a copy to the county engineer of the county in which the corner is located within 30 days after completion of the surveying.
[ARC 0362C, IAB 10/3/12, effective 11/7/12]
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 355.3, 355.11 and 542B.2.
[Filed 10/24/01, Notice 8/8/01—published 11/14/01, effective 1/1/02]
[Filed ARC 0362C (Notice ARC 0156C, IAB 6/13/12), IAB 10/3/12, effective 11/7/12]