Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2025 (Vic)
Version No. 001
Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2025
S.R. No. 35/2025
Version as at
1 June 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Regulation Page
Part 1—Preliminary
1Objectives
2Authorising provision
3Commencement
4Revocations
5Definitions
Part 2—Surveys
6Survey equipment
7Accuracy of surveys
8Primary cadastral marks
9Marking of boundaries
10Survey boundaries
11Field requirements of a cadastral survey
12Information to be recorded in field records and plans
13Certification of abstract of field records
14Certification of plan
15Report by licensed surveyor
16Record of having re-established a cadastral boundary
17Amendment of licensed surveyor's report, abstract of field records or plan
Schedule 1—Forms
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Endnotes
1 General information
2 Table of Amendments
3 Explanatory details
Version No. 001
Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2025
S.R. No. 35/2025
Version as at
1 June 2025
PART 1—PRELIMINARY
1Objectives
The objectives of these Regulations are—
(a)to prescribe standards for cadastral surveys; and
(b)to regulate and control the making of cadastral surveys by licensed surveyors; and
(c)to prescribe forms and other matters relating to cadastral surveys.
2Authorising provision
These Regulations are made under section 63 of the Surveying Act 2004.
3Commencement
These Regulations come into operation on 1 June 2025.
4Revocations
The following Regulations are revoked—
(a)Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2015[1];
(b)Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Amendment Regulations 2018[2].
5Definitions
In these Regulations—
abstract of field records means a summary of results of the cadastral survey information recorded in the field;
AHD71 has the same meaning as in the Survey Co‑ordination Regulations 2024[3];
connectionmeans the lengths, bearings and heights which relate to a point, or points, of known location;
electronic plan has the same meaning as in the Survey Co‑ordination Regulations 2024;
licensed surveyor's report means a report prepared under regulation 15(1);
MGA2020 has the same meaning as in the Survey Co‑ordination Regulations 2024;
permanent mark means a permanent mark adopted under, or established in accordance with, the Survey Co-ordination Act 1958;
Registrarhas the same meaning as in the Transfer of Land Act 1958;
standard plan has the same meaning as in the Survey Co‑ordination Regulations 2024;
subdivision has the same meaning as in the Subdivision Act 1988;
subject land means the land to which a cadastral survey, plan, abstract of field records or licensed surveyor's report primarily relates.
PART 2—SURVEYS
6Survey equipment
(1)A licensed surveyor—
(a)must use survey equipment which has been compared to a standard of measurement in units of measurement specified in regulation 14(a) of the Survey Co-ordination Regulations 2024; and
(b)must ensure that the following are adequate to obtain the accuracy required by these Regulations for a cadastral survey—
(i)the process of comparison;
(ii)the basis of comparison.
(2)A licensed surveyor must retain the records of the comparisons and make them available to the Surveyor-General for inspection upon request by the Surveyor-General.
7Accuracy of surveys
(1)A licensed surveyor must ensure that—
(a)the internal closure of any cadastral survey is such that the length of the misclosure vector does not exceed 15 millimetres + 100 parts per million of the perimeter; and
(b)the misclosure vector is determined as where "a" is the misclosure in eastings and "b" is the misclosure in northings; and
(c)all lengths are measured or determined to an accuracy of 10 millimetres + 60 parts per million; and
(d)all height differences measured or derived achieve an accuracy equivalent to a survey misclosure of millimetres where "k" is the distance between any 2 points, in kilometres.
(2)A licensed surveyor must ensure that all directional and angular measurements are verified.
(3)In making a cadastral survey to determine the location of boundaries to be defined on a plan by reference to buildings or parts of buildings for which no dimensions are to be shown, a limit of error of 50 millimetres in any one measurement or one part in 200 (whichever is greater) is allowable.
8Primary cadastral marks
A licensed surveyor must ensure that primary cadastral marks are—
(a)made of a durable, permanent and stable construction and material approved by the Surveyor-General; and
(b)placed where the marks can be easily found and accessed; and
(c)placed where the marks are least likely to—
(i)be subject to damage, disturbance or removal; or
(ii)constitute a hazard.
9Marking of boundaries
(1)A licensed surveyor making a cadastral survey must ensure that boundaries—
(a)are marked with pegs together with any additional markings that are necessary to assist in locating the pegs and the direction of boundaries; or
(b)if pegs are not practical, are marked with other suitable marks approved by the Surveyor-General.
(2)A licensed surveyor must ensure that line identification and marking is implemented in a manner so that the defined boundary can be identified.
(3)A licensed surveyor must ensure that pegs—
(a)are not less than 50 millimetres square and not less than 300 millimetres long; and
(b)are made of sound, seasoned timber or other durable material; and
(c)are set with the top not more than 20 millimetres above the ground.
(4)In the case of a partial cadastral survey, boundaries which are not surveyed must not be marked.
(5)In dealings with Crown land, the Surveyor‑General may waive the requirement to mark the boundary if sufficient information is available to accurately mark each boundary at a later date.
10Survey boundaries
A licensed surveyor must relate the cadastral survey to the boundaries of—
(a)the subject land; and
(b)all adjoining parcels of land.
11Field requirements of a cadastral survey
(1)A licensed surveyor making a cadastral survey must—
(a)adopt and verify a datum in accordance with a previous cadastral survey or plan; and
(b)if an abstract of field records is to be lodged with the Surveyor-General or the Registrar, bring the bearing datum of the survey on to MGA2020; and
(c)if the height of a boundary is to be determined, relate the height of the boundary to AHD71 and properly verify the connection; and
(d)if the position of the subject land is shown by a connection, measure that connection unless the position of the subject land has been satisfactorily determined in previous surveys; and
(e)connect the cadastral survey to relevant permanent marks, primary cadastral marks, pegs and other survey marks; and
(f)locate and clearly describe any feature on or near the boundaries of the subject land likely to affect those boundaries; and
(g)locate and clearly describe any feature within the subject land the description and position of which is necessary for the purpose of the survey; and
(h)determine the length, bearing and, if applicable, height of each surveyed boundary of the subject land and independently check the accuracy of each determination.
(2)A licensed surveyor making a cadastral survey must ensure that an irregular boundary is determined at all conspicuous changes in direction at such intervals as are necessary to accurately determine the boundary.
(3)A licensed surveyor making a cadastral survey must connect the cadastral survey to at least 3 permanent marks or primary cadastral marks in the immediate vicinity of the subject land, and—
(a)if there are less than 3 permanent marks or primary cadastral marks in the immediate vicinity of the subject land, place further permanent marks or primary cadastral marks such that there is a minimum of 3 permanent marks or primary cadastral marks to which the cadastral survey connects; and
(b)if there are more than 10 allotments or lots at ground level, place further permanent marks or primary cadastral marks within the subdivision of the subject land so that the distance between those marks is not greater than—
(i)100 metres; or
(ii)an alternate distance approved by the Surveyor‑General; and
(c)if more than 4 permanent marks or primary cadastral marks are required to be placed under paragraph (b), ensure that one in every 5 marks is a permanent mark; and
(d)if the design or layout of a subdivision of the subject land is unusual, place additional permanent marks or primary cadastral marks within the subdivision as is reasonable in the circumstances.
(4)If a licensed surveyor connects the survey of a subdivision of the subject land to a minimum of 3 permanent marks or primary cadastral marks in situations where the marks are unlikely to be disturbed, the licensed surveyor may postpone the placement of any further permanent marks or primary cadastral marks within the subdivision if the construction of roads or buildings or other works are to be undertaken which are likely to displace those permanent marks or primary cadastral marks during construction.
(5)A licensed surveyor who postpones the placement of further marks under subregulation (4) must lodge with the Registrar a supplementary abstract of field records showing the particulars and connections to the marks placed, within 45 days after the construction is completed.
12Information to be recorded in field records and plans
(1)A licensed surveyor must ensure that—
(a)the recording of cadastral survey information gathered in the field is undertaken in a systematic manner and is readily comprehensible; and
(b)information in the field records includes—
(i)a list identifying the instruments used; and
(ii)all measurements made in the field; and
(iii)sufficient information to prepare an abstract of field records; and
(c)all field records are kept readily available for submission to, or perusal by, any person authorised by the Surveyor-General to do so.
(2)A licensed surveyor must ensure that the information to be recorded in an abstract of field records of a cadastral survey provides—
(a)clear details of the cadastral survey datum; and
(b)the MGA2020 relationship to the cadastral survey datum as appropriate; and
(c)bearings on MGA2020 datum; and
(d)heights on AHD71 if a determination of the height of boundaries is made in the cadastral survey; and
(e)boundaries and dimensions of the subject land, adjoining parcels of land and road alignments as appropriate; and
(f)the method of marking the perimeter boundaries of the subject land; and
(g)any relevant information which has aided in the determination of boundaries and the relationship with existing and new survey marks.
(3)A licensed surveyor must ensure that—
(a)a plan of a cadastral survey is prepared in a format that is either—
(i)a standard plan; or
(ii)an electronic plan; and
(b)the plan contains—
(i)all relevant information from the abstract of field records which relates to the boundaries of the subject land and road alignments; and
(ii)any registered easements or reservations or conditions in the nature of an easement which relate to the subject land; and
(iii)the plan or reference number; and
(iv)if it is not a plan prepared in accordance with the Subdivision Act 1988 and regulations made under that Act, a new version number each time the plan is amended or altered; and
(c)if the plan includes the name of a place, it uses the current geographic name registered in the Register of Geographic Names under the Geographic Place Names Act 1998; and
(d)if the plan is a standard plan of a cadastral survey, it is prepared using conventional lines, letters, numerals and symbols.
13Certification of abstract of field records
A licensed surveyor must ensure that the abstract of field records of a cadastral survey includes a certificate in the form of Form 1 of Schedule 1 signed by the licensed surveyor.
14Certification of plan
(1)If a plan made by a licensed surveyor sets out particulars of a cadastral survey carried out for the purpose of making that plan, the surveyor must endorse it with a certificate in the form of Form 2 of Schedule 1.
(2)If a plan is prepared under the direction and supervision of a licensed surveyor but is not based on a cadastral survey carried out for the purpose of making the plan, the surveyor must endorse it with a certificate in the form of Form 3 of Schedule 1.
(3)Subregulations (1) and (2) do not apply to plans prepared in accordance with the Subdivision Act 1988 and regulations made under that Act.
15Report by licensed surveyor
(1)A licensed surveyor who prepares an abstract of field records that is required to be lodged with the Surveyor-General or the Registrar, must prepare, sign and date a detailed licensed surveyor's report to accompany that abstract.
(2)The licensed surveyor's report must—
(a)set out the relevant facts concerning abuttals and encumbrances, existing occupation details, the relationship with other relevant cadastral surveys and the manner in which the boundaries of the subject land have been determined; and
(b)provide details of the calibration of the measuring equipment used in the cadastral survey; and
(c)specify whether the connection of the survey to permanent marks and primary cadastral marks required by regulation 11(3) has been made or postponed in accordance with regulation 11(4); and
(d)if the survey was performed by methods other than direct determination of bearings, distances and, if applicable, heights, include information about the method and procedures used.
(3)If requested by the Surveyor-General or the Registrar, a licensed surveyor must give the Surveyor-General or the Registrar (as the case may be)—
(a)a copy of any computations that are associated with the survey and determination of the boundaries; and
(b)a copy of any mathematical or other information considered necessary by the Surveyor-General or the Registrar that is associated with the survey and determination of the boundaries.
16Record of having re-established a cadastral boundary
Within 60 days after re-establishing a boundary as part of a cadastral survey, a licensed surveyor must lodge a record of the re-establishment survey with the Surveyor-General in the form of Form 4 of Schedule 1.
17Amendment of licensed surveyor's report, abstract of field records or plan
(1)A licensed surveyor who has carried out a cadastral survey may provide written authorisation for another licensed surveyor to do all or any of the following—
(a)note or amend the licensed surveyor's report, abstract of field records or plan relating to the subject land prepared and signed by the first-mentioned surveyor;
(b)bring the survey up to date by undertaking an additional field survey to—
(i)re-mark the boundaries of the subject land; or
(ii)connect the survey to more recent fencing, other structures, survey marks, or surveys of adjoining land.
(2)A licensed surveyor may note or amend any licensed surveyor's report, abstract of field records or plan prepared and certified by another licensed surveyor and lodged—
(a)in the Central Plan Office, with the consent of the Surveyor-General; or
(b)in the Office of Titles, with the consent of the Registrar.
SCHEDULE 1—FORMS
FORM 1
CERTIFICATE BY LICENSED SURVEYOR FOR ABSTRACT OF FIELD RECORDS
Regulation 13
I, [insert full name] of [insert office address], certify that this abstract of field records correctly represents the results of the survey effected under my direction and supervision and marked on the ground in accordance with the Surveying Act 2004, that the survey accuracy accords with that required by regulation 7 of the Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2025 and that this abstract of field records correctly represents the adopted boundaries and the related features existing on [insert date].
Date: [insert date of certificate]
[signature]
Licensed Surveyor
Surveying Act 2004FORM 2
CERTIFICATE BY LICENSED SURVEYOR FOR PLAN PREPARED FROM SURVEY
Regulation 14(1)
I, [insert full name] of [insert office address], certify that this plan has been prepared from a survey made under my direction and supervision in accordance with the Surveying Act 2004 and completed on [insert date of completion], that this plan is accurate and correctly represents the adopted boundaries and that the survey accuracy accords with that required by regulation 7 of the Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2025.
Date: [insert date of certificate]
[signature]
Licensed Surveyor
Surveying Act 2004FORM 3
CERTIFICATE BY LICENSED SURVEYOR FOR PLAN NOT PREPARED FROM SURVEY
Regulation 14(2)
I, [insert full name] of [insert office address], certify that this plan correctly represents the information obtained by me from the sources indicated on this plan.
Date: [insert date of certificate]
[signature]
Licensed Surveyor
Surveying Act 2004FORM 4
RECORD OF HAVING RE‑ESTABLISHED A CADASTRAL BOUNDARY
Regulation 16
| RECORD OF HAVING RE-ESTABLISHED A CADASTRAL BOUNDARY Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2025 - Schedule 1, Form 4, regulation 16 | ||
| LOCATION OF LAND PROPERTY ADDRESS: | NOTATIONS DATUM (INCLUDING PREVIOUS SURVEY REFERENCES): | |
| DIAGRAM OF SURVEY MARKS AND RELATIONSHIP WITH ADOPTED ALIGNMENTS AND BOUNDARIES | ||
| ORIGINAL SHEET SIZE: A3 | CERTIFICATION BY SURVEYOR | SHEET 1 OF |
| SURVEYOR'S FILE REF: | I, [insert full name] of [insert office address], certify that this plan has been prepared from a survey made under my direction and supervision in accordance with the Surveying Act 2004 and completed on [insert date of completion], that this plan is accurate and correctly represents the adopted boundaries and that the survey accuracy accords with that required by regulation 7 of the Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2025. | |
[insert survey firm logo] | Date: [insert date of certificate] | [signature] |
| [insert surveyor's name and version number] | ||
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ENDNOTES
1 General information
See for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.
The Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2025, S.R. No. 35/2025 were made on 27 May 2025 by the Lieutenant-Governor as the Governor's deputy, with the advice of the Executive Council under section 63 of the Surveying Act 2004, No. 47/2004 and came into operation on 1 June 2025: regulation 3.
The Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2025 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 27 May 2035 (see section 5 of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994).
INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)
Style changes
Section 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.
References to ILA s. 39B
Sidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression "(1)" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.
Interpretation
As from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:
• Headings
All headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after
1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.
This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.
See section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).• Examples, diagrams or notes
All examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).
• Punctuation
All punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after
1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.
See section 36(3B).• Provision numbers
All provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after
1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).• Location of "legislative items"
A "legislative item" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.
• Other material
Any explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).
2 Table of Amendments
There are no amendments made to the Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2025 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.
3 Explanatory details
[1] Reg. 4(a): S.R. No. 43/2015 as amended by S.R. No. 189/2018.
[2] Reg. 4(b): S.R. No. 189/2018.
[3] Reg. 5 def. of AHD71: S.R. No. 31/2024.
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