A surveyor’s reference desk
Useful places to start your research in Central Florida — from parcel maps and recorded deeds to survey control, professional standards, and the history of our land.
Local research
Start with a parcel search to identify the property, then use the Clerk’s official records to research deeds, plats, and recorded easements.
Property Appraiser parcel mapping and property information.
Search property information and access the office’s current mapping tools.
Access deeds, recorded plats, mortgages, easements, and other recorded documents through the official records search.
Interactive Property Appraiser map with parcel, address, and owner searches.
Property details, ownership information, and parcel research.
Search recorded documents by name, date, instrument, or book and page using the Clerk’s Acclaim system.
Use the Property Appraiser’s qPublic site to access property searches and parcel mapping.
Access the Clerk’s official records search and recording information.
Dedicated recorded subdivision plat resources.
Dedicated right-of-way map resources.
Property Appraiser’s combined parcel mapping and property record research tool.
Property information and links to current record search and GIS tools.
Choose Official Records under Search Records to access the Clerk’s linked search service; select DeSoto County, Florida when prompted.
Parcel lines shown in GIS are reference mapping and do not establish a surveyed boundary. Record availability and search options vary by county.
Control, corner records, aerial photography, and regional mapping.
Florida’s Land Boundary Information System: survey control, certified corner records, original government plats and field notes, aerial imagery, and water boundary information.
Explore survey and mapping resources by location, including township, range, and section.
State land records, boundary resources, and survey and mapping programs.
Find published geodetic control and survey mark information; review datum and recovery information before use.
Regional GIS downloads, aerial imagery, floodplain mapping, and survey benchmark resources.
Search, request, and download Florida aerial photography through the APLUS system.
Enter an address to view the effective FEMA flood map and mapped flood zone. Use the map tools to create or download a FIRMette — a printable portion of the Flood Insurance Rate Map. Review map changes and confirm the building location on the map.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service map for viewing wetland and deepwater habitat mapping near a property. Inventory mapping supports preliminary research; it does not replace a field wetland delineation or agency jurisdiction determination.
Official instructions for finding a map by address and saving or printing a FIRMette for your property.
Florida and national resources for the surveying profession.
Florida professional society, education, events, legislative updates, and surveying publications.
National professional resources, education, advocacy, and certification programs. NSPS is the successor to the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM).
Official ALTA resource for the 2026 standards and related materials. Older documents may use the name ALTA/ACSM.
Standards, guidance, and educational resources from the national surveying organization.
Explains the change from ALTA/ACSM to ALTA/NSPS. This older FAQ discusses the 2016 standards; use the current standards for present assignments.
Official current standards PDF, including the Table A checklist on pages 9–11. Effective February 23, 2026. Use Table A to identify optional items requested for the survey; agree on the scope with your surveyor.
Official sources for license checks and professional practice requirements.
Search an individual by license number or name. Select the surveyor/mapper license type where available and review the license status.
Licensing, board information, program resources, and the official surveyor/mapper search link.
Land surveying and mapping: licensure, regulation, professional practice, and board authority.
Land boundaries, platting, coastal mapping, and restoration of corners.
Official access to surveying standards of practice under Florida Administrative Code Chapter 5J-17.
Continuing education resources, including Florida surveying and mapping laws.
Explore the records and mapping that shaped Florida and the nation.
Research federal land patents, historical survey plats, and field notes where available.
Read about the Coast Survey and the development of geodetic surveying in the United States.
Explore Florida’s past through archived aerial photographs. Historical imagery is useful for context and land-use research.
Browse historical state and county maps to explore changing communities, transportation, and county boundaries.
The Clerk’s official records page includes a separate search for historical deeds from 1861 through 1956.
How Florida’s survey data service developed from a system started in 1984 into an online research resource.
External links open in a new tab. These resources are provided for reference; consult the issuing agency’s current records, standards, and publication dates.
Resources compiled October 7, 2026. If a search portal changes, use the agency’s main website to find its current tool.
Put the research to work
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