Maryland § 15-101

§ 15-101.

    (a)    In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

    (b)    “Board” means the State Board for Professional Land Surveyors.

    (c)    “Council” means the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

    (d)    “Design coordination” means the review and coordination of services provided by individuals licensed or certified under Titles 3, 8, 9, 14, and 15 of this article.

    (e)    “Land surveyor” means an individual who practices land surveying.

    (f)    (1)    “License” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice:

            (i)    land surveying; or

            (ii)    property line surveying.

        (2)    “License” includes, unless the context requires otherwise:

            (i)    a license to practice land surveying; and

            (ii)    a license to practice property line surveying.

    (g)    “License fee” means, as applicable, the fee paid in connection with the issuance and renewal of a license and the issuance of a limited license, temporary license, and reciprocal license.

    (h)    “Licensed property line surveyor” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a property line surveyor who is licensed by the Board to practice property line surveying.

    (i)    “Permit” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a permit issued by the Board to allow a corporation or partnership to operate a business through which an individual may practice land surveying or property line surveying.

    (j)    “Permit fee” means, as applicable, the fee paid in connection with the issuance and renewal of a permit.

    (k)    (1)    “Practice land surveying” means providing or offering to provide professional services that require the application of special knowledge of the principles of mathematics, the related physical and applied sciences, and the requirements of the relevant law to authoritatively determine, regardless of the technology or method used, the accurate and precise location of a feature, object, or boundary of real property with reference to the surface of the earth, space above the surface of the earth, or underground.

        (2)    “Practice land surveying” includes:

            (i)    measuring, platting, and locating lines, angles, elevations, natural or artificial features in the air, on the surface of the earth, in underground work, and on the beds of bodies of water for the purpose of determining and reporting positions, topography, areas, and volumes;

            (ii)    the describing, platting or replatting, establishing or reestablishing, locating or relocating, or setting or resetting the monumentation for boundaries of real property, easements, or rights–of–way;

            (iii)    platting, layout, and preparation of surveys, plats, plans, and drawings, including:

                1.    site plans;

                2.    subdivision plans;

                3.    subdivision plats;

                4.    condominium plats;

                5.    right–of–way and easement plats; and

                6.    other recordable plats;

            (iv)    conducting horizontal and vertical control surveys, layout or stake–out of proposed construction, and the preparation and platting of as–constructed surveys;

            (v)    utilizing measurement devices or systems, such as aerial photogrammetry, global positioning systems, land information systems, geographic information systems, or similar technology for evaluation or location of boundaries of real property, easements, or rights–of–way; and

            (vi)    in conjunction with the site development or subdivision of land, the preparation and design of plans for the following projects, provided that such preparation and design are in accordance with design manuals, details, and standards accepted by the State or local authority:

                1.    road and street grades;

                2.    sediment and erosion control measures;

                3.    nonpressurized closed storm drainage and stormwater management systems; and

                4.    open conduit storm drainage and stormwater management systems.

        (3)    “Practice land surveying” does not include the design, preparation, or specifications for:

            (i)    community water or wastewater treatment collection or distribution systems;

            (ii)    community pumping or lift stations; or

            (iii)    geotechnical or structural design components of sediment control or stormwater management ponds or basins.

    (l)    (1)    “Practice property line surveying” means to practice land surveying, except for the services excluded under paragraph (2) of this subsection.

        (2)    “Practice property line surveying” does not include the performance of the services described in subsection (k)(1)(vi) of this section.

    (m)    “Professional land surveyor” means, unless the context requires otherwise, a land surveyor who is licensed by the Board to practice land surveying.

    (n)    “Property line surveyor” means an individual who practices property line surveying.

    (o)    “Responsible charge” means direct control and personal direction of the investigation, design, construction, or operation of land surveying work that requires initiative, professional skill, and independent judgment.