We review plats for mathematical correctness, conformance with Minnesota law, ownership, proper signatures, and random field inspections to confirm the placement of boundary and property corners.
Initial review and checking steps
- Verify that the proposed plat name is acceptable by calling or emailing us.
- Obtain preliminary plat approval from the city, requirements may vary.
- A private surveyor will mail a paper copy of the proposed plat, title work, point file and fees to us for entry into checking process.
- Comments and corrections will be emailed to the surveyor. Follow up conversations may take place by telephone or meeting.
- Once approved by us, the private surveyor may order a Mylar copy. Hennepin County requires only one copy of the plat if it contains both abstract and Torrens property.
- The owners, mortgagees, those listed as having an interest in the land, the land surveyor who prepared the plat, and the proper city officials must all sign the Mylar copy before it can be recorded.
- All signatures must be acknowledged by a notary public
- All signatures must be in black ink
- Per Minnesota statute, the notary stamp (if used) must be quick-drying black ink
- A notary stamp is not required but the notary’s name must be typed or legibly printed and signed
Plats adjoining county roads or state highways
These plats must go through the Transportation Department plat review process. The city is responsible to submit the plats to the appropriate agency for review and the Transportation Departments will send us and the city a response letter. If we have not received a letter from the agency, the surveyor will be informed, and the plat will not get final approval until a letter is received.
Plat submission status
Accepted plats are logged into the plat checking system. Plats are reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Approved, unfiled plats are held for approximately two years from the date logged. After that the plat and all submission materials are discarded. Check plat submission status (PDF) — the list is in reverse chronological order.
Term definitions
- Date logged: the date required materials were received.
- Reviewed date: the date we completed our initial review and the red-line revisions were sent to the submitting surveyor.
Additional review and checking
Re-examination
A re-examination can be done to clarify deficiencies not discovered during the initial review. Deficiencies may include but are not limited to:
- Incorrect identification or omission of the names of fee owners or lien holders
- Incomplete and/or inaccurate description
- Plat boundaries not shown and designated in accordance with the legal description
- Lack of mathematical information and data necessary to retrace boundary lines and monuments
- Failure to show public ways; existing at the time of platting or being dedicated on the plat
- Missing or incomplete information about the exact location and purpose for any easements being created
- Lack of information and supporting data for water boundaries, and survey lines
- Improper certification by the land surveyor
After the initial review and re-examination, a fee of $250 may be assessed for any plat, RLS, or CIC that still contains substantial error in title, documentation, or graphics that cause the plat, RLS, or CIC to be non-compliant with applicable statutes.
Re-check
A re-check fee (see the plat checking fees section on this page) may be assessed for any plat or land survey with substantial changes after completion of review by the county. Changes include new legal description, boundary, street alignment, or changes in the number of lots and/or blocks, units or tracts.