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Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language

CHAPTER 7--H.F.No. 794

An act

relating to surveying; streamlining and simplifying statutory sections; making technical and conforming changes;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 160.15, subdivisions 1, 3; 358.47; 381.12; 389.09, subdivision 1; 505.021, subdivisions 1, 5, 7, 9; 505.04; 505.1792, subdivision 1; 507.093; 508.47, subdivision 4; 508A.47, subdivision 4; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 160.15, subdivisions 2, 4, 5; 389.09, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.15, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

deleted text begin Permanent markingdeleted text end new text begin Perpetuationnew text end of corners.

Whenever the construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of a public street or highway causes the destruction or obliteration of a deleted text begin known section or quarter-sectiondeleted text end new text begin public land surveynew text end corner marker or monument, the road authority having jurisdiction over the highway or street shall provide for the deleted text begin permanent markingdeleted text end new text begin perpetuationnew text end of the corners and deleted text begin placedeleted text end new text begin placement of corner monuments, corner markers,new text end reference new text begin monuments, new text end or witness monuments deleted text begin so that the corners can be readily locateddeleted text end new text begin by a land surveyor licensed under chapter 326. A certificate of location of government corner shall be prepared in accordance with section 381.12new text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 160.15, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Time of placement; deleted text begin monumentdeleted text end new text begin tie objectsnew text end of durable material.

Reference deleted text begin or witness monumentsdeleted text end new text begin ties new text end evidencing the location of thenew text begin public land survey new text end corner deleted text begin mustdeleted text end new text begin shallnew text end be established new text begin by a land surveyor licensed under chapter 326 new text end before the obliteration of the corner in at least deleted text begin twodeleted text end new text begin threenew text end places deleted text begin mostdeleted text end new text begin ifnew text end practicable and shall consist of deleted text begin stone, concrete, or cast irondeleted text end new text begin objects of durable materialnew text end .new text begin If it is not practicable to establish three reference ties, two must be established.new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 358.47, is amended to read:

358.47 CERTIFICATE OF NOTARIAL ACTS.

(a) A notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate physically or electronically signed and dated by a notarial officer in a manner that attributes such signature to the notary public. The notary's name as it appears on the official notarial stamp and on any jurat or certificate of acknowledgment and in the notary's commission must be identical. The certificate must include identification of the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed and the title of the office of the notarial officer and must include the official notarial stamp, pursuant to section 359.03new text begin , except: (1) a plat as described in section 505.021; (2) a registered land survey as described in section 508.47 or 508A.47; or (3) a CIC plat or a supplemental CIC plat as described in chapter 515B shall be recorded regardless of whether a notary stamp was used or was illegible if used, if a certificate of notarial act that includes the jurisdiction of the notarial act, the name and title of the notarial officer, and the date the notary commission expires is printed in pen and ink or typewritten on the plat, the registered land survey, or the CIC plat or supplemental CIC platnew text end . If the officer is a commissioned officer on active duty in the military service of the United States, it must also include the officer's rank.

(b) A certificate of a notarial act is sufficient if it is in English and meets the requirements of subsection (a) and it:

(1) is in the short form set forth in section 358.48;

(2) is in a form otherwise prescribed by the law of this state;

(3) is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations applicable in the place in which the notarial act was performed; or

(4) sets forth the actions of the notarial officer and those are sufficient to meet the requirements of the designated notarial act.

(c) By executing a certificate of a notarial act, the notarial officer certifies that the officer has made the determinations required by section 358.42.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 381.12, is amended to read:

381.12 SECTION CORNERS deleted text begin RELOCATEDdeleted text end new text begin PERPETUATEDnew text end .

Subdivision 1.

Surveyor, employment.

When the county board determines that the monuments established by the United States in the public lands survey to mark deleted text begin section, quarter section, and meanderdeleted text end new text begin public land surveynew text end corners have been destroyed or are becoming obscure, it may employ a deleted text begin licenseddeleted text end new text begin landnew text end surveyor new text begin licensed under chapter 326 new text end to deleted text begin preserve, restore and mark thedeleted text end new text begin perpetuate saidnew text end corners with deleted text begin adeleted text end durable magnetic deleted text begin monument deleted text end new text begin monumentsnew text end . The new text begin land new text end surveyor shall make full and accurate notes and records from which the entire survey can be deleted text begin relocateddeleted text end new text begin retracednew text end , and deleted text begin shalldeleted text end , no later than one year after deleted text begin preserving, restoring, and marking thedeleted text end new text begin perpetuating thenew text end corners, new text begin shall new text end file deleted text begin a certified copy of the same, with a filed plat,deleted text end new text begin the records of such survey and a certificate of location of government corner for each corner, prepared in compliance with subdivision 3. The land surveyor shall file the records and certificatenew text end in the office of the county surveyor if an office is maintained in a building maintained by the county for county purposes on a full-time basis, and if not, new text begin the land surveyor new text end shall record deleted text begin itdeleted text end new text begin themnew text end in the office of the county recorder. The monuments are prima facie evidence of the original United States public land survey corners.

Subd. 2.

Expense, tax levy.

The county board of any county may levy a tax upon all the taxable property in the county for the purpose of defraying the expense incurred, or to be incurred for:

(1) the preservation and restoration of monuments under this section;

(2) the preservation or establishment of control monuments for mapping activities;

(3) the modernization of county land records through the use of parcel-based land management systems; or

(4) the establishment of geographic (GIS), land (LIS), management (MIS) information systems.

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Monuments; manner of placement. new text end

new text begin (a) Perpetuation of the corners and placing of corner monuments, reference monuments, or witness monuments must be in the manner described in paragraphs (b) to (e). new text end

new text begin (b) At the corner location, a durable magnetic monument must be placed so as not to be disturbed by routine activities. new text end

new text begin (c) For a corner monument set below a paved surface, a supplemental marker that is visible at the surface must be set. new text end

new text begin (d) An access cover or monument box providing access to a monument below a paved surface may be used in lieu of setting a supplemental marker at the surface. new text end

new text begin (e) If it is not practical or safe to set a monument at the corner location, a durable magnetic monument may be set as a witness or reference monument. new text end

Subd. 3.

deleted text begin U.S. public land survey monument recorddeleted text end new text begin Certificate of location of government cornernew text end .

(a) A deleted text begin United States public land survey monument recorddeleted text end new text begin certificate of location of government cornernew text end must be prepared as part of any land survey which includes or requires thenew text begin use,new text end perpetuationnew text begin ,new text end or restoration of a deleted text begin United Statesdeleted text end public land survey corner and one of the following conditions exists:

(1) there is no deleted text begin United States public land survey monument recorddeleted text end new text begin certificate of location of government cornernew text end for the corner on file in the office of the county surveyor or the county recorder for the county in which the corner is located; or

(2) the land surveyor who performs the survey accepts a position for the deleted text begin United Statesdeleted text end public land survey corner which differs from that shown on a deleted text begin United States public land survey monument record fileddeleted text end new text begin certificate of location of government corner on filenew text end in the office of the county surveyor deleted text begin where the county maintains a full-time office, or in the office ofdeleted text end new text begin ornew text end the county recorder for the county in which the corner is located; or

(3) the deleted text begin witnessdeleted text end new text begin referencenew text end ties deleted text begin referred to indeleted text end new text begin have been destroyed or differ from those shown onnew text end an existing deleted text begin United States public land survey monument record have been destroyeddeleted text end new text begin certificate of location of government corner on file in the office of the county surveyor or the county recorder for the county in which the corner is located; ornew text end

new text begin (4) the corner, witness, or reference monuments shown on an existing certificate of location of government corner on file in the office of the county surveyor or the county recorder for the county in which the corner is located have been destroyednew text end .

deleted text begin (b) A United States public land survey monument record must be prepared on a certificate of location of government corner, as specified in section 160.15, subdivision 5. deleted text end

deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (b)new text end A deleted text begin United States public land survey monument record must show the position of the corner anddeleted text end new text begin certificate of location of government cornernew text end must include all the following elements:

(1) the identity of the corner, as referenced to the deleted text begin United Statesdeleted text end public land survey system;

(2) a description of any record evidence, monument evidence, deleted text begin occupational deleted text end new text begin occupationnew text end evidence, deleted text begin testimonialdeleted text end new text begin parolnew text end evidence, or any other material evidence considered by the new text begin land new text end surveyor, and whether the monument was found or placed;

new text begin (3) a description of any corner monument, witness monument, or reference monument placed; new text end

deleted text begin (3) if possibledeleted text end new text begin (4) where practicablenew text end , reference ties to at least three deleted text begin witness monuments made of concrete, natural stone, iron, or other equally durable material, including treesdeleted text end new text begin durable objectsnew text end ;

deleted text begin (4)deleted text end new text begin (5)new text end a plan view drawing depicting thenew text begin corner position,new text end relevant monumentsnew text begin ,new text end and reference ties deleted text begin which isdeleted text end in sufficient detail to enable accurate restoration of the corner position deleted text begin if the corner monument has been disturbeddeleted text end ;

deleted text begin (5)deleted text end new text begin (6)new text end a description of any significant discrepancy between the position of the corner as restored and the position of that corner as previously deleted text begin restoreddeleted text end new text begin accepted or certifiednew text end ;

deleted text begin (6) whetherdeleted text end new text begin (7) a statement identifying the methods used to restore and perpetuate new text end the corner deleted text begin was restored through acceptance of an obliterated evidence position or a found perpetuated positiondeleted text end ;new text begin andnew text end

deleted text begin (7) whether the corner was restored through lost corner proportionate methods; deleted text end

(8) the directions and distances to other public land survey corners which were used as evidence or used for proportioning in determining the corner positionsdeleted text begin ; anddeleted text end new text begin .new text end

deleted text begin (9) the signature of the land surveyor under whose direction and control the corner position was determined and a statement certifying that the United States public land survey monument record is correct and complete to the best of the surveyor's knowledge and belief. deleted text end

new text begin (c) The certificate of location of government corner shall be certified according to Minnesota Rules, part 1800.4200, subpart 4, and shall include a statement that the certificate of location of government corner is correct and complete to the best of the land surveyor's knowledge and belief. new text end

(d) No later than one year after perpetuating or restoring deleted text begin thedeleted text end new text begin a public landnew text end survey corner, the land surveyor shall file or record the certificate new text begin of location of government corner new text end in the same manner as required under subdivision 1.

(e) A reasonable fee for professional services may be paid to the new text begin land new text end surveyor filing or recording the certificatenew text begin of location of government cornernew text end with the respective county, on approval and determination of the fee by resolution of the county board.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 389.09, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Plats and surveys in counties.

In any county in which there is a county surveyor or other licensed land surveyor hired for this purpose by the county, the county board may, by ordinance adopted in accordance with section 375.51, require that each subdivision plat deleted text begin ordeleted text end new text begin ,new text end registered land survey deleted text begin plat ordeleted text end new text begin , andnew text end common interest community plat deleted text begin mustdeleted text end be approved by the county surveyor or other licensed land surveyor hired for this purpose by the county before recording. The county board shall establish a schedule of fees charged to proprietors of plats for this service.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 505.021, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Plat format.

deleted text begin Adeleted text end new text begin Thenew text end plat shall be prepared on deleted text begin four mildeleted text end transparent reproducible film or the equivalentnew text begin with a minimum thickness of four milnew text end , and shall be prepared by a photographic process. Plat sheet size shall be 22 inches by 34 inches. A border line shall be placed one-half inch inside the outer edge of the plat on the top and bottom 34-inch sides; and the right 22-inch side; and two inches inside the outer edge of the plat on the left 22-inch side. If a plat consists of more than one sheet, the sheets shall be numbered consecutively.new text begin Only the official plat shall be labeled "OFFICIAL PLAT" and any copy shall be labeled "copy" in the center of the top margin.new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 505.021, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Mathematical data; dimensions; labels; symbols.

A plat shall show all survey and mathematical information and data necessary to locate and retrace all boundary lines and monuments. Bearings, azimuths, and central angles shall be expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds and labeled with the respective symbols. A north arrow and directional orientation note shall be shown. Distances shall be expressed in feet and hundredths of a foot. All straight line segments of the plat shall be labeled with the length of the line and bearing or azimuth. All curved line segments of the plat shall be labeled with the central angle, arc length, and radius length. If any curve is nontangential the dimensions shall include a long chord bearing or azimuth, and shall be labeled nontangential. The mathematical closure tolerance of the plat boundary, blocks, lots, and outlots shall not exceed 2/100 of a foot. A graphics scale shall be shown along with the label "Scale In Feet." Dimension and descriptive recitals in the legal description shown on the plat shall be depicted and labeled on the graphic portion of the plat. A symbol shall indicate the position of all found and set plat monuments, along with a description of each. new text begin Text used on the plat shall not be smaller than eight-point type. new text end Ditto marks and foot and inch symbols shall not be used.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 505.021, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Easements.

All easements to be dedicated on the plat shall be depicted on the plat with purpose, identification, and sufficient mathematical data to locate the boundaries of the easements. Easements created on the plat shall be limited to deleted text begin public utility and/ordeleted text end drainage easementsnew text begin , public ways, and utility easementsnew text end as defined in section 505.01, subdivision 3, paragraphs (b), (h), and (j). new text begin Drainage and utility new text end easement boundaries shall be shown as dashed lines. Temporary easements, building setback information, and building floor elevations shall not be shown on a plat.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 505.021, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Certifications.

(a) A plat shall contain a certification by the land surveyor who surveyed or directly supervised the survey of the land being platted, and prepared the plat or directly supervised the plat preparation. The certificate shall state that:

(1) the plat is a correct representation of the boundary survey;

(2) all mathematical data and labels are correctly designated on the plat;

(3) all monuments depicted on the plat have been or will be correctly set within one year as indicated on the plat;

(4) all water boundaries and wet lands as of the date of the surveyor's certification are shown and labeled on the plat; and

(5) all public ways are shown and labeled on the plat.

The surveyor's certification shall be properly acknowledged by the surveyor on the plat before a notarial officer.

(b) A plat shall contain a certification of approval executed by the local elected governmental unit or an authorized official designated by the local elected governmental unit.

(c) In any county that requires review and approval of plats deleted text begin by the county surveyor or another land surveyordeleted text end new text begin in accordance with section 389.09, subdivision 1new text end , the plat shall contain a certification of approval executed by the county surveyor or new text begin other licensed new text end land surveyor deleted text begin that this plat is in compliance with this sectiondeleted text end new text begin hired by the countynew text end .

(d) A plat shall contain a certification by the proper county official that there are no delinquent taxes owed and that the current year's payable taxes have been paid in accordance with section 272.12.

(e) A plat shall contain a certification of recording by the county recorder or registrar of titles, or both, if the plat contains both nonregistered and registered property.

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 505.04, is amended to read:

505.04 REAL ESTATE TAXES; RECORDING; COPIES.

Every plat, when duly certified, signed, and acknowledged, as provided in section 505.021, and upon presentation of a certificate from the authorized county official that the current year's taxes have been paid, shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder or registrar of titles, or both, if the plat contains both nonregistered and registered property. deleted text begin Andeleted text end new text begin All copies required by the county shall benew text end exact transparent reproducible deleted text begin copy shall, at the discretion of the county recorder or registrar of titles, be provided to the county recorder or registrar of titles, or both, if the plat contains both nonregistered and registered property. The official plat shall be labeled "OFFICIAL PLAT" and any copy shall be labeled "copy." deleted text end new text begin copies prepared in accordance with section 505.021, subdivision 1.new text end The official plat and any deleted text begin copydeleted text end new text begin copies maintained in county officesnew text end shall be deleted text begin placed under the direct supervision of the county recorder or registrar of titles, or both, if the plat contains both nonregistered and registered property and bedeleted text end open to inspection by the public. deleted text begin In counties having a full-time county surveyor who operates an office on a full-time basis, the exact copy may be placed under the direct supervision of the county surveyor and be open to inspection by the public. deleted text end Upon request of the county auditor of the county wherein the land is situated, the county recorder or registrar of titles shall cause a reproduction copy of the official plat, or of the exact copy, to be made and filed with the county auditor, at the expense of the county.

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 505.1792, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Informal; for information.

In order to give supplemental information to the public as to the location of streets, county roads, county state-aid highways, town roads, and other transportation corridors, and the right-of-way thereof, the governing body of any city, town, or county may file for record in the office of the county recorder and the registrar of titles of said county such maps or plats showing such information as the governing body shall determine necessary. The map or plat shall be subscribed by the mayor or chair of the governing body and the county surveyor, together with a certified copy of the resolution of the governing body setting forth the necessity for said plat, and shall be entitled to record without compliance with the provisions of this chapternew text begin , except as provided in this sectionnew text end . Any amendments, alterations, or vacations of such maps or plats so filed may be entitled to record in like manner.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 507.093, is amended to read:

507.093 STANDARDS FOR DOCUMENTS TO BE RECORDED OR FILED.

The following standards are imposed on documents to be recorded with the county recorder or the registrar of titles other than by electronic means as provided in section 507.24new text begin , except as provided in sections 505.021, subdivision 1, and 505.04 for plats; 508.47, subdivision 4, and 508A.47, subdivision 4, for registered land surveys; and 515B.2-110(c) and 515B.2-1101(c) for common interest community platsnew text end :

(1) The document shall consist of one or more individual sheets measuring no larger than 8.5 inches by 14 inches.

(2) The form of the document shall be printed, typewritten, or computer generated in black ink and the form of the document shall not be smaller than 8-point type.

(3) The document shall be on white paper of not less than 20-pound weight with no background color or images and, except for the first page, shall have a border of at least one-half inch on the top, bottom, and each side.

(4) The first page of the document shall contain a blank space at the top measuring three inches, as measured from the top of the page, and a border of one-half inch on each side and the bottom. The right half of the blank space shall be reserved for recording information and the left half shall be reserved for tax certification. Any person may attach an administrative page before the first page of the document to accommodate this standard. The administrative page may contain the document title, document date, and, if applicable, the grantor and grantee, and shall be deemed part of the document when recorded.

(5) The title of the document shall be prominently displayed at the top of the first page below the blank space referred to in clause (4), or on the administrative page.

(6) No additional sheet shall be attached or affixed to a page that covers up any information or printed part of the form.

(7) A document presented for recording must be sufficiently legible to reproduce a readable copy using the county recorder's or registrar of title's current method of reproduction.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 508.47, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Survey; requisites; filing; copies.

The registered land survey shall correctly show the legal description of the parcel of unplatted land represented by said registered land survey and the outside measurements of the parcel of unplatted land and of all tracts delineated therein, the direction of all lines of said tracts to be shown by angles or bearings or other relationship to the outside lines of said registered land survey, and the surveyor shall place monuments in the ground at appropriate corners, and all tracts shall be lettered consecutively beginning with the letter "A." A registered land survey which delineates multilevel tracts shall include a map showing the elevation view of the tracts with their upper and lower boundaries defined by elevations referenced to a mean sea level adjusted datum benchmark. None of said tracts or parts thereof may be dedicated to the public by said registered land survey.

A licensed land surveyor shall certify that the registered land survey is a correct representation of said parcel of unplatted land. new text begin The certification shall be properly acknowledged by the land surveyor on the registered land survey before a notarial officer. All signatures on the registered land survey shall be written with black ink and shall not be written with ball point ink. new text end The registered land survey shall be prepared on deleted text begin four mil deleted text end transparent reproducible film or the equivalentnew text begin with a minimum thickness of four milnew text end , and shall be prepared by a photographic process. Sheet size shall be 22 inches by 34 inches. A border line shall be placed one-half inch inside the outer edge of the sheet on the top and bottom 34-inch sides; and the right 22-inch side; and two inches inside the outer edge of the sheet on the left 22-inch side. new text begin Text used on the registered land survey shall not be smaller than eight-point type. new text end If the registered land survey consists of more than one sheet, the sheets shall be numbered consecutively.new text begin The registered land survey shall be labeled "OFFICIAL," and any copy shall be labeled "copy" in the center of the top margin. new text end

Before filing, however, any survey shall be approved in the manner required for the approval of subdivision plats, which approval shall be endorsed on it or attached to it.

At the time of filing, a registered land survey shall contain a certification by the proper county official that there are no delinquent taxes owed and that the current year's payable taxes have been paid in accordance with section 272.12.

Notwithstanding any provisions of subdivision 5 to the contrary, no other copies of the survey need be filed.

The registrar shall duly certify and furnish to any person a copy of said registered land survey, which shall be admissible in evidence.

Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 508A.47, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Survey; requisites; filing; copies.

The registered land survey shall correctly show the legal description of the parcel of unplatted land represented by the registered land survey and the outside measurements of the parcel of unplatted land and of all tracts delineated therein, the direction of all lines of the tracts to be shown by angles or bearings or other relationship to the outside lines of the registered land survey, and the surveyor shall place monuments in the ground at appropriate corners, and all tracts shall be lettered consecutively beginning with the letter "A." A registered land survey which delineates multilevel tracts shall include a map showing the elevation view of the tracts with their upper and lower boundaries defined by elevations referenced to a mean sea level adjusted datum benchmark. None of the tracts or parts of them may be dedicated to the public by the registered land survey.

A licensed land surveyor shall certify that the registered land survey is a correct representation of said parcel of unplatted land. new text begin The certification shall be properly acknowledged by the land surveyor on the registered land survey before a notarial officer. All signatures on the registered land survey shall be written with black ink and shall not be written with ball point ink. new text end The registered land survey shall be prepared on deleted text begin four mil deleted text end transparent reproducible film or the equivalentnew text begin with a minimum thickness of four milnew text end , and shall be prepared by a photographic process. Sheet size shall be 22 inches by 34 inches. A border line shall be placed one-half inch inside the outer edge of the sheet on the top and bottom 34-inch sides; and the right 22-inch side; and two inches inside the outer edge of the sheet on the left 22-inch side. new text begin Text used on the registered land survey shall not be smaller than eight-point type. new text end If the registered land survey consists of more than one sheet, the sheets shall be numbered consecutively.new text begin The registered land survey shall be labeled "OFFICIAL" and any copy shall be labeled "copy" in the center of the top margin. new text end

Before filing, however, any survey shall be approved in the manner required for the approval of subdivision plats, which approval shall be endorsed on it or attached to it.

At the time of filing, a registered land survey shall contain a certification by the proper county official that there are no delinquent taxes owed and that the current year's payable taxes have been paid in accordance with section 272.12.

Notwithstanding any provisions of subdivision 5 to the contrary, no other copies of the survey need be filed.

The registrar shall duly certify and furnish to any person a copy of the registered land survey. The copy shall be admissible in evidence.

Sec. 15.

new text begin REPEALER. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 160.15, subdivisions 2, 4, and 5; and 389.09, subdivision 2, new text end new text begin are repealed. new text end

Presented to the governor April 17, 2015

Signed by the governor April 21, 2015, 9:51 a.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes