HB 512

Enrolled Copy  H.B. 512
1Land Surveyors Licensing Amendments
                                      2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                         STATE OF UTAH
                                Chief Sponsor: Stephanie Gricius
                                 Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5     This bill modifies provisions involving land surveyors.
6  Highlighted Provisions:
7     This bill:
8     ▸ updates statutory references;
9     ▸ sets the standard for future uses of a state plane coordinate system as maintained by the
10  National Geodetic Survey;
11     ▸ provides for continued recognition of prior systems for historical documents;
12     ▸ requires use of the units as defined by the National Geodetic Survey;
13     ▸ creates additional paths for licensure as a professional land surveyor; and
14     ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
15  Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16     None
17  Other Special Clauses:
18     None
19  Utah Code Sections Affected:
20  AMENDS:
21     57-10-1, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 60
22     57-10-2, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 60
23     57-10-3, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 60
24     57-10-4, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 60
25     57-10-5, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 60
26     57-10-6, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 62
27     57-10-7, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1990, Chapter 167
H.B. 512  Enrolled Copy
2857-10-8, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 62
2957-10-9, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 62
3058-22-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 9
31   REPEALS:
3257-10-11, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 35
33
34   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
35Section 1. Section 57-10-1 is amended to read:
3657-10-1 . Plane coordinate systems designated.
37   [(1) The systems of plane coordinates that have been established by the National Ocean
38Service/National Geodetic Survey (formerly the United States Coast and Geodetic
39Survey) or its successors for defining and stating the geographic positions or locations of
40points on the surface of the earth within the state of Utah are known and designated as
41the Utah Coordinate System of 1927 and the Utah Coordinate System of 1983.]
42   [(2) For the purpose of the use of these systems, the state is divided into three zones: North,
43Central, and South Zones.]
44[(a) The area now included in the following counties constitutes the North Zone: Box
45Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Morgan, Rich, Summit, and Weber.]
46[(b) The area now included in the following counties constitutes the Central Zone:
47Carbon, Duchesne, Emery, Grand, Juab, Millard, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele,
48Uintah, Utah, and Wasatch.]
49[(c) The area now included in the following counties constitutes the South Zone: Beaver,
50Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute, San Juan, Washington, and Wayne.]
51   (1) As used in this chapter:
52(a) "FGCC" means the Federal Geodetic Control Committee of the United States
53Department of Commerce.
54(b) "NGS" means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National
55Geodetic Survey.
56   (2)(a) For purposes of defining and stating the geographic position or location of points
57on the surface of the earth within the state, the state adopts the plane coordinate
58systems that the NGS establishes.
59(b) The systems described in (2)(a) are known as the "Utah Plane Coordinate System."
60   (3) The state adopts the 2022 State Plane Coordinate System for use within the state.
61   (4) References in existing records to the Utah Coordinate System of 1927, or the Utah
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62      Coordinate System of 1983, remain valid.
63Section 2. Section 57-10-2 is amended to read:
6457-10-2 . Zones.
65  [(1) As established for use in the North Zone, the Utah Coordinate System of 1927 or the
66      Utah Coordinate System of 1983 shall be named and designated as the "Utah Coordinate
67      System 1927 North Zone" or "Utah Coordinate System 1983 North Zone" in any land
68      description or on any map or document in which it is used.]
69  [(2) As established for use in the Central Zone, the Utah Coordinate System of 1927 or the
70      Utah Coordinate System of 1983 shall be named and designated as the "Utah Coordinate
71      System 1927 Central Zone" or "Utah Coordinate System 1983 Central Zone" in any land
72      description or on any map or document in which it is used.]
73  [(3) As established for use in the South Zone, the Utah Coordinate System of 1927 or the
74      Utah Coordinate System of 1983 shall be named and designated as the "Utah Coordinate
75      System 1927 South Zone" or "Utah Coordinate System 1983 South Zone" in any land
76      description or on any map or document in which it is used.]
77  (1) The Utah Plane Coordinate System is divided into zones that the NGS defines for the
78      state.
79  (2) All previously designated coordinate systems, including associated zones and
80      definitions, remain unchanged.
81Section 3. Section 57-10-3 is amended to read:
8257-10-3 . North-south and east-west coordinate values.
83     [     The plane coordinate values for a point on the earth's surface used to express the
84  geographic position or location or point in the appropriate zone of this system shall consist of
85  two distances expressed in U.S. survey feet and decimals of a foot when using the Utah
86  Coordinate System of 1927 and expressed in meters and decimals of a meter when using the
87  Utah Coordinate System of 1983.]
88  [(1) One of these distances, known as the "x-coordinate" or "E-coordinate," shall give the
89      position in an east-west direction; the other, known as the "y-coordinate" or
90      "N-coordinate," shall give the position in a north-south direction.]
91  [(2) These coordinates shall be made to depend upon and conform to plane rectangular
92      coordinate values computed on the systems defined in this chapter for the monumented
93      points of the North American Horizontal Geodetic Control Network, as published by the
94      National Ocean Service/National Geodetic Survey (formerly the United States Coast and
95      Geodetic Survey) or its successors.]
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96   [(3) Any such station may be used for establishing a survey connection to either Utah
97coordinate system.]
98   (1) A person who uses plane coordinate values to express the geographic position or
99location of a point within a zone of the Utah Plane Coordinate System shall express the
100values in the units established for the Utah Plane Coordinate System.
101   (2) The coordinate values described in Subsection (1) consist of:
102(a) an "x-coordinate" or "E-coordinate" that expresses position in an east-west direction;
103and
104(b) a "y-coordinate" or "N-coordinate" that expresses position in a north-south direction.
105   (3) A person shall compute the coordinates so that the coordinates depend on and conform
106to plane rectangular coordinate values computed for monumented points of the North
107American Horizontal Geodetic Control Network that the NGS publishes.
108   (4) A person may use a control station described in Subsection (3) to establish a survey
109connection to land descriptions prepared using the Utah Plane Coordinate System after
110June 30, 2026, in accordance with the NGS's deprecation of former systems.
111   (5) A person may use units other than the units described in Subsection (1) if the person
112clearly identifies the deviation in the survey record or land description.
113Section 4. Section 57-10-4 is amended to read:
11457-10-4 . Legal effect of descriptions using coordinate values.
115   [(1) A description of the location of any survey station or land boundary corner in the state
116is complete, legal, and satisfactory if it is expressed by use of the system of plane
117coordinates defined in this chapter.]
118   [(2) For purposes of sale or title transfer, no real property may be described solely by
119reference to coordinate values from the Utah coordinate system or any other coordinate
120system.]
121   [(3) When coordinates based on the Utah coordinate system are used in the description of
122any tract of land, they are supplemental to the basic description relating to existing
123recognized monuments and land lines of record.]
124   [(4) The description by reference to the subdivision, line, or corner of the United States
125public land surveys prevails over the description by coordinates, if there is any conflict
126between the descriptions.]
127   (1) A description of the location of a survey station or land boundary corner within the state
128is complete, legal, and sufficient if the description uses the Utah Plane Coordinate
129System.
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130  (2) A person may not describe real property for purposes of sale or title transfer solely by
131      reference to coordinate values from the Utah Plane Coordinate System or any other
132      coordinate system.
133  (3) If a person uses coordinates from the Utah Plane Coordinate System in a land
134      description, the coordinates supplement the underlying description that relates to
135      recognized monuments and land lines of record.
136  (4) If a conflict exists between a description that references a subdivision, line, or corner of
137      the United States public land surveys and a description that uses coordinates, the
138      description that references the subdivision, line, or corner of the United States public
139      land surveys prevail.
140Section 5. Section 57-10-5 is amended to read:
14157-10-5 . Descriptions of tracts extending over more than one zone.
142  [(1) When any tract of land that is to be defined by a single land description extends from
143      one into another of the coordinate zones, the positions of all points on its boundaries
144      may be referred to by either of the two zones.]
145  [(2) The zone that is used shall be identified specifically in the land description.]
146  (1) If a single land description defines a tract of land that extends from one coordinate zone
147      into another coordinate zone, a person may refer the positions of boundary points to
148      either zone.
149  (2) When using a coordinate, a person shall identify in the land description which
150      coordinate zone the person uses.
151Section 6. Section 57-10-6 is amended to read:
15257-10-6 . Reference materials defining coordinate systems.
153     [For purposes of more precisely defining the Utah Coordinate Systems, the following
154  special publications are adopted:]
155  [(1) For the Utah Coordinate System of 1927, the manual entitled "The State Coordinate
156      Systems (A Manual for Surveyors)," Special Publication No. 235, and "Plane
157      Coordinate Projection Tables for Utah," Special Publication No. 277. Both manuals are
158      published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey, and
159      provide, in part, the following:]
160      [(a)(i) The "Utah Coordinate System of 1927 North Zone" is a Lambert Conformal
161Conic Projection of the Clarke Spheroid of 1866 having standard parallels at north
162latitudes 41 degrees 47 minutes and 40 degrees 43 minutes, along which parallels
163the scale shall be exact.]
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164[(ii) The origin of coordinates is at the intersection of the meridian 111 degrees 30
165minutes west of Greenwich and the parallel 40 degrees 20 minutes north latitude.]
166[(iii) This origin is given the coordinates: x=2,000,000 feet and y=0 feet.]
167[(b)(i) The "Utah Coordinate System of 1927 Central Zone" is a Lambert Conformal
168Conic Projection of the Clarke Spheroid of 1866 having standard parallels at north
169latitudes 40 degrees 39 minutes and 39 degrees 01 minutes, along which parallels
170the scale shall be exact.]
171[(ii) The origin of coordinates is at the intersection of the meridian 111 degrees 30
172minutes west of Greenwich and the parallel 38 degrees 20 minutes north latitude.]
173[(iii) This origin is given the coordinates: x=2,000,000 feet and y=0 feet.]
174[(c)(i) The "Utah Coordinate System of 1927 South Zone" is a Lambert Conformal
175Conic Projection of the Clarke Spheroid of 1866 having standard parallels at north
176latitudes 38 degrees 21 minutes and 37 degrees 13 minutes, along which parallels
177the scale shall be exact.]
178[(ii) The origin of coordinates is at the intersection of the meridian 111 degrees 30
179minutes west of Greenwich and the parallel 36 degrees 40 minutes north latitude.]
180[(iii) This origin is given the coordinates: x=2,000,000 feet and y=0 feet.]
181   [(2) For the Utah Coordinate System of 1983, the manual entitled "State Plan Coordinate
182System of 1983," NOAA Manual NOS NGS 5. The manual is published by the U.S.
183Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and
184provides, in part, the following:]
185[(a)(i) The "Utah Coordinate System of 1983 North Zone" is a Lambert Conformal
186Conic Projection of the North American Datum of 1983 having standard parallels
187at north latitudes 41 degrees 47 minutes and 40 degrees 43 minutes, along which
188parallels the scale shall be exact.]
189[(ii) The origin of coordinates is at the intersection of the meridian 111 degrees 30
190minutes west of Greenwich and the parallel 40 degrees 20 minutes north latitude.]
191[(iii) This origin is given the coordinates: x or E=500,000 meters and y or
192N=1,000,000 meters.]
193[(b)(i) The "Utah Coordinate System of 1983 Central Zone" is a Lambert Conformal
194Conic Projection of the North American Datum of 1983 having standard parallels
195at north latitudes 40 degrees 39 minutes and 39 degrees 01 minutes, along which
196parallels the scale shall be exact.]
197[(ii) The origin of coordinates is at the intersection of the meridian 111 degrees 30
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198minutes west Greenwich and the parallel 38 degrees 20 minutes north latitude.]
199[(iii) This origin is given the coordinates: x or E=500,000 meters and y or
200N=2,000,000 meters.]
201      [(c)(i) The "Utah Coordinate System of 1983 South Zone" is a Lambert Conformal
202Conic Projection of the North American Datum of 1983 having standard parallels
203at north latitudes 38 degrees 21 minutes and 37 degrees 13 minutes, along which
204parallels the scale shall be exact.]
205[(ii) The origin of coordinates is at the intersection of the meridian 111 degrees 30
206minutes west of Greenwich and the parallel 36 degrees 40 minutes north latitude.]
207[(iii) This origin is given the coordinates: x or E=500,000 meters and y or
208N=3,000,000 meters.]
           For purposes of defining the coordinate systems referenced in this chapter, the state adopts the
          reference materials that NGS publishes and maintains for the Utah Plane Coordinate System and
          the associated datums, projections, zones, units, and control standards.
209Section 7. Section 57-10-7 is amended to read:
21057-10-7 . Coordinates required to be based on control stations.
211  [(1) Coordinates based on either the Utah Coordinate System of 1927 or the Utah
212      Coordinate System of 1983 that purport to define the position of a point on a land
213      boundary shall be based on a monumented horizontal control station established in
214      conformity with the standards of accuracy and specifications for first or second order
215      geodetic surveying, as prepared and published by the Federal Geodetic Control
216      Committee (FGCC) of the United States Department of Commerce.]
217      [(a) Standards and specifications of the FGCC or its successor in force on the date of the
218survey shall apply.]
219      [(b) Publishing existing control stations, or the acceptance with intent to publish the
220newly established stations, by the National Ocean Service/National Geodetic Survey
221constitutes evidence of adherence to the FGCC specifications.]
222  [(2) Control stations which have been established by agencies of the state or its political
223      subdivisions may also be used, provided those points are established in conformity with
224      the standards set forth in Section 57-10-6.]
225  (1) A person who uses coordinates from the Utah Plane Coordinate System to define the
226      position of a point on a land boundary shall base the coordinates on a monumented
227      horizontal control station that conforms to the standards and specifications that the
228      FGCC publishes.
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229   (2)(a) The FGCC standards and specifications that are in effect on the date of the survey
230apply.
231(b) The NGS publication of an existing control station, or the NGS acceptance of a
232newly established control station with intent to publish, constitutes evidence that the
233station conforms to the FGCC standards and specifications.
234   (3) A person may also use a control station established by the state or a political subdivision
235of the state if the control station conforms to Section 57-10-6.
236Section 8. Section 57-10-8 is amended to read:
23757-10-8 . Use of terms on maps and documents.
238   [(1) Any document identifying or using a coordinate system shall, in accordance with
239Section 57-10-9, clearly and completely identify the system used.]
240[(a) The use of the term "Utah Coordinate System of 1927 (North, Central, South) Zone"
241on any map, report of survey, or other document shall be used to reference the
242system, the coordinates, and the unit of measure as defined in Subsection 57-10-6(1).]
243[(b) The use of the term "Utah Coordinate System of 1983 (HARN 1994, or the current
244federal coordinate update used as the basis of the system being used) (North, Central,
245South) Zone" shall be used to reference the system, the coordinates, and the unit of
246measure as defined in Subsection 57-10-6(2).]
247   [(2) Anyone using a coordinate system similar to the Utah coordinate system, such as one
248where a modified elevation datum is used, shall clearly include "modified" in the title of
249the coordinate system.]
250   [(3) Any survey or map based on any such modified coordinate system shall show the title
251of the coordinate system, including "modified" in the title and show the appropriate
252combined adjustment factor relating the system to the Utah coordinate system.]
253   (1) A document that identifies or uses a coordinate system shall clearly and completely
254identify the coordinate system used in accordance with Section 57-10-9.
255   (2) A person who uses the term "Utah Coordinate System" on a map, report of survey, or
256other document shall use the term to reference the coordinate system, the coordinates,
257and the unit of measure.
258   (3) A person who uses a coordinate system that is similar to the Utah Plane Coordinate
259System, including a system that uses a modified elevation datum, shall include the word
260"modified" in the title of the coordinate system.
261   (4) A survey or map that is based on a modified coordinate system shall:
262(a) display the full title of the modified coordinate system, including the word
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263"modified"; and
264      (b) display the appropriate combined adjustment factor that relates the modified system
265to the Utah Plane Coordinate System.
266Section 9. Section 57-10-9 is amended to read:
26757-10-9 . Use of coordinate system.
268     [The use of the Utah coordinate system by any person, corporation, or governmental
269  agency engaged in land surveying or mapping, or both, is optional.]
270  (1) A person who uses the Utah Plane Coordinate System for horizontal or vertical
271      coordinate values shall reference the values to the most current National Spatial
272      Reference System that the NGS maintains.
273  (2) A person shall include metadata that describes the coordinate system used and the basis
274      of bearings with the coordinate-based land description or survey record.
275  (3) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a person from using another datum, reference network,
276      or coordinate system in a survey, map, or legal description that does not use the Utah
277      Plane Coordinate System if the person clearly identifies and documents the datum,
278      reference network, or coordinate system used, including the basis of bearings, historical
279      rotation, or existing monumentation.
280Section 10. Section 58-22-302 is amended to read:
28158-22-302 . Qualifications for licensure.
282  (1) Each applicant for licensure as a professional engineer shall:
283      (a) submit an application in a form [prescribed by the division] the division approves;
284      (b) pay a fee [determined by ]the department [under] determines in accordance with
285Section 63J-1-504;
286      (c)(i) have graduated and received a [bachelors or masters] bachelor's or master's
287degree from an engineering program meeting criteria [established by rule by the
288division in collaboration with the board] the division makes by rule in
289collaboration with the board; or
290(ii) have completed the Transportation Engineering Technology and Fundamental
291Engineering College Program before July 1, 1998, under the direction of the Utah
292Department of Transportation and as certified by the Utah Department of
293Transportation;
294      (d) have [successfully ]completed a program of qualifying experience [established by
295rule by the division in collaboration with the board] the division makes by rule in
296collaboration with the board;
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297(e) have [successfully ]passed examinations [established by rule by the division in
298collaboration with the board] the division makes by rule in collaboration with the
299board; and
300(f) meet with the board or representative of the division upon request for the purpose of
301evaluating the applicant's qualification for licensure.
302   (2) Each applicant for licensure as a professional structural engineer shall:
303(a) submit an application in a form [prescribed by the division] the division approves;
304(b) pay a fee [determined by ]the department [under] determines in accordance with
305Section 63J-1-504;
306(c) have graduated and received an earned [bachelors or masters] bachelor's or master's
307degree from an engineering program meeting criteria [established by rule by the
308division in collaboration with the board] the division makes by rule in collaboration
309with the board;
310(d) have [successfully ]completed three years of licensed professional engineering
311experience [established by rule by the division in collaboration with the board, except
312that prior to January 1, 2009, an applicant for licensure may submit a signed affidavit
313in a form prescribed by the division stating that the applicant is currently engaged in
314the practice of structural engineering] the division makes by rule in collaboration with
315the board;
316(e) have [successfully ]passed examinations [established by rule by the division in
317collaboration with the board, except that prior to January 1, 2009, an applicant for
318licensure may submit a signed affidavit in a form prescribed by the division stating
319that the applicant is currently engaged in the practice of structural engineering] the
320division makes by rule in collaboration with the board; and
321(f) meet with the board or representative of the division upon request for the purpose of
322evaluating the applicant's qualification for licensure.
323   (3) Each applicant for licensure as a professional land surveyor shall:
324(a) submit an application in a form [approved by the division] the division approves;
325(b) pay a fee [determined by the department under] the department determines in
326accordance with Section 63J-1-504;
327(c)[(i)] meet one of the following education and experience requirements:
328(i) hold, at a minimum, an [associates] associate degree from a land surveying program[
329, or an equivalent land surveying program, such as a program offered by a
330technical college described in Section 53H-3-1202, established by rule by the
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331division in collaboration with the board] the division makes by rule in
332collaboration with the board, and have [successfully completed a program of
333qualifying experience in land surveying established by rule by the division in
334collaboration with the board] completed at least six years of qualifying experience
335in land surveying, as the division determines by rule made in collaboration with
336the board;[ or]
337[(ii) have successfully completed a program of qualifying experience in land
338surveying prior to January 1, 2007, in accordance with rules established by the
339division in collaboration with the board;]
340(ii) hold a bachelor's degree from a land surveying program, or an equivalent land
341surveying program that the division approves by rule in collaboration with the
342board, and have completed at least four years of qualifying experience in land
343surveying, as the division determines by rule in collaboration with the board;
344(iii) hold a high school diploma, or the equivalent of a recognized high school
345diploma, and have completed at least 10 years of qualifying experience in land
346surveying, as the division determines by rule in collaboration with the board; or
347(iv) hold a professional land surveying license, or equivalent license in the United
348States, and practice as a professional land surveyor in the United States for at least
349one year;
350      (d) have [successfully ]passed examinations [established by rule by the division in
351collaboration with the board] the division approves by rule in collaboration with the
352board; and
353      (e) meet with the board or representative of the division upon request for the purpose of
354evaluating the applicant's qualification for licensure.
355  (4) Each applicant for licensure by endorsement shall:
356      (a) submit an application in a form [approved by the division] the division approves;
357      (b) pay a fee [determined by ]the department [under] determines in accordance with
358Section 63J-1-504;
359      (c) submit satisfactory evidence of:
360(i) current licensure in good standing in a jurisdiction [recognized by rule by the
361division in collaboration with the board] the division recognizes by rule in
362collaboration with the board;
363(ii) having [successfully ]passed an examination [established by rule by the division
364in collaboration with the board] the division approves by rule in collaboration with
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365the board; and
366(iii) full-time employment as a principal for at least five of the last seven years
367immediately [preceding] before the date of the application as a:
368(A) licensed professional engineer for licensure as a professional engineer;
369(B) licensed professional structural engineer for licensure as a structural engineer;
370or
371(C) licensed professional land surveyor for licensure as a professional land
372surveyor; and
373(d) meet with the board or representative of the division upon request for the purpose of
374evaluating the applicant's qualifications for license.
375   (5) The rules made to implement this section shall be in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter
3763, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
377Section 11. Repealer.
378This bill repeals:
379Section 57-10-11, Requirement to conform to the Utah Coordinate System.
380Section 12. Effective Date.
381   This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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