New ALTA Survey Requirements

In a commercial real estate transaction, it is best to have an ALTA survey, which is a survey which has sufficient detail to allow a title company to delete certain survey-related exceptions from the title insurance policy.  New requirements have gone into effect for ALTA surveys.  The new 2026 standards replace the former 2021 standards.

The ALTA survey requirements include several optional items which are enumerated on what is referred to as the Table A in the ALTA survey standards.  The new 2026 ALTA Table A items also include some changes from the former 2021 Table A items.  While many of the Table A items are similar, a few of the Table A items have been modified, and a few additional new Table A items have been added.  Accordingly, some older form purchase agreements prepared using the 2021 standards may designate certain Table A items which are no longer appropriate under the new 2026 standards. 

It is important that the appropriate Table A items be selected in order to ensure the ability of the title company to delete the survey exceptions from the title policy.