Licensing and continuing education0 answersAI answer
More agencies want digitally signed PDFs. What do we need to know?
Asked October 25, 2026
AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor
Digital sealing rules come from state boards and the receiving agencies [1].
Common requirements:
- Approved method: a digital signature, usually certificate-based, that makes the file tamper-evident. Some boards allow scanned seals with specific conditions.
- Seal content as defined by the board: name, license number and state.
- Date of signing.
- Final documents only: drafts and preliminary drawings are usually marked "not for recording" or similar.
- Agency formats: PDF standards, layer requirements, file naming and size limits.
Good practice:
- Keep the signed original and a log of what was signed and when.
- Protect your signing credentials.
- Confirm the agency's requirements before submission [1].
Check your state board's current rules. Several have updated them for electronic submissions.
General information only. Answers here are not a survey or legal advice, and no one here can tell you where your boundary is. For your property, hire a licensed land surveyor in your state; for legal questions, a real-estate attorney.