The Society of Land Referencers (SoLR) is proud to introduce the first in a new series of professional Land Referencing Standards, marking an important milestone in the development and recognition of land referencing as a specialist professional discipline.
Developed by the SoLR Standards and Ethics Sub-committee, the standards respond to the absence of a published technical standard specifically for land referencing practice. They aim to establish a common framework that supports consistent, transparent and high-quality land referencing across the infrastructure, development and land management sectors.
The standards are intended to help clients clearly define their requirements, enable practitioners to demonstrate the quality and reliability of their work, and provide the profession with a shared technical language and common expectations.
A foundation for the profession
The first publication establishes a conceptual standard, setting out fundamental principles and requirements for the creation, management, assurance and presentation of land referencing information.
It recognises that land referencing is more than producing plans, schedules and contact lists. It is the professional practice of bringing together land, rights, parties and supporting evidence into a connected, reliable and continually evolving body of information.
Designed to be applicable across different projects, jurisdictions and technologies, the standard focuses on what good land referencing should achieve, rather than prescribing particular methodologies or software.
This is the first step towards a wider family of standards, including future jurisdictional and procedural standards that will address specific legal frameworks and statutory processes.
Developed by the profession,
for the profession
The development of these standards reflects SoLR's commitment to advancing professional practice, supporting technical excellence and strengthening confidence in the information upon which critical land and infrastructure decisions depend.
They also provide a foundation for continued collaboration, learning and improvement across the land referencing community, helping the profession evolve to meet the needs of the future.
Navigating the standard
The SoLR Land Referencing Standards are published in a structured, searchable format, making it easy to explore, reference and keep track of changes.
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The Standard: The standard covering different aspects of land referencing practice.
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Sections: The main subject areas within each standard, grouping related requirements and guidance.
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Clauses: Individually numbered requirements and provisions, enabling precise referencing and direct linking.
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Glossary: A searchable collection of defined terms and their meanings, supporting consistent interpretation across the standards.
Copyright and Permitted Use
© 2026 Society of Land Referencers Limited. All rights reserved except as licensed below.
The SoLR Land Referencing Standards are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Licence.
You are free to access, share, reproduce and adapt the standards, including for commercial purposes, provided that appropriate acknowledgement is given to the Society of Land Referencers (SoLR), a link to the licence is included, and any modifications are clearly identified.
The standards are provided to support professional practice and do not replace applicable legislation, statutory requirements or professional judgement.
The SoLR name and logo remain the intellectual property of the Society of Land Referencers Limited and may not be used in a way that implies endorsement or accreditation without prior written permission.