The Survey Division is headed by a Chief Surveyor who has under his responsibility the management of State Lands in general, a Land Information Unit, a Hydrography Unit. The staff includes Deputy Chief Surveyors, Principal Surveyors, Senior Surveyors, Surveyors and support staff consisting of Surveying and Mapping Assistants, Plans and Records Officer. Also under the Chief Surveyor's responsibility is a Cartography Unit headed by a Chief Cartographer and supporting staff.

Its activities are governed mainly by the State Lands Act , the Pas Géométriques Act , the Land Surveyor's Act and the Land Acquisition Act .

The importance of the Division lies in the fact that land is the basis for all human activity. It is the starting point for all developments in the country. Its role is to provide information on available State Lands that may be disposed of for various types of development, to guide decision makers. Where State Lands are not available, as is most often the case, the Division helps in identifying privately owned lands for acquisition. Once the go ahead is obtained for the acquisition, the Division takes the front stage in all the legal procedures up to payment of compensation to the owners.

The Survey Division has so far helped thousands of households to lead a decent living by granting plots of State Lands on lease for housing construction. Several portions of land are also being acquired islandwide for the NHDC under its current housing development programme where the Division plays a central role. The Division has also a huge role in satisfying the increasing demand for land from other Ministries with the massive and unprecedented public investment in the fields of Education, Road Infrastructure and Sports in particular.