Which of the following is a requirement before the issuance of a land grant?

The requirement of conducting a survey of the land before the issuance of a land grant is crucial in establishing clear boundaries, identifying the land’s characteristics, and ensuring that the land is unencumbered by conflicting claims. A proper survey helps determine the exact dimensions and limits of the property, thereby preventing future disputes and legal issues. This process is fundamental to land grants as it ensures that all parties have a clear understanding of the property being granted.

While other options may involve important administrative steps in the process of land management, none of them specifically address the necessity of defining the land boundaries as thoroughly as a survey does. Marketing the land and commissioning local surveyors may be part of later processes, and obtaining approval from the Secretary of State is typically related to the administrative aspects following the survey but does not substitute the foundational role of the land survey in the grant issuance process.