Cert. of Correction vs Amended Map

[khuerth]

My office is currently working on a Certificate of Correction on a Tract Map that was prepared and recorded by another firm that has since gone out of business. We set all the required property corners and monuments and now we are trying to get the proper documents recorded. Along with the different surveyor's tags set, we had to set offsets for some of the monuments as well, no other changes to the configuration of lots or otherwise has taken place. We did the first two phases via Certificate of Correction and since the third phase has been submitted the County Surveyor (contracted with the City to review their documents), has recommend we do an Amended Map rather than Certificate.

My questions is, who ultimately makes the decision on what gets filed, the Surveyor of record or the City/County? The City is a small and doesn't address this in their ordinances, they are following the lead of the County Surveyor. I have my opinion (like all surveyor's do) but I am interested in what the community thinks.

Thanks,
Kyle Huerth, PLS

[Warren Smith]

These situations are properly addressed with a Certificate of Correction. The recorded document will be referenced on the map index in order to impart constructive notice of the corrections.

Gov. Code section 66472

[Steve Martin]

I agree with Warren on the Certificate of Correction.

A lot of places do not file the CofC's with the sub map and that can make for an Easter egg hunt for following Surveyors when they find tags other than as indicated on the face of the map.

[Edward M Reading]

This would be a Certificate of Correction here. I'm not sure that the City can dictate the type of document in this case unless they have an ordinance stating such. The SMA pretty much lumps them both together. Submit the Certs and see what happens.

[Mike Mueller]

Somewhat tangential question, but is the reason not to do the Amended Map based on the cost of it? I ask mainly because there is a bigger issue in my mind which Steve M brought up. Tracking down CoCs can be a pain, and if the goal is insure that future surveyors use your work, the Amended Map seems the best way to put everyone on notice (especially the budget surveyors out there that may not do their diligence). Our office likes to consider the audience for our maps to be the lowest passing score of the 2050 crop of new surveyors. While you can't make anything truly idiot proof, its not a bad goal :)

Mikey Mueller, PLS
Sonoma County CA

[sako]

Doesn't COC get recorded as an attachment to the recorded map?

[dharri]

The County Recorder is not legally required to tie the COC to the map being corrected. The County Recorder enters the COC recording information into their Grantor-Grantee Index and forwards a copy of the recorded COC to the County Surveyor. The County Surveyor is required to maintain an index of the recorded COC’s. See SMA Section 66470. Some County Surveyor’s are more diligent about maintaining the required index than others. For maps recorded after 2001, researching the Recorder’s Grantee-Grantor Index using the owner’s name that is shown on the map being corrected is the best way to find COC’s. COC’s for maps recorded prior to 2001 required that the names of all present fee owners be shown. In order locate pre-2001 COC’s, you need to research the Recorder’s Grantee-Grantor Index using an original lot owners name who is still the current lot owner. Please note that COC’s did not come into existence until 1968.

[khuerth]

...but is the reason not to do the Amended Map based on the cost of it? ...

Yes and no, we don't have access to the cad files that created the Tract Map, so we would have to reproduce the map in CAD for it to be legible enough to record. Fortunately, the County is very good about stamping the recording information of the Certificate of Correction's on the original Map.

[Edward M Reading]

Kyle,
There are ways around not having the original CAD files. You should be able to put the PDF of the original map in CAD and draft over it with the revisions. I can send you some examples if that would help.
Ed

[khuerth]

Kyle,
There are ways around not having the original CAD files. You should be able to put the PDF of the original map in CAD and draft over it with the revisions. I can send you some examples if that would help.
Ed

Hey Ed, I'd like to see those if there handy. We have decided to do a Cert on an earlier phase and an amended map on the final phase.

Thanks,
Kyle

[Edward M Reading]

I'll send them to you tomorrow, Kyle.