Santa Clara Co. RS Fees - 2026 Increase!!!

[PLS7393]

Beware if you are working and planning to submit a RS in Santa Clara Co. As of July 2026, the RS review fee was increased to . . . . $1,299-

The original increase was adjusted in 2025 to $974- and there was a lengthy forum thread on it, which you can search and review.

Unfortunately the local CLSA Chapter didn't keep the private practitioners aware of the upcoming fee increase, that took place in July 2026.

That said, beware so you can estimate and plan accordingly, or be like me now having to absorb the additional $325 per project, and then get to wait 8 months+ for your first review.

Retirement is looking better and better from this profession, just the facts.

[hellsangle]

Keith,

Thanks for posting this . . . It would be nice to have an excel spreadsheet of all the County Surveyor's review fees for Records of Surveys.

FYI Sonoma County ROS review fee is $ 1,096.07
Marin County (presently) review fee is $ 664.00 or $ 940.00 for Lot Line Adjustments.

Crazy Phil - Surveyor to Recorder

[-D-A-]

Keith - Is $1,299.00 the full anticipated fee...or just the minimum/initial fee??

Kern County ROS Fees noted below:
ROS Review fee: $400.00 for 1st sheet + $200.00 for each addt'l sheet
Recorder's fee: $7.00 for 1st sheet + $3.00 for each addt'l sheet + SB2 fees if applicable ($75.00 to $225.00)

DA

[PLS7393]

Keith - Is $1,299.00 the full anticipated fee...or just the minimum/initial fee??

This is the full review price, where there is a problem.
Santa Clara Co. has always had a flat fee, so if you have a one page RS, the review fee is the same if you have a 50 page RS.
That said, the small project is covering a portion of the review fee for the larger projects.
Does anyone see the broken thread per se?
You simply can't fix stupid, lol.

[Edward M Reading]

Multiple-sheet RSs should have a per-sheet charge. Isn't that how most counties do it?

[PLS7393]

Multiple-sheet RSs should have a per-sheet charge. Isn't that how most counties do it?

One would think, but obviously I explained differently, go figure!!!

[pls5528]

Of the thousands of calls I have received for quotes regarding boundary retracements, I would say half would require an RS. Even after explaining to the public what it is, and why it's required by law, they don't understand the costs involved to do what they want done.A surveyor needs to do what he/she needs to do to do it in accordance with law and do it right. I don't expect the governmental agencies to work for free for the checking of Record of Surveys, however, other than checking closures and filing fee, it IS the professional opinion of the Land Surveyor. The filing of a RS is also a benefit to the public and future surveyors retracing surveys in the area of the survey. A future surveyor may agree or disagree with it and choose to have a different opinion. Nevertheless, the increase of fees on the governmental side makes it more and more difficult to perform a service we provide as a benefit to the public and our peers.

[khuerth]

$2,756 deposit for maps within City Limits in Santa Barbara County.

$673 for maps outside of City Limits.

[bryanmundia]

I did a quick data pull using ChatGPT to provide me with information about each county in California. Obviously, some of this information may be outdated. Please let me know if you have insight into current fee schedules for each county and I'd be happy to update to create a master list that can be useful to everyone.