California Surveyors Forums

Today's example of a Site Plan created using boundary data from an unlicensed person (likely the architect or building designer measuring from fences). I am being asked to do a boundary survey and form certification for this approved permit where the site plan shows boundaries and existing house location.

Ken Wilson

Yep.
Done a lot of those apre surveys.
Told lots of folks their forms are several feet inside the setback only to get called back a year later after the designer changed the plans to conform.

Another reason we all should circulate the recent Site Plan White paper.

As long as the cities don't have clear requirement, requesting a boundary survey before submitting the site plan, we will see these type of Site Plans, which look to me as a sketch. They call sometimes, when the forms are up, asking for setback certificate and are offended by Licensed surveyor's quotes (WHAT, $3k for 2 hours of work?).

Please consider circulating the White Paper recently published.

You can get a copy here. Send it to the municipality where the paper originated.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pl6jkmacl9euq ... e.pdf?dl=0

This has been discussed prior. The architects submit plans (Site Plan included) and the city does not know if is surveyor is involved or not. They assume one was hired prior to the architect, and proceed with the review process.

Homeowners are not getting good advise from architects when they contact them for an addition (or new ADU). A GOOD architect (hard to find) tell Mr. homeowner to get a survey done FIRST.

When a homeowner contacts me for the construction staking or setback certification, I educate them and explain I have to do a boundary survey to establish the lines, before I can lay out the new structure or perform a certification.

Yes there is a problem, but I deal with it and charge for my services accordingly.

My latest is a concrete foundation and subfloor constructed 5 feet into a 10 ft. side yard setback on a 50 ft. wide lot. With a 50 ft. wide lot and side yard setbacks on both sides, they have a max available width of 35 ft. to build, the foundation is 37 ft. wide.

Looks to be bigger issue than just not getting a survey to begin with.

This is damaging to the welfare of the public and that is and likely all of our main concern.