Survey services

Boundary & Property Surveys

A boundary survey locates or re-establishes the legal limits of a parcel using recorded deeds, title documents, existing maps, and field measurements. We research the chain of title, recover existing monuments, set new monuments where needed, and prepare a map showing the boundary lines and their relation to adjoining properties. When the work establishes or re-establishes boundary positions, we also file the required Record of Survey or Corner Record with the county, so the findings become part of the public record.

Whether you are planning to build near a property line, resolving a question with a neighbor, or simply confirming what you own, a property survey gives you a clear and defensible picture of your boundaries.

Topographic Surveys

A topographic survey maps the existing conditions of a site: ground elevations, contours, structures, paving, utilities, vegetation, and other physical features. The resulting map gives engineers and architects the accurate site data they need to design grading, drainage, foundations, and building layouts.

Topographic surveys are typically required before site design begins. The level of detail is matched to the needs of the project.

Construction Staking

Construction staking translates an approved set of design plans into physical marks on the ground — stakes, hubs, and offset markers that show crews the exact location, alignment, and elevation of structures, grading limits, utility lines, and other improvements.

Staking is typically performed in phases as construction progresses. Accurate field staking ensures work is built in the correct position relative to property lines, setbacks, and approved permit plans.

Lot Line Adjustments & Subdivisions

A lot line adjustment modifies the shared boundary between adjacent, legally created parcels without creating additional lots. A subdivision divides one parcel into two or more separate parcels, each capable of independent conveyance or development.

Both are subject to the Subdivision Map Act and local ordinance, and require maps and legal descriptions prepared by a licensed surveyor. We handle tentative maps, parcel maps, and final maps through agency review and recordation.

Easement Documentation

An easement is a legal right to use a portion of a property for a specific purpose, such as access, drainage, or utilities. We prepare the field measurements, plats, and legal descriptions needed to create, modify, or record an easement so the affected area is clearly identified and enforceable.

Clear easement documentation protects everyone involved and prevents later disputes over where those rights begin and end.

FEMA Elevation & Flood Certificates

A FEMA Elevation Certificate documents a building's elevation relative to the established vertical datum and the surrounding flood zone. It is commonly required for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program, for lender requirements, and for permitting in flood-prone areas.

We perform the field measurements and complete the certificate on FEMA's standard form, to the specifications your insurer, lender, or jurisdiction requires.

Consultation

If you are uncertain which type of survey your project requires, we are glad to talk through your situation. A brief conversation can often clarify what is needed and whether a survey is the right next step.

If your project falls outside the work we take on, we have a network of trusted Bay Area colleagues and are happy to point you in the right direction.