Common questions about land surveying.

Most surveys take two to six weeks from the day you sign off on a quote. The work breaks into three parts: research at the County (records, prior surveys, deeds), fieldwork (locating monuments, taking measurements), and the deliverable (drafting the map, drafting the legal description, and filing if required).

Larger or more remote parcels take longer because the records pull and field travel both grow. Need it faster? Tell us up front — we can sometimes prioritize.

Most commonly:

• Before buying or selling property — to verify what you're buying or what you own
• Before building anything close to a property line, so a fence or addition doesn't end up on the neighbor's parcel
• To resolve a boundary dispute
• To satisfy a lender or title company
• To apply for a building permit
• To merge or subdivide parcels

If you're not sure, give us a call — we'll tell you straight whether you need one or not.

A boundary survey identifies where your property lines are. A topographic survey maps what's on and above the ground inside those lines: elevations, slopes, structures, trees, utilities, drainage.

Boundary surveys answer "where does my land begin and end?" Topo surveys answer "what's on my land and how does it sit?" Construction projects often need both.

No. As long as we have legal access to the property, we can work without you there. What matters is that gates are unlocked, dogs are secured, and we know about anything we should be careful around. We'll always coordinate access with you before we show up.

Every parcel is different, so the honest answer is: it depends on your specific property. The main drivers are:

• Parcel size
• Terrain — a flat lot in town surveys faster than a rough acreage parcel out near Pioneertown
• The quality of existing records
• How clearly the corners are marked
• What deliverable you need (a Corner Record vs. a full Record of Survey vs. a topo with CAD files)

Send us a property address or APN and we'll typically have a quote back to you quickly.

Both are documents filed with the San Bernardino County Surveyor, but they're for different situations.

A Corner Record is the simpler filing — used when we're locating or resetting corners on a lot in a recorded tract map.

A Record of Survey is more involved, with a full plat showing the whole boundary and all the supporting math. It's used for sectional parcels, larger acreage, or any survey that resolves a boundary question or sets new monuments.

We'll tell you which one your project needs as part of the quote.

California law requires that anyone determining property lines, drafting legal descriptions, or filing documents with the County Surveyor be a licensed Professional Land Surveyor (PLS).

A measurement made with a tape and a compass isn't legally defensible — it won't hold up at the County, with a title company, or in court. Hiring a licensed surveyor means the work is signed, sealed, and stands as official record.

Depends on the job. Common deliverables:

• Lot Survey: a signed Corner Record filed with the County, monuments set in the ground at your corners, and a copy of the filed document for your records.
• Boundary or Sectional Boundary Survey: a Record of Survey filed with the County plus a map you can hand to your title company, attorney, or lender.
• Topographic Survey: a contour map, spot elevations, and CAD files ready for your architect or engineer.
• Legal Descriptions and Site Plans: recorder-ready exhibits and drawings tailored to your permit or transaction.

Every deliverable is signed and sealed by Frank.