• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

Site Survey - Architect

In general I would say no but the answer is dependent on state law.

Historically civil engineering included the authority to do surveying although in California Land Surveyors are currently separately licensed. In some states Architects may have the authority to practice civil engineering. Thus one might suggest that an Architect could sign for property surveys. Whether this is possible will depend on the state laws. Ask the state entity that licenses surveyors.

Even if this is legal an Architect contemplating signing for survey should ask whether he/she has the necessary skill and knowledge. It would be a relatively rare Architect who is qualified to do the work.
 
Why would an Architect want to do that, wouldn't the Architech be reliving the Surveyor of responsibility? I beleive there would be no issue if the Architect has a seal for doing both architecture and surveying.
 
An architect can copy a boundary survey prepared by a licensed surveyor onto your site plan and seal that drawing. It would be best to add a note with the surveyor's name and date of survey.

You couldn't stamp a boundary survey to be used for platting or other legal purposes in most (if not all) states unless you are a licensed surveyor.
 
design-time said:
Can a license architect sign and seal a surveyor drawing?
Click to expand...
LOL, absolutely not. Architects are 1000% clueless when it comes to Boundary Law. I have 11 years of Land Surveying experience and my Dad is a Licensed professional Land Surveyor.

If an Architect was able to stamp Survey drawings they would be sued in 5 minutes. For example one site we just completed not long ago. The architect designs the building RIGHT ON the setback. We informed them that there is a lot of slop in the subdivision as it is a subdivision dating back to the 1950s. They said they want to hire someone who can can the "exact" property line. I said in this world there is no such thing as "exact". I continued to inform them this was Surveyed back in the day of chain and transit. Surveyors setting monuments to the nearest half of a foot is not unheard of as error acceptance back in the day was 1ft of error every 5,000 feet.

In a nutshell, if an architect is not getting a Topographic Survey BEFORE they design the house they are in for causing their client and themselves a big headache.
 
Paul Sweet said:
An architect can copy a boundary survey prepared by a licensed surveyor onto your site plan and seal that drawing. It would be best to add a note with the surveyor's name and date of survey.

You couldn't stamp a boundary survey to be used for platting or other legal purposes in most (if not all) states unless you are a licensed surveyor.
Click to expand...
I am a Licensed General Contractor but I am mainly a Surveyor by trade as my dad is a PLS. The proper procedure for an experienced Architect is to request their client to obtain a Topographic Survey BEFORE designing for their client. On large lots this may not be an issue but #1 how does the Architect truly know where the property lines truly are? Short answer is they dont. If they dont know where the property line is how do they know where the building setback is? How do they design property without taking into account the adjacent grade of what they are designing. This may be ok on flat land with no drainage issues. Are they in a flood zone? If so whats the grade in relation to NAVD88?

In many jurisdictions an inspector is going to want to see MONUMENTS in order to sign off final anyway.

We are licensed in CA, OR, NM, NV, and AZ and ALL western states require a Licensed Land Surveyor to plat anything in relation to boundary lines, except grandfathered Civil Engineers.

The architect is totally clueless if they are not designing AFTER obtaining a Topographic Survey from a Surveyor first.

Its entirely acceptable to have a Architect design a structure etc without a Topo BUT by you are asking is it acceptable for them to stamp a "Survey" drawing implies your local jurisdiction is forcing you to have a Topographic Survey by how I read this which graphically depicts existing infrastructure, topography, utilities, property lines and setbacks, a little too late. If this is the case.

I dont think people need to waste money on hiring a surveyor for Topographic Survey or Boundary if they truly 100% know where their property corners are that can be 100% identified, not just a random stake someone set that claims it to be the corner.

I have seen it countless times the land owner or contractor ends up building over the setback or property line, simple by trying to save a couple grand.

Big lot, no concern for property lines or setbacks, not a super steep side slope, screw hiring the surveyor. I could be making assumptions here But it astonishes me Architects will go that far down the road without asking for the Survey FIRST.
 
mtlogcabin said:
Nope a surveyor is a licensed individual or company in Florida

Click to expand...
All 50 states with exception of a few require you to pass the NCEES fundamentals of Surveying then pass the NCEES Priciples and Practices of Land Surveying. Then most require you to have at least 8 years responsible charge with 5 professional references 3 of which need to be a surveyor. THEN each state has a state specific test for you to become licensed in that state. Surveyors do not get reciprocity. I think Florida has a License by endorsement but very few states let you get by without passing their state specific. Each State has their own Boundary Laws and Statues.

There is 3 tests to becoming a Surveyor and many states require a Bachelors degree in Geomatics. You also need many years of responsible charge and at least 3 surveyors to vouch for your experience.

This is why when people complain about the price of the Survey, they dont get it.
 
atvjoel said:
LOL, absolutely not. Architects are 1000% clueless when it comes to Boundary Law. I have 11 years of Land Surveying experience and my Dad is a Licensed professional Land Surveyor.

If an Architect was able to stamp Survey drawings they would be sued in 5 minutes. For example one site we just completed not long ago. The architect designs the building RIGHT ON the setback. We informed them that there is a lot of slop in the subdivision as it is a subdivision dating back to the 1050s. They said they want to hire someone who can can the "exact" property line. I said in this world there is no such thing as "exact". I continued to inform them this was Surveyed back in the day of chain and transit. Surveyors setting monuments to the nearest half of a foot is not unheard of as error acceptance back in the day was 1ft of error every 5,000 feet.

In a nutshell, if an architect is not getting a Topographic Survey BEFORE they design the house they are in for causing their client and themselves a big headache.
Click to expand...
meant to say 1950s my bad
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top