Land Survey FAQs

Land Survey Program Questions

What does your office charge to survey my property?
How can I tell if my property has ever had monuments set?
How do I locate my property corners?
How do I start the process of splitting my property?
One of my property corners is missing. How do I get it reset?
Can you recommend a private land Surveyor to me to survey my property?
How much will it cost me in fees to process my land division?
How long does it take for your department to process my land division?
When will my property taxes have to be paid?
What is a lien date and how does it affect the costs involved with my land division?
How can I tell where my easements are located?
My neighbor has built his fence on my property. What can your department do for me?
I would like to get rid of an easement on my property, how do I accomplish this?

1. What does your office charge to survey my property?

The County of El Dorado Surveyor’s Office does not survey private property. You will need to contact a Professional Land Surveyor (or Civil Engineer Registered prior to 1982) licensed by the State Board of Registration. Most Land Surveyors in private practice are listed in the local Yellow Pages or click on the following lists.

List of Surveyors - California Land Surveyors Association

Surveyor Look-Up - California State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

2. How can I tell if my property has ever had monuments set?

Lots in Subdivisions and parcels of Parcel Maps are usually monumented by the Professional Land Surveyor at the time the division occurred. If you have a metes and bounds description (The division occurred by a deed rather than a map) you need to read the deed to see if monuments are called for in the description.

To insure that all monuments are in the proper location you need to contact a Professional Land Surveyor (or Civil Engineer Registered prior to 1982) licensed by the State Board of Registration. Most Land Surveyors in private practice are listed in the local Yellow Pages or click on the following lists.

Private Land Surveyors - This list is compiled of local surveyors that have requested to have their contact information provided to the public.

Surveyor Look-Up - California State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

Membership Listing - Surveyors Architects Geologists and Engineers of El Dorado County

4. How do I start the process of splitting my property?

Contact County of El Dorado Planning Services to verify that your land is zoned properly to divide. If the answer is yes, then you will need to contact a Professional Land Surveyor (or Civil Engineer Registered prior to 1982) licensed by the State Board of Registration.

5. One of my property corners is missing. How do I get it reset?

The property corners have to be reset by a Professional Land Surveyor (or Civil Engineer Registered prior to 1982) licensed by the State Board of Registration. Most Land Surveyors in private practice are listed in the local Yellow Pages or click on the following lists.

Private Land Surveyors - This list is compiled of local surveyors that have requested to have their contact information provided to the public.

Surveyor Look-Up - California State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

6. Can you recommend a private land Surveyor to me to survey my property?

We cannot recommend one surveyor over another. Professional Land Surveyors are licensed by the State Board of Registration and are able to practice anywhere in the state. Most Land Surveyors in private practice are listed in the local Yellow Pages or click on the following lists.

Private Land Surveyors - This list is compiled of local surveyors that have requested to have their contact information provided to the public.

Surveyor Look-Up - California State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

7. How much will it cost me in fees to process my land division?

We can only address the fees associated with the County of El Dorado Surveyor’s Office. Other departments also have fees connected with a division of land. We have a map check fee for parcel maps and final maps (subdivisions). We also have a road petition fee that is generally associated with a land division. Please refer to our “Map Checking Fee Schedule” for the actual fee.

8. How long does it take for your department to process my land division?

It depends on our workload at the time your surveyor submits your map for map check. In general, it takes us approximately 3 to 4 weeks to process the first check on a map. Most survey maps take a minimum of two map checks.

9. When will my property taxes have to be paid?

Your property taxes will have to be prepaid before your map can be recorded with the County of El Dorado Recorder's Office.

10. What is a lien date and how does it affect the costs involved with my land division?

The lien date on any parcel is January 1st of each year. The Subdivision Map Act, paraphrased, explains that before you can record your map with the County of El Dorado Recorder's Office, the County of El Dorado Tax Collector must sign a statement that there are no liens against the parcel or any part thereof for unpaid state, county, municipal or local taxes. See section 66492 of the Subdivision Map Act.

11. How can I tell where my easements are located?

Easements are usually shown on the map of your property unless granted by a deed after the map has been recorded. If the easement was created by a deed you will need to refer to the description in the deed. Another source of information is your title report, look it over to see how they have described the different easements. Public Utilities Easements may also cross your property in which case you may be able to call the appropriate utility company for information. If you are under construction and just trying to find where existing utilities are, call the "Underground Service Alert" at 1-800-227-2600 before you dig.

12. My neighbor has built his fence on my property. What can your department do for me?

Since property disputes are a civil matter between the parties we can only suggest the following. First verify the encroachment by contacting a Professional Land Surveyor (or Civil Engineer Registered prior to 1982) licensed by the State Board of Registration. Secondly try to contact your neighbor to work it out between yourselves. Thirdly you may need to contact an Attorney.

13. I would like to get rid of an easement on my property, how do I accomplish this?

If the easement is a public easement offered to the County of El Dorado you will need to do an "Abandonment of Easement" through the County Surveyor's Office. If the easement is shown but not offered to the County on a Parcel Map then a “Map Amendment for Parcel or Subdivision Map” may be needed through