Order a boundary and topographic survey

What gets shot

A standard residential boundary + topo survey gives you:

• Property corners physically located and pinned.
• Topography at 1-ft contours across the lot.
• Tree inventory with species, DBH, and drip lines for trees above Renton's significant-tree threshold (6-inch DBH under RMC 4-4-130).
• Existing improvements — house footprint, accessory structures, driveways, fences, retaining walls.
• Easements as shown in the title commitment, drawn on the survey.

Why an addition makes the survey more important

For an interior-only remodel, the survey is mostly a sanity check. For an addition, it's what proves the new footprint respects every setback. Renton CED will reject a submittal that doesn't tie the addition to a stamped survey.

Where to find a land surveyor

Three reliable channels, in order of how the founder would actually shop:

1. Your designer's referrals. Designers carry 2–3 surveyors they've worked with on similar projects. Ask first — the existing relationship makes follow-up work smoother.
2. WA DOL professional license search. Verify a license lets you filter by Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) and search by city. The DOL license lookup is a Salesforce Lightning SPA — search directly on the site rather than deep-linking.
3. Recent permit history. Check the Renton CASSP portal for recent residential addition permits in your neighborhood; the surveyor of record on those permits already knows Renton CED submittal expectations.

What to look for: active PLS license; residential experience; written quote with deliverables clearly enumerated.

How long it takes

Two to four weeks from order to stamped drawing, depending on surveyor backlog. Order early — the designer can't start without it.