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 (diameter at breast height), and drip lines for any tree above the SDCI threshold for protection.
- Existing improvements — house footprint, accessory structures, driveways, fences, retaining walls.
- Easements that show up in the title commitment, drawn on the survey.
How long it takes
Two to four weeks from order to stamped drawing, depending on surveyor backlog. Order this early — the designer can't start without it.
Who does it
A surveyor licensed in Washington. Verify via the DOL license lookup. Surveyors set their own fees; for a standard Seattle lot expect $1,500–$3,500.
How this differs from a DADU survey
For a DADU you're locating a new structure on the lot. For a second-story addition you're not adding footprint, but you still need the survey so the designer can confirm the existing house is where the deeds say it is — title-vs-actual mismatches are common on older Seattle lots and can ripple into permit problems if not caught early.
Where this information came from
- WA Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors — license verification · retrieved April 23, 2026