Order a boundary and topographic survey

Survey costs catch most owners off guard — "couldn't we just use the assessor map?" No, and here's why. SDCI requires a stamped survey for any addition, fences on older Seattle lots are routinely a foot or two off the real line, and your designer needs the topography to draw real elevations and tie the new addition to the existing grade.

What gets shot

A standard residential boundary + topo (topography) 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.

Why an addition makes the survey more important

For an interior-only remodel, the survey is mostly a sanity check — you're not building anything new on the lot. For an addition, the survey is what proves the new footprint respects every setback. SDCI 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 scheduling and any 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. Look for firms whose name or contact info mentions residential work.
3. Recent permit history. The SDCI Permit and Site History Research Tool lets you filter recent residential permits in your neighborhood; the surveyor of record on those permits is a local specialist who already knows SDCI submittal expectations.

What to look for: active license; residential experience (commercial-only firms charge more and aren't always familiar with SDCI's submittal format); written quote with deliverables clearly enumerated.

How long it takes and who does it

Two to four weeks from order to stamped drawing, depending on surveyor backlog. Order this early — the designer can't start without it. For a standard Seattle lot expect $1,500–$3,500.