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1. Does the County Surveyor’s Office perform surveys for the general public?

No, the County Surveyor’s Office only performs surveys on County owned land, including County road and flood control channel rights-of-way.

Only a land surveyor or qualified pre-1982 civil engineer licensed in the state of California can provide property line location for a private survey in this state. Contact information for these professionals can be found in a telephone directory, by searching the Internet, or by contacting engineering and land surveying societies (see Resources, P. 21 of the Consumer Guide to Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors or California Land Surveyors Association, Find a Surveyor). The California State Board website is another source of information for researching licensed engineers or land surveyors in your city or county where you can verify that the professional is currently and properly licensed and find out if there have been any complaints or disciplinary actions taken against the person’s license.

When interviewing land surveyors ask for local references on similar projects and compare qualifications and experience. Also, ask if they have previous experience working with your local planning department, public works department, municipal utility district, or County Surveyor’s Office. For your protection, the State Board insists that a formal contract is made between professional and client.

2. My neighbor and I have a dispute about the location of our fence; what is the process for involving a resolution of this issue by the County Surveyor?

The County Surveyor’s Office has no authority to mediate private property issues.

3. My neighbor informed that I am encroaching on his property, what do I do?

How did your neighbor come to this determination? Request the official filed map of the survey that provided a surveyor’s opinion of your shared boundary line. You can hire a surveyor yourself.

4. Do you have maps and other records available online?

Yes, Tract Maps (also known as Subdivision Maps), Parcel Maps, Records of Survey and Corner Records are now available for viewing and download at no cost through the Public Works Records webpage.   Click on the “Laserfiche Weblink."

5. Can you give me information about all of the easements that cross my property?

No. If your property is a lot in a subdivision we can provide a copy of the recorded subdivision map which will show easements created by that map and other easements affecting the property at that time; however, there is no reason to assume that other easements have not been created since. A title company insurance policy or preliminary title report  is the best source of disclosing things such as easements affecting a particular property.

6. What are the Public Counter hours of service? Phone number? Location?

The Public Works is located at 255 Glacier Drive in Martinez.  Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and open Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.).  The main phone number is (925) 313-2000.  Also see question #4 above.

7. I am a land surveyor with a project in Contra Costa County. Will you do the research I need and send it (fax it, e-mail it) to me?

No. You must do the research yourself. You are in responsible charge of your map, including research.

8. I am a land surveyor with a project in Contra Costa County. Where are the checklist for filing Maps, and what are the fees associated with map submittals?

Fee schedules are currently a part of the checklists.

The checklists for parcel maps and final map submissions are here.

The checklist for Records of Surveys is here.

The checklist for Corner Records is here.

9. Do you issue tract and parcel map numbers?

For tract numbers for the entire county, and parcel map numbers for the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa, contact the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) (925) 674-7722. For parcel maps in other cities, obtain the number from the city.