How to Request a Topographic Survey (Step-by-Step Guide)

🧭 Step 1: Know When You Need a Topographic Survey

Knowing when you need to request a topographic survey can save you time, money, and frustration. In most cases, topo data is required before any serious site design or development can begin.

📌 Typical Triggers:

• Buying or selling raw land for development
  
  

• Submitting plans to the city or county for approval
  
  

• Coordinating with an architect or civil engineer
  
  

• Starting grading, utility, or drainage work
  
  

• Confirming floodplain impact or planning a retention pond
  
  

💡 Pro Tip: In Texas, especially in hilly areas like the Hill Country, many municipalities will not accept permit applications without a current topographic survey.

🗂️ Step 2: Gather Your Site Information

To request a topographic survey, you’ll need to provide the surveyor with some basic information. This allows them to determine the scope, pricing, and timeline accurately.

🔧 Essential Details to Have Ready:

1. Property address or GPS coordinates
   
   

2. Legal description (lot/block/subdivision or metes-and-bounds)
   
   

3. Parcel ID number (APN) or tax ID (available from your county)
   
   

4. Site acreage or square footage
   
   

5. Purpose of the survey (e.g., site planning, permit submission, drainage)
   
   

6. Preferred contour interval (e.g., 1-ft for design, 2-ft for general planning)
   
   

7. Any previous survey or CAD files (if available)
   
   

The more detail you provide upfront, the faster and more accurate your topo quote will be.

🔍 Step 3: Find Reputable Topographic Survey Companies

Not all survey firms offer the same capabilities—especially when it comes to topographic work. You’ll want to work with a licensed, experienced survey company that provides:

• CAD-ready deliverables
  
  

• Digital and georeferenced data
  
  

• Contour mapping in your required format (PDF, DWG, DXF, etc.)
  
  

• Surveyors licensed in your state (RPLS in Texas, PLS in other states)
  
  

🌆 If You’re in Houston or Texas:

Look for topographic survey companies in Houston that understand:

• Local floodplain regulations
  
  

• Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) requirements
  
  

• Stormwater and grading concerns in clay-heavy soils
  
  

• Coastal plain issues (subsidence, drainage)
  
  

🎯 What to Look For:

• In business 5+ years
  
  

• Responsive to quote requests
  
  

• Familiar with your jurisdiction or county
  
  

• Willing to coordinate with engineers or architects
  
  

• Can deliver within your project timeline
  
  

💬 Step 4: Request Your Quote (How to Ask for It Right)

Now that you’ve selected a few surveyors, it’s time to get quotes. Use clear language so there's no confusion about what you need.

Example Email or Form Language:

Subject: Request for Topographic Survey Quote – [Project Name]

Hi,

I’m requesting a topographic survey for a [# acre/sq ft] parcel located at [Address or GPS].

Purpose: [Site design, permit submission, drainage, etc.]

Deliverables: CAD (.DWG) + PDF with 1-ft contours

Please let me know your estimated cost, availability, and delivery timeline.

Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Info]
[Company Name, if applicable]

💡 Include attachments if you have an old survey, plat, or site plan to help them understand the site faster.

💲 Step 5: Review Quotes and Choose Your Surveyor

Topographic survey pricing can vary based on many factors:

• Acreage or site size
  
  

• Terrain complexity (flat vs. hilly)
  
  

• Vegetation density (cleared vs. overgrown)
  
  

• Location (urban, suburban, or remote)
  
  

• Urgency of delivery
  
  

• Required deliverables (2D vs. 3D, CAD vs. PDF)
  
  

💰 General Pricing (Texas):

• Small residential lots (under 1 acre): $1,000–$1,800
  
  

• Medium sites (1–5 acres): $1,800–$3,500
  
  

• Large or complex sites (10+ acres, sloped, wooded): $3,500–$8,000+
  
  

Don’t just choose the cheapest quote—choose the firm that understands your goals, communicates well, and can deliver on time.

📅 Step 6: Schedule and Confirm Project Scope

Once you accept the quote, the surveyor will confirm:

• Access to the site (locked gates, pets, security, etc.)
  
  

• Availability of benchmarks or known monuments
  
  

• Deliverable format and contour intervals
  
  

• Survey start and delivery dates
  
  

Most topo surveys take between 3 and 10 business days, depending on complexity.

If you’re working on a fast-track permitting project, ask about rush options or drone-based surveys, which can speed up data collection on large sites.

📦 Step 7: Receive and Review Your Survey Deliverables

📁 Typical Topographic Survey Deliverables:

• 2D CAD file (.DWG) with layers for contours, spot elevations, utilities, trees, structures
  
  

• PDF exhibit showing all topo data over aerial or parcel base
  
  

• CSV/point file if requested (for GIS use)
  
  

• Metadata file explaining datum, coordinate system, and equipment used
  
  

Your surveyor should be available for follow-up questions or coordinate directly with your engineer, architect, or permitting consultant if needed.