So you are building a house, cool.

Here are the basic steps of this with regards to surveying. Not every step is in every construction. This list assumes that a subsurface sewage disposal system (Septic) is being used and not on a municipal system.

1. Have the lot/boundary surveyed. Depending on how close to the sideline(s) you will get may require that you have the lines marked as well.
2. File for a septic permit.
3. Mark the proposed location of the house so Environmental Health can prepare said permit (this may have been done prior to step 1).
4. Finalize house plans based on approved septic size.
5. Supply the house plans (or at very least, the extreme dimensions of the structure) to the surveyor.
6. Surveyor prepares site plan. The level of detail this requires will be based on the municipality’s requirements.
7. Surveyor stakes* the house for clearing (this may have been done in step 1).
8. Surveyor stakes* the house for benching (assuming a walkout basement and not a simple crawlspace.
9. Surveyor stakes* the house for digging footers.
10. Surveyor pins** the footers for block.
11. Surveyor prepares footer survey (if needed).

* The accuracy for this is typically within a couple of inches or so
** The accuracy for this is typically within an eighth of an inch or so

Site Plans

A site plan is a design intended to be used as instructions for construction.

It is very common for municipalities to require a site plan for commercial projects. These can be quite complex and often require engineering design work. These can include things like pre and post contours, proposed parking, landscaping, lighting, utilities, drainage, full architectural plans, etc. TNLDS does not do commercial site plans.

More and more, municipalities are requiring site plans for residential(ish) projects (houses, rental cabins, etc.). Historically in this area, all that was needed was a sketch from a builder or homeowner, showing what was planned to get the needed permits. This is still true for a lot of situations, but not entirely.

Each municipality has its own regulations and the level of detail for its site plans. Currently, the most “stringent” one we deal with is Sevier County in what they determine as “critical slope” area. (see Sevier County Zoning Resolution Article III Section 313)

Sevier County — Effective January 18, 2022

The Site Plan submitted for a Zoning Compliance Permit, for a lot in a Critical Slope Overlay Zone, shall be prepared by a Registered Land Surveyor or a Professional Engineer.

The following proposed information shall be shown on the site plan:

• Existing contours with a 2’ interval.
• The building including all porches, decks, overhangs and steps.
• The entrances into the building with finish floor elevations.
• Driveways & parking spaces with spot elevations at the edge of the roadway and near the building.
• All retaining walls around the building with estimated height of the wall.
• The minimum setbacks required by the Sevier Zoning Resolution.
• Dimensions to the front, side & rear property lines.

TNLDS will do these kinds of site plans. We will do the survey and provide the client with a GIS based (or shot) contours on the drawing and showing the proposed building location (using client-provided information). The client will be obligated to provide TNLDS the location of the planned retaining walls and their height, the elevation of the finished floor(s), the location of the proposed steps, and how they would like the parking to be. We will then transpose that information onto the site plan and return a pdf to the client for submission.