Effective January 6, 2025
Overview
A survey monument is a physical marker placed on the ground or in other structures to indicate specific survey points and referenced coordinates. These markers are critical for establishing property boundaries, conducting land surveys, cartography, and various engineering projects. The County of San Mateo (County) has established a Survey Monument Preservation Fund (Fund) and user fee to support the preservation of survey monuments. Efforts to ensure survey monuments are preserved and remain in place is important and can be supported by the Fund.
Examples of Funds to be used for:
- Maintenance and Restoration: Survey monuments are exposed to natural elements, urban development, and accidental damage. A preservation fund helps ensure that these markers can be inspected, repaired, or replaced when necessary.
- Legal and Surveying Accuracy: Accurate survey markers are essential for property owners, land developers, and government agencies to establish clear boundaries and conduct accurate land surveys. Preserving these markers ensures clarity and prevents disputes over property lines.
- Historical Significance: Some survey monuments have historical value, as they could be associated with significant events, historical surveys, or landmarks. Preserving them contributes to the understanding of the area's history and cultural heritage.
- Infrastructure Development: Survey monuments often serve as reference points for infrastructure development projects. Preserving these markers is crucial for maintaining accuracy and continuity in engineering projects.
- Professional Standards: Surveying organizations and government agencies often have standards and guidelines for the preservation and maintenance of survey monuments. A dedicated fund can help meet these standards and ensure the integrity of surveying data.
- Public Interest: Land surveying data, especially in relation to property boundaries and public infrastructure, is of public interest. A preservation fund can ensure that this data remains accessible and reliable for the benefit of the general public.
The Monument Preservation Fund supports the ongoing maintenance and re-establishment of essential survey monuments. As known reference points are lost or disturbed, accurately identifying property boundaries becomes increasingly difficult. This Fund ensures the continued existence and reliability of these monuments, which are critical for locating land, mapping boundaries, and upholding both public and private property rights.
Fee Collection
California Government Code Section 27584 allows the County to establish a County Survey Monument Preservation Fund to pay necessary expenses incurred or authorized by the County Surveyor in any retracement or re-monument survey of major historical land division lines upon which later surveys are based.
California Government Code Section 27585 also allows the County to impose a user fee, not to exceed ten dollars ($10) to be charged and collected by the County Recorder, over and above any other fees required by law, to be deposited into the Fund (Exemptions – Grants deeds conveying entire lots created by recorded tract maps shall be exempt from the user fee. A user fee shall not be imposed on the State, any county, city, district or other political subdivision, whenever such entity is the grantee of the conveyance of a fee interest in real property).
Reference
Ordinance No. 4893, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on September 10, 2024.
Section 2.50.100 – Survey Monument Preservation Fund was added to Chapter 2.50 of Title 2, Administration, of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code.