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Multnomah County, Oregon
Land Surveying in Multnomah County, OR
Boundary, topographic, and construction staking surveys that put the design on the ground accurately the first time. Multnomah County is covered on a project basis through our Seattle, WA regional hub.
- Dispatched from
- Seattle, WA regional hub · project-based mobilization
- Lead time
- Set in the proposal, with mobilization planned around your pour and earthwork schedule
- Laboratory
- Sugar Land, TX laboratory under chain of custody, or a mobile laboratory for large projects
- Reporting
- Reviewed and issued under a documented quality system; formatted for owner, engineer, and building-official review
- Serving
- Multnomah County, OR — Portland, Eugene, Salem
- Coverage
- Oregon statewide · 27 regional hubs
- Technicians
- ACI- and NICET-certified field staff; licensed professionals in Oregon
- Call us
- (346) 420-5425
Scope
Survey services in Multnomah County
- Boundary and title surveys for acquisition and permitting
- Topographic surveys for civil design
- Construction staking: building corners, utilities, paving, and grades
- As-built surveys for closeout and conveyance
Full scope, standards list, and pricing basis: Land Surveying.
Local conditions
Survey conditions in Multnomah County
Multnomah County sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette rivers, where flat floodplain terraces give way abruptly to the basalt ridgelines of the West Hills and the volcanic slopes of the Cascade foothills. That topographic range, combined with Portland's dense urban fabric, active seismic zone designation, and one of the most detailed land-use regulatory frameworks in the Pacific Northwest, means that precise survey control is not a formality—it is a project-critical deliverable. Setback encroachments, grading that conflicts with stormwater management areas, or construction stakes that drift from design tolerances can trigger plan revisions, permit delays, or costly rework. Our field technicians perform boundary surveys, topographic surveys, and construction staking using conventional and GPS-based instrumentation, placing design intent on the ground accurately and documenting the work in formats your engineer of record and the relevant Multnomah County or City of Portland review authority can act on directly.
Much of Multnomah County's lower-elevation terrain includes saturated alluvial and fill soils that can be soft and unstable during Oregon's wet season, making early survey control critical before any grading or earthwork begins. The region's variable micro-topography—ranging from river-adjacent flatlands to steep hillside parcels—means topographic survey deliverables often need to capture grade changes at tighter contour intervals to support meaningful site design and drainage planning.
FAQ · Multnomah County
How does Oregon's wet season affect survey scheduling on Multnomah County projects?
Oregon's extended rainy season, typically October through May, can limit access to soft or saturated ground and affect the stability of stakes placed in poorly drained soils. We recommend scheduling boundary and topographic work during drier windows where possible, and flagging construction stakes in a way that accounts for ground movement in wet fill or alluvial areas. Coordinate with us early so weather-related delays don't compress your critical path.
What datum and coordinate system should survey deliverables reference for City of Portland or Multnomah County permit submittals?
Most Portland Bureau of Development Services and Multnomah County submittals expect horizontal control referenced to the Oregon Coordinate Reference System (OCRS) or NAD83 Oregon State Plane, North Zone, and vertical control referenced to NAVD 88. Confirm the specific datum and unit requirements with your reviewing agency before fieldwork begins so deliverables are formatted correctly the first time and do not require revision at submittal.
Our Multnomah County site is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. What survey work is needed to support a Letter of Map Amendment or Elevation Certificate?
A licensed Oregon Professional Land Surveyor must prepare an Elevation Certificate using FEMA Form FF-206-FY-22-152, with finished floor, lowest adjacent grade, and other benchmarks tied to NAVD 88. For a Letter of Map Amendment, the surveyor typically provides a topographic survey demonstrating that the site is naturally above the Base Flood Elevation. Your floodplain administrator at the county or city level will confirm the exact documentation package required.
Which office covers survey in Multnomah County, OR?
Field work in Multnomah County is dispatched through the Seattle, WA regional hub, about 145 miles away. Laboratory testing is performed in Sugar Land, TX under chain of custody, or in a mobile laboratory mobilized to large Multnomah County projects.
Are the technicians you send to Multnomah County certified?
Field sampling and testing in Multnomah County are performed by our ACI- and NICET-certified technicians. Survey engineering and professional services are delivered with professionals licensed in Oregon, coordinated under one proposal.
Scheduling & proposals
Need land surveying in Multnomah County?
Call to schedule a technician, or send project documents for a written proposal.