Professional Construction Survey in San Antonio – Ensuring Accuracy & Precision

Ensure accuracy with a professional construction survey in San Antonio. Trusted experts deliver precise results for all building projects.

If you’re planning a build in San Antonio—whether it’s a new home, a commercial facility, or site improvements—a professional construction survey is the backbone of getting it right the first time. From staking foundations to verifying utilities and final as-builts, construction surveying translates your plans into precise, buildable reality. Done well, it keeps projects on schedule, controls costs, and prevents rework. Done poorly…well, let’s not go there.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what a construction survey covers, why it’s mission-critical in San Antonio, how modern tools (GNSS, total stations, laser scanning) boost accuracy, and what to expect when you hire a local, licensed team. We’ll also show where Celco Surveying fits in—an experienced San Antonio–based survey firm offering construction surveys plus ALTA/NSPS title surveys, topographic mapping, platting, and more, with a free consultation to boot.

What is a “Professional Construction Survey”?

A construction survey provides the horizontal and vertical control needed to build exactly what your civil and architectural plans specify. In practice, surveyors:

• Establish control points and benchmarks on site

• Stake building corners, grid lines, and offsets

• Set centerlines and grades for roads, utilities, and drainage

• Provide elevation checks for slabs, pads, and paving

• Perform interim and final as-built surveys to verify what was built matches the plans

In formal terms, a construction survey is used “to provide horizontal and vertical staking of the location of proposed buildings, structures, or facilities prior to and during construction,” followed by measurement/verification. That’s the textbook definition used in professional practice references.

Why Construction Surveying Matters So Much in San Antonio

San Antonio’s development environment combines fast growth, variable soils and topography, flood considerations along creeks and low-lying areas, and a robust permitting/inspection process run by the City’s Development Services Department (DSD). Coordinating plan review, permits, and inspections—plus accurate staking—keeps your project aligned with code, schedule, and budget. The City’s Development Services pages outline the required steps for commercial and land development projects (plan intake, plan review, permits, inspections, and certificate of occupancy). A competent survey dovetails with each of these milestones.

If your project involves TxDOT right-of-way or ties to state roads, survey control must follow TxDOT guidance for control points, coordinate systems, and quality checks. Good firms follow TxDOT’s Survey Manual/Control Procedures to ensure the control network is tight and defensible.

Who’s Allowed to Provide Construction Surveying in Texas?

In Texas, only properly licensed professionals can offer land surveying services to the public. The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS) regulates Registered Professional Land Surveyors (RPLS) and sets the pathway for licensure and ethical practice. Hiring an RPLS-led team protects you and your project.

Meet Celco Surveying (San Antonio)

Celco Surveying is a local firm serving San Antonio and the broader Central Texas region. Highlights:

• Construction Surveys: layout/staking for pads, utilities, paving, and site features

• ALTA/NSPS & Commercial Title Surveys: for transactions and lender requirements

• Residential Title Surveys

• Tree & Topographic Surveys: site features and contours for design

• Elevation Certificates: flood-related elevation documentation

• Platting & Development and Easement/Route Surveys

Core Components of a Construction Survey (What You Should Expect)

1) Pre-Construction Control & Site Recon

• Control points tied to a known coordinate system (e.g., State Plane)

• Benchmarks with published elevations

• A quick recon to identify access issues, obstructions, and utilities

• Field/office QA plan so every stake ties back to control

TxDOT’s control guidance underscores how critical a well-documented control network is for downstream accuracy and traceability. 

2) Rough Grade & Mass Earthwork Staking

• Establish cut/fill stakes and reference grades for dozers and graders

• Verify slopes and drainage prior to utilities and paving

3) Utility Layout

• Centerlines, offsets, and invert elevations for water, sewer, storm drains, and conduits

• Structure locations (manholes, inlets, junctions), rim/invert checks

4) Building Layout (The Big One)

• Corners, grid lines, and offsets for foundations and structural elements

• Elevation checks to slab top/bottom

• Anchor bolt, column line, and wall line verifications

5) Paving & Flatwork

• Edge of pavement, curb returns, ADA ramps, sidewalks, and finished grade stakes

• Spot-checks during pours—because a two-minute verification can save weeks of rework

6) As-Built Surveys & Closeout

• As-builts for utilities, structures, and grading demonstrate compliance

• Final deliverables for the record set, lenders, and the City’s closeout/CO process (as applicable), aligning with DSD’s inspection/CO pathway.

Tools and Methods That Drive Accuracy

• Robotic Total Stations (RTS): single-operator precision for layout points and lines

• GNSS/GPS: fast control extension and topographic pickup (tied into state plane coordinates)

• Digital Levels: high-accuracy differential leveling for slabs and pads

• Terrestrial Laser Scanning (as needed): millions of points for complex as-builts or clashes

These methods align with established agency manuals (like TxDOT) emphasizing control integrity and repeatable measurement workflows.

ALTA/NSPS Surveys vs. Construction Surveys—What’s the Difference?

You’ll sometimes hear “ALTA survey” mentioned alongside construction needs. They’re different tools for different jobs:

• ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey: a boundary/title product used in commercial real estate transactions to high, standardized detail; governed by 2021 ALTA/NSPS Minimum Standard Detail Requirements.

• Construction Survey: a layout/as-built service to physically build the improvements per plans; informally guided by industry practice, project specs, and agency manuals (e.g., TxDOT), rather than the ALTA standard.

Celco can provide both—ALTA/NSPS title surveys for closing and construction staking for the build—keeping your boundary/title basis aligned with your layout.

The San Antonio Context: Permits, Reviews, and Inspections

Your surveyor should be fluent in the local process so stakes and as-builts align with the City’s schedule:

• Plan Intake & Review → stake utilities and grading after approved plans

• Permit Process & Inspections → verify ADA ramps, grades, utilities as they’re built

• Certificate of Occupancy → provide final as-builts as needed to clear the path to CO

The City’s DSD pages outline these steps and publish guidance documents (like IB 103 checklists) for commercial submissions. Your survey deliverables should slot cleanly into this pipeline. 

A Step-by-Step Workflow When You Hire a Construction Surveyor

1. Kickoff & Scope Confirmation

   • Share plans (civil, architectural, structural), CAD files, coordination notes.

   • Identify critical path items (foundation schedule, utility/road crews).

   • Establish control strategy (base control, backsights, vertical datum).

2. Field Control & Baseline Checks

   • Set control (GNSS + total station ties), run level loops, verify closures.

   • Issue control sketch to GC and subs.

3. Phased Staking

   • Utilities first (to avoid conflicts), then rough grade, then building layout, then paving/flatwork.

   • Call-outs for tolerances.

4. On-Call Verifications

   • Quick response during pours or steel setting for peace of mind.

5. As-Builts & Closeout Package

   • Surveying of utilities and structures; deliver CAD and record drawings to the design team and owner.

   • Support final inspections and CO process with the City as needed.

How to Choose the Right Survey Partner in San Antonio

Checklist:

• Licensure & Firm Registration (TBPELS) Verify the firm is led by an RPLS in good standing; request firm registration details. TBPELS is the authoritative source on licensure.

• Relevant Project Experience Look for recent construction staking on similar project types (pads, utilities, public ROW).

• Complete Service Stack Need ALTA/NSPS, topographic mapping, platting, easements/routes, and elevation certificates? One shop that does all reduces handoffs. Celco’s published service stack covers these.

• Responsiveness & Scheduling Construction lives on dates. Ask about typical turnarounds and field availability.

• Local Presence A local office speeds mobilization and coordination. Celco’s San Antonio location: 18018 Overlook Loop, Suite 105 Unit 239, with free consultations to scope your needs. 

Typical Deliverables You Should Request

• Control sketch with coordinates & elevations

• Staking reports (what was set, where, when, who)

• Cut sheets for utilities and grading

• As-built CAD & PDF files with layers that match your consultant standards

• Final survey letter summarizing methods, control, and tolerances (especially for lenders/owners)

Pricing: What Drives the Cost of a Construction Survey?

Survey pricing is influenced by:

• Scope & Complexity: number of stake points, phases (utilities, foundations, paving), and tolerances

• Site Conditions: access, obstructions, active traffic, safety requirements

• Data Environment: availability/quality of CAD files, coordinate system, need to transform data

• Schedule & Re-mobilizations: multiple trips vs. consolidated staking days

Celco invites you to request a free consultation to get an accurate cost estimate for your specific project.

Example: How a Solid Survey Saves Time and Money

Imagine a 40,000-SF concrete tilt-wall building with on-site detention:

• Without cohesive control and staking, the pad ends 0.10’ low, ramps miss ADA slope tolerances, and two storm structures sit 2’ off. That’s change orders and schedule slips.

• With tight control, iterative checks, and on-call verifications, the pour proceeds smoothly, ramps pass the first inspection, and the as-builts match the plan set. You move directly to CO activities with the City.

That’s the tangible ROI of high-quality surveying in San Antonio’s permitting and inspection environment. 

Construction Survey Services Offered by Celco Surveying

Below is a simplified snapshot of survey types you might use over the life of a project:

Survey Type	When You Need It	What You Get
Construction Layout/Staking	Before and during site work and vertical construction	Points and elevations for utilities, slabs, walls, paving; cut sheets; field notes
Topographic/Tree Survey	Early design	Existing contours, spot elevations, trees, improvements to inform grading/site plans
ALTA/NSPS Title Survey	During due diligence/financing	Boundary, easements, encroachments; Table A items for lender/title
Elevation Certificate	If near flood zones	Elevation documentation for insurance/compliance
Easement & Route Surveys	Utilities and access	Legal descriptions & plats for corridors and easements
Platting & Development	Subdivision or lot changes	Plats and filings to create/adjust legal parcels

Celco publishes each of these services on its site and supports them across San Antonio and neighboring Texas markets. 

How to Prepare for Your Construction Survey (Client Checklist)

• Share Clean CAD Files (coordinate system clearly stated) and latest plan revisions

• Identify Critical Dates (foundation, utility tie-ins, inspections)

• Provide Site Access Details (gates, escort requirements, active trades)

• Confirm Safety Requirements (PPE, traffic control, hot work/plant protocols)

• Schedule Windows for staking and verification during pours or steel sets

FAQ: Professional Construction Survey in San Antonio

How early should I engage a surveyor for my San Antonio project?

As soon as you have a preliminary site plan. Early topographic/tree data makes design better and reduces construction changes. You’ll also set a clean control framework for later staking. 

Do I need an ALTA/NSPS survey for construction?

Not always. ALTA/NSPS is typically for commercial transactions/lenders. Construction staking is a separate service focused on layout. Some projects need both—especially commercial developments. 

What does “RPLS” mean and why does it matter?

Registered Professional Land Surveyor—the licensed professional legally allowed to offer surveying services to the public in Texas. Always hire an RPLS-led team.

Can my GC or engineer handle staking?

Staking should be performed/overseen by a surveying firm under an RPLS. That keeps liability, precision, and professional standards aligned with Texas law and accepted practice. 

How do I get pricing?

It depends on scope, phasing, site conditions, and schedule. Celco offers free consultations to scope and quote accurately. 

Final Word (and Next Steps)

A professional construction survey in San Antonio is non-negotiable if you care about accuracy, schedule, and budget. The right partner will set bulletproof control, stake what you need when you need it, and document as-builts so you glide through inspections and closeout. If you’d like a friendly, local team with broad service capability—and a free consult to scope your project—Celco Surveying is ready to help. 

Quick Contact (for your convenience)

Celco Surveying 18018 Overlook Loop, Suite 105 Unit 239 San Antonio, TX 78259 

Phone: (830) 214-5109 

Email: eddie@celcosurveying.com