Home Building
What Type of Survey Do You Need Before Building a Home in Cape Coral, Florida?
Planning a custom home in Cape Coral or anywhere in Southwest Florida? One of your first steps is ordering the correct land survey for your property.
Many property owners order only a boundary survey when they buy land. That survey matters, but it rarely gives a builder enough information. As a result, your home site may not be ready for construction planning.
Therefore, for new construction, builders typically need a topographical survey — also known as a topo survey or a survey with elevations.
What Is a Boundary Survey?
A boundary survey primarily shows:
- Property lines
- Lot dimensions
- Easements
- Existing structures
- Encroachments
This survey establishes the legal boundaries of the property. However, it does not show detailed elevation information across the lot.
While boundary surveys are useful, they usually do not tell builders how high or low the land sits compared to flood elevation requirements.
Why a Topographical Land Survey in Cape Coral Is So Important
Instead, a topographical survey provides elevation points throughout the property. Specifically, these elevation markers help builders understand the existing grade and terrain of the lot.
In Cape Coral and the rest of Southwest Florida, elevation matters enormously. Homes must sit at or above required flood elevations to meet current building codes and FEMA requirements.
Without accurate elevation information, builders cannot properly calculate:
- Required finished floor elevation
- Amount of fill dirt needed
- Stem wall foundation height
- Drainage planning
- Site preparation costs
Why Elevation Matters in Florida New Construction
Before construction starts, we evaluate one factor above almost all others: how high the home must sit above base flood elevation.
If the property is low, additional fill dirt may be required to bring the pad elevation up to code. In addition, the home may need taller stem walls or extra foundation materials.
Therefore, ordering the correct survey upfront saves time, money, and unexpected surprises during the build.
What to Ask the Survey Company For
If you are purchasing a survey for a future home build, ask for:
- A topographical survey
- A survey with elevations
- Existing grade elevations throughout the property
Once you mention elevations or topographical data, most survey companies know exactly what your builder needs.
On the survey itself, look for circled numbers throughout the lot. Those are your elevation points.
Land Survey Cape Coral: Building on Your Lot in Southwest Florida
Whether you already own land or are still searching for property, your lot elevations shape everything. In fact, they are one of the most important parts of planning a custom home in Florida.
At Lauren Homes, we help homeowners throughout Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, and Southwest Florida understand the building process from the ground up — including surveys, flood elevations, fill dirt calculations, and site preparation.
If you are looking to build on your lot, reach out to our team to learn about the steps before construction begins.
Call 239-829-1520. Our office is at 1425 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral, FL 33990.
What type of survey do I need before building a home in Florida?
If you are planning to build a home in Florida, especially in Cape Coral or Southwest Florida, a topographical survey is typically recommended. A topographical survey provides elevation information across the property, which helps builders calculate flood elevation requirements, fill dirt needs, drainage, and foundation heights
What is the difference between a boundary survey and a topographical survey?
A boundary survey shows the property lines, lot dimensions, easements, and existing structures on the property. A topographical survey includes elevation points throughout the lot, allowing builders and engineers to understand the grade and height of the land for construction planning.
How does a topographical survey help calculate fill dirt?
A topographical survey shows the current elevations of the property. Builders compare these elevations to the required finished floor elevation to calculate how much fill dirt must be brought in to raise the building pad to code.
