Land Surveyors in Signal Hill, CA

An Oil Field With Houses On It

Signal Hill is a city of about two square miles entirely enclosed by Long Beach. It exists as a separate city largely because of oil: the Alamitos #1 well came in on the hill in June 1921, the slopes filled with derricks, and the town incorporated in 1924. A century later the derricks are mostly gone, but many plugged and abandoned wells remain under yards, driveways and vacant parcels.

Wells Come First

Before Signal Hill issues building permits on a site with an abandoned well, the well has to be precisely located and evaluated by CalGEM, the state division that oversees well abandonment, and a city-approved site plan goes to CalGEM for review. The city also requires well discovery work before excavation on affected sites. For a surveyor that means one job above all others: put the well casing, the property lines and the proposed building on one accurate drawing, so the reviewers can see how close they are to each other.

Slopes and Views

The hill itself was pushed up along the Newport-Inglewood fault zone, and it rises well above the flat grid of Long Beach around it. The lots near the top trade on views of the harbor and the downtown skyline, and they are steep. Hillside homes, retaining walls and new townhome projects all start from measured contours rather than an assumed slope.

What Gets Ordered Here

A topographic survey for almost any build on the slopes, and a property line survey whenever an old lot is sold or fenced. Infill developers use an ALTA survey for financing, then construction layout and an as-built once it is up. Owners adding a backyard unit start with an ADU survey, parcels near the old oil lease boundaries sometimes need a lot line adjustment, and the few low-lying properties with a lender flood question need an elevation certificate.

Signal Hill Survey FAQs