California · Business and Professions Code - BPC

BPC §8761: (a) Any licensed land surveyor or civil engineer authorized to practice land surveying may practice land surveying and prepare maps, plats, reports, descriptions, or other documentary evidence in conn

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

It is unlawful for an unlicensed person to sign, seal, or approve land surveying documents, or to use an expired, suspended, or revoked surveyor's seal or stamp on such documents.

Read the full statutory text
(a) Any licensed land surveyor or civil engineer authorized to practice land surveying may practice land surveying and prepare maps, plats, reports, descriptions, or other documentary evidence in connection with that practice. (b) All maps, plats, reports, descriptions, or other land surveying documents shall be prepared by, or under the responsible charge of, a licensed land surveyor or civil engineer authorized to practice land surveying and shall include his or her name and license number. (c) Interim maps, plats, reports, descriptions, or other land surveying documents shall include a notation as to the intended purpose of the map, plat, report, description, or other document, such as “preliminary” or “for examination only.” (d) All final maps, plats, reports, descriptions, or other land surveying documents issued by a licensed land surveyor or civil engineer authorized to practice land surveying shall bear the signature and seal or stamp of the licensee and the date of signing and sealing or stamping. If the land surveying document has multiple pages or sheets, the signature, seal or stamp, and date of signing and sealing or stamping shall appear, at a minimum, on the title sheet, cover sheet or page, or signature sheet, unless otherwise required by law. (e) It is unlawful for any person to sign, stamp, seal, or approve any map, plat, report, description, or other land surveying document unless the person is authorized to practice land surveying. (f) It is unlawful for any person to stamp or seal any map, plat, report, description, or other land surveying document with the seal or stamp after the certificate of the licensee that is named on the seal or stamp has expired or has been suspended or revoked, unless the certificate has been renewed or reissued.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.