Question for Contractors or Architects in So-Cal
 

First of all I should state something, it never seizes to amaze me the experience, and intelligence available on this site! It's like a think tank/brain trust of everything as obscure as a good place to have a brunch in Orange County to why commercial planes take a certain flight path into Vegas. Thank you for entertaining my trivial questions!!!!!

My question this time is. to either a contractor, or an architect in the South Bay Area of So-Cal. We recently purchased a house in what is called the Harbor Gateway, we have a Torrance address but we live outside the Torrance school district (not that it matters, my kids are already grown). My question is, where would I be able to find the original floor plans and layout of the property (if in fact they do get registered into any agency). The house was built in the fifties if that helps answer the question.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!!!

Start with the building/permiting office where the city/county has jursdiction. If they don't have it there, it might be on file or in files somewhere. Next, they might be able to direct you to the office that does.

LA County Hall of Records, downtown.

Don't expect the plans to be in good shape. Most arent. It also helps to have a friend or associate who works there.

Harbor Gateway is in the City of LA right? If its LA, then it should be pretty easy. LA should have records going way back. 50s are pretty accurate and a good chance that the city will have it. Call city hall or building dept. What are you looking for? The original plan? That maybe gone, but the plot or site plan should be there?

What I'm trying to accomplish, is to find the exact property line, I think my neighbor's fence my be encroaching onto my property (the property is in a corner lot and is very odd shape). I'd like to get the floor plans and show it to an architect, and have him give me some options for a remodeling project. As far the question about jurisdiction I'm LA county but I don't know if I'm supposed to go to the city of Torrance or am I supposed to go to the county office? That's where some of you guys may chime in.

I'd guess the city/county public records, along with gov/title co. filings with the deed, should have any pertinent past surveys.
Start from there for information.

I know there's an area next to Torrance that's technically unincorporated, even though you can put Torrance on the mailing address. If that's the one you're in, it's gotta be County.

Maxium is right, county.

Ok, this will do it for you. Los Angeles County Assessor's Office - Property Assessment Information System

Accept their terms, and enter address then click on assessor's map and you have property line and dimensions. Your architect can go from there. He should know how to get that in his sleep. If you are looking for the plot /site plan then its in the city or county depending on your location. why are you looking up this info? That's the Architect's job to local the site plan. He should be able to get that in 10-20 minutes down at the city.

County Maps are at the County Surveyors website:

http://dpw.lacounty.gov/sur/surveyrecord/tractBook.cfm

Just looked something for you. You are in the city of LA. Depending on the year of annexation, what your architect need for your remodel is down at the city.

A tip for you coming from a guy who does a bunch of funky remodeling work. How well do you know this architect? A friend? Have him dig out this info, if he makes a mistake on the setback, then you are not on the hook for the correction, he is. Some guys will charge the owner for the correction because the info or site plan dimension was given to them by the owner. If he worked off incorrect info given by him, then he can/will charge you for the correction on the preliminary plans. Rarely does it happens, but something to keep in the back of your mind. But then I don't know how extensive is the remod., so take my $.02 with a grain of salt.

Jeff

property line issues are better served by a Surveyor. Don't waste your time with an engineer or architect. Go directly to a Registered Land Surveyor.

Yes, I agree with you, but sometimes it isn't necessary to pay the extra money for their service. It depends on lots of things. Without seeing the property, I would suggest the same thing.

unless you bought all cash
there should be a survey at the time of sale for loan/mortgage corp
you paid for it and should be given a copy but need to ask for it
any existing encroachments should be noted on that survey

look for paint on the sidewalk on the back side
there should be a1/2'' iron pipe next to the sidewalk on your property corners right by the paint markings
if you can find the property pipes run a string line between them
note pipes maybe a few inches deep but should not require a deep hole to find

the neighbor's fence should have a permit and survey done check that it is was done
if no permit was issued you maybe able to have the fence removed

good luck