A feature and level survey records everything that exists on your site. This includes fences, buildings, trees, services and ground levels. This is so your architect, builder or town planner has an accurate base plan from which to design. It’s the starting point for virtually every land development project. Getting it right saves time and costs further down the track.

At Stacey Surveying, we’re licensed cadastral surveyors producing council-ready level and feature surveys for Melbourne homeowners, developers and design professionals throughout the metro area and regional Victoria.

What’s Included in a Feature & Level Survey

A complete feature and level survey plan from our Melbourne team captures everything your design team needs, including:

• Existing structures (houses, sheds, retaining walls and fences)
• Driveways, crossovers, services and easements
• Significant trees and vegetation
• Adjoining property lines and neighbouring structures
• Spot levels and contours across the site
• Australian Height Datum (AHD) connection, where required by the council

Once the site work is done, your plan is drafted and delivered in PDF and CAD (DWG/DXF) format. This is ready to drop directly into the workflow of your architect, building designer or town planner without the need to re-format or re-draft.

When Do You Need a Feature & Level Survey?

You’ll need a feature and level survey for any project where the existing site conditions must be accurately recorded. Scenarios include:

• Lodging a planning permit. Most Victorian councils require one
• Architectural and building design work
• Townhouse, unit and subdivision developments
• Renovations and extensions
• Drainage, stormwater or flood overlay assessments

In almost all cases, a feature and level survey needs to be completed before any design or planning work begins. This is so that the rest of your project is built on accurate information.

Our Process

1. Consultation

We first confirm precisely what your council, architect or builder needs, so the survey is scoped correctly from the beginning.

2. On-Site Survey

Our surveyor visits the site to record features, spot levels and contours using total stations and GPS equipment for exact, reliable data.

3. AHD Connection

Where required by your council, all levels are tied to the Australian Height Datum so that your plan meets official lodgement standards.

4. Drafting & QA

In the office, we draft your plan with full feature and level details, then run it through an internal QA check before releasing.

5. Delivery

We issue your finished plan as PDF and CAD (DWG/DXF), ready for your design team to drop it straight into their workflow so planning can move on without delay.