In my local area (jurisdiction) the county accepts site plans for residential which are prepared by local draftspersons (non-registered).
As an EOR for a project I am approached with a set of draftsperson plans which the owner wants to have structural detailing (stamping & calcs) for submittal to the county. This is usually a result of the plans already being submitted and the plancheck response being 'does not conform to conventional construction...have an engineer certify'.
It seems these site-map preparers (non-registered draftspersons/contractors) are providing a lot of work, at less expense to the home owner, and then request the homeowner to sign the map as prepared as an owner-builder.
This seems to be a 'gray area' with the county jurisdiction, and the non-enforcement of 'Licensed Surveyor map preparation' contradicts the professions code. I am wondering;
-Is it common practice for new light-framed residential construction site map preparation to be done by non-licensed draftspersons?
-Are there jurisdictions which Require licensed professionals do site maps?
-Is there any reference to owner-litigation against EOR's because of incorrect map preparation?
For myself, I continually site-check projects as SOP but wonder if my fellow competing engineers include that expense in their bid for the work being done. It seems like as time goes on, the remaining lots available for building/sale are problem lots that should require extra prudence.