I have a drainage problem and also want to build a driveway. Who should I call first?
Asked October 25, 2026
AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor
Often both, at different stages [1].
Land surveyor:
- legal boundaries, corners and easements,
- topographic mapping of existing conditions,
- staking the design on the ground and as-built surveys.
Civil engineer:
- designing drainage, grading, driveways, septic systems, retaining walls and stormwater controls,
- calculations and permit drawings that need an engineer's seal.
A typical order: the surveyor prepares a boundary and topographic survey, then the engineer designs from it [2], then the surveyor stakes the design for the contractor.
Some firms offer both services. For a drainage problem, start with whoever your local permit office requires. Many people begin with a surveyor, because the engineer will need the survey anyway.
General information only. Answers here are not a survey or legal advice, and no one here can tell you where your boundary is. For your property, hire a licensed land surveyor in your state; for legal questions, a real-estate attorney.