Diligence guide

What are the core due diligence steps for California land?

Combine title, survey/access, planning/zoning, hazards, utilities, and environmental screens. Do cheap GIS and document checks before expensive studies.

Updated 2026-08-29

Screen a parcel Open glossary

Useful sources for searching: Official sources to verify buildability ↓

Core workstreams

Title / easements / CC&Rs

Access and road rights

Zoning and general plan

Flood, fire, geology

Water, sewer/septic, power

Environmental red flags

Sequence for speed

Kill deals early with public GIS and title exceptions, then fund geotech, perc, and biological studies only on survivors.

People also ask

How long does diligence take?

Simple urban lots can take days; rural raw land can take weeks to months depending on studies.

Where does Parcel View fit?

As a structured first-pass GIS screen with official source links before deeper spend.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-08-29. Re-check agency maps before decisions — vintages change.

Related

Raw land checklist Buildable land guide

Screen this on a California parcel

Parcel View checks official public GIS for zoning, flood, fire, soils, and planning — every finding linked to the source.

Screen a parcel View sample report