Land surveyors: practice without authorization: penalties.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Chen
Last action: 2026-04-21
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on fines and jail time amounts for each tier.

Penalties for Unlicensed Land Surveyors

AB-2435 sets tiered penalties, including fines and jail time, for unlicensed land surveying practices. It also mandates that licensed land surveyors inform clients if they lack professional liability insurance.

What This Bill Does

Specifies tiered penalties, including specified fines and jail time, for a first, second, or third conviction of practicing land surveying without legal authorization.
Requires licensed land surveyors to inform clients in writing that the surveyor does not have professional liability insurance before providing services.

Who It Names or Affects

People who practice land surveying without being licensed
Licensed land surveyors required to inform clients about insurance status

Terms To Know

Tiered penalties: Different levels of punishment for different offenses or repeat offenses.
Professional liability insurance: Insurance that covers the professional risks and liabilities of a licensed land surveyor.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify exact fines or jail time amounts for each tier.
It is unclear how enforcement will be carried out by local agencies.

Bill History

2026-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2435, as amended, Chen.
Land
surveyors.
surveyors: practice without authorization: penalties.
Existing law, the Professional Land Surveyors’ Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of land surveyors by the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. The act prohibits a person from practicing land surveying unless appropriately licensed or specifically exempted from licensure. Under the act, a person who practices, or offers to practice, land surveying without applicable legal authorization is guilty of a misdemeanor.
This bill would specify tiered penalties, including specified fines and jail time, for a first, 2nd, or 3rd conviction for practicing land surveying without legal authorization.
Existing law requires a licensed land surveyor to use a written contract when contracting to provide professional services to a client pursuant to the act, except as specified.
This bill would require a licensed land surveyor who does not have professional liability insurance, before contracting to provide services, to inform the client in writing that the licensed land surveyor does not have professional liability insurance, and if the licensed land surveyor’s professional liability insurance policy lapses or they otherwise no longer have
professional liability insurance after contracting, to inform the client, as specified. Because a violation of the act is a crime, the bill would expand the scope of a crime and would therefore impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF