Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys in St. Johns County
Professional drone mapping & aerial surveys for St. Johns County properties in St. Johns County. Serving 334,928 residents across 600.6 square miles of land with licensed Florida PSM surveyors.
How much does a drone mapping & aerial surveys cost in St. Johns County?
Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys in St. Johns County are quoted per project, not from a rate card — the price is set by boundary research, fieldwork, recovery or establishment of the applicable property corners, marking the accessible corners, and preparation of a signed and sealed survey. Published Florida government contracts for 2024–2026 put a two-person survey crew at $130–$281 per hour and a licensed surveyor at $136–$383 per hour; what your St. Johns County project needs of those hours is what sets the figure. Apex Surveying & Mapping provides licensed PSM surveyors with local expertise in St. Johns County regulations and property records — send us the address and we'll quote it.
Drone-mounted LiDAR generates dense, survey-grade point clouds over large or hard-to-access sites. For large sites, this reduces fieldwork from weeks to hours compared to traditional methods.
How Does Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys Compare to Other Survey Types?
| Survey Type | Turnaround | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Boundary Survey | 3–7 days | Property lines, fences, disputes |
| ALTA/NSPS Survey | 2–4 weeks | Commercial real estate transactions |
| Topographic Survey | 1–2 weeks | Site design, grading plans |
| Construction Staking | 1–3 days | Building layout, foundations |
| Elevation Certificate | 3–5 days | Flood insurance, FEMA compliance |
| As-Built Survey | 3–7 days | Permit closeouts, renovations |
| Subdivision Platting | 4–8 weeks | Land division, new communities |
| Drone Mapping ✓ | 3–7 days | Large sites, volume calculations |
| 3D Laser Scanning | 1–2 weeks | As-built BIM, historic preservation |
| Right-of-Way Survey | 2–6 weeks | Roads, utilities, easements |
Turnaround is indicative and varies with scope, access and St. Johns County local requirements. Survey pricing is quoted per project rather than from a rate card — see the pricing section below.
Local Expertise
Why Do St. Johns County Properties Need Professional Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys?
With $489,200 median home values and Rapid growth growth, St. Johns County property owners rely on certified drone mapping & aerial surveys for real estate transactions and development compliance.
Our licensed Professional Surveyor and Mapper (PSM) serves St. Johns County's 600.6 square miles of land area, from St. Augustine to surrounding communities. We coordinate with the Building Services Division and local recording offices to ensure your survey meets all county requirements.
St. Johns County Survey Challenges
- • Coastal with barrier islands, Intracoastal waterway, and interior pine flatwoods terrain affecting field operations
- • High near coast and Intracoastal; moderate inland
- • Large rural parcels requiring extensive fieldwork
- • Limited survey control in remote areas
Our Local Advantages
- • Experience with all 6 FEMA flood zone types present in St. Johns County
- • Competitive rural pricing
- • Flexible scheduling options
Surveying in St. Johns County
St. Johns County is consistently ranked as one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. Massive master-planned communities like Nocatee, Durbin Crossing, and Shearwater generate enormous demand for subdivision platting, construction staking, and boundary surveys.
St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the U.S., presents unique survey challenges with colonial-era property descriptions referencing Spanish varas, British chains, and other historical measurement units.
The Intracoastal Waterway runs the length of the county, and the Matanzas River and Tolomato River create extensive tidal waterfront boundaries where mean high water determinations are critical for establishing property lines.
Pricing
Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys Pricing in St. Johns County
What the work costs in Florida, and why your figure has to be quoted.
Florida market rate for survey work
Source: negotiated rates in Florida city, county, special-district and FDOT contracts, 2024–2026. These are market rates for professional time — not a quote for your project, and not Apex's rate card.
Why we quote instead of listing a price
What a survey costs is set by the work it takes — boundary research, fieldwork, recovering or establishing the applicable property corners, marking the accessible corners, and preparing a signed and sealed survey. Your figure will vary with the number of parcels, scope, location, access, vegetation, travel, and existing monumentation.
Two properties on the same St. Johns County street can price differently — one with intact corner markers, one where every corner has to be re-established.
St. Johns County has Moderate flood hazard area — SFHA zones present along waterways and flood-prone areas. FEMA zones present: X, AE, A, VE, AH, AO. Base Flood Elevations are site-specific and are read from the effective FIRM panel. The county has a Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) requiring additional survey documentation.
Local Cost Factors for Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys in St. Johns County
St. Johns County's large master-planned communities (Nocatee, Shearwater) and agricultural lands make drone mapping highly efficient. NAS Jacksonville airspace to the north and St. Augustine Airport (SGJ) require flight coordination.
- $ Large development site mapping for master-planned communities
- $ St. Augustine Airport airspace coordination
- $ Agricultural and timber land pre-development surveys
Local Requirements
Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys Requirements in St. Johns County
Understanding local regulations helps ensure your survey meets all St. Johns County requirements.
St. Johns County Permit Office
- Department
- Building Services Division
- Phone
- +1 904 827 6800
- Website
- Visit St. Johns County Permits
Survey Documentation
Survey documentation requirements vary by permit type and jurisdiction — confirm current submittal requirements with the Building Services Division before filing.
St. Johns County Flood Zone Information
- FEMA Flood Zones Present
- X, AE, A, VE, AH, AO
- Special Flood Hazard Area
- Moderate flood hazard area — SFHA zones present along waterways and flood-prone areas
- Base Flood Elevation
- Site-specific — read from the effective FIRM panel for the parcel. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Map Service Center.
- Wind Zone
- Ultimate design wind speed per Florida Building Code Figure 1609.3(1)-(4) — varies by Risk Category and by location within the county
This county has a Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL). Properties seaward of the CCCL require additional survey documentation per Florida DEP requirements.
St. Johns County at a Glance
310 miles from our Miami headquarters
Statewide coverage — advance scheduling recommended
St. Johns County Quick Reference
- Permit Office
- +1 904 827 6800
- Property Appraiser
- Visit Website
- Flood Zone Coverage
- Moderate flood hazard area — SFHA zones present along waterways and flood-prone areas
- Setbacks & Permit Fees
- Set per zoning district and per municipality — verified against the governing code for your parcel
Local Development Trends in St. Johns County
One of Florida's fastest-growing counties. Master-planned communities like Nocatee, Shearwater, and SilverLeaf generating thousands of new lots annually. Steady new construction activity.
Population growth (5yr): Rapid growth
Permit Process for Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys in St. Johns County
- 1
Contact Building Services Division
Confirm survey requirements for your specific project type and St. Johns County zoning district.
- 2
Engage a Licensed Florida Surveyor
A Professional Surveyor and Mapper (PSM) licensed in Florida must perform the survey and certify results.
- 3
Submit Survey with Permit Application
Include the certified survey as part of your St. Johns County building permit application package.
- 4
County Review and Approval
Building Services Division reviews survey documentation for compliance with local requirements.
Permit fees: set by the St. Johns County adopted fee schedule and calculated from project valuation or square footage. Check the Building Services Division fee schedule for current rates.
Why Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys Costs Vary in St. Johns County
Several factors unique to St. Johns County influence drone mapping & aerial surveys pricing in this area:
Terrain Type
Coastal with barrier islands, Intracoastal waterway, and interior pine flatwoods
Vegetation
Dense maritime forest on coast; pine flatwoods and wetlands inland
Water Table
High near coast and Intracoastal; moderate inland
Key Challenge
Fastest-growing Florida county with massive subdivision platting demand; historic St. Augustine complicates downtown boundaries
Distance factor: St. Johns County is 310 miles from our Miami headquarters, which may affect mobilization costs. We maintain regional crews to minimize travel surcharges for distant counties.
St. Johns County Zoning Overview
Coastal historic (St. Augustine); master-planned communities dominate southern county (Nocatee, Shearwater); agricultural and rural in western and northern areas
County Resources
St. Johns County Property Records & Survey Resources
Key county offices and contacts for property research, deed recording, and permit applications in St. Johns County.
Property Appraiser
- Office
- St. Johns County Property Appraiser
- Appraiser
- Eddie Creamer
- Phone
- +1 904 827 5500
Recording Office
- Office
- Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Phone
- +1 904 819 3600
- Recording Fees
- $10.00 first page, $8.50 each additional page
Setback Requirements
Front, side and rear setbacks in St. Johns County are fixed by the zoning district a parcel sits in, and each incorporated municipality adopts its own land development code — there is no single county-wide figure. We confirm the requirement that governs your parcel as part of the survey.
County seat: St. Augustine | FIPS Code: 12109 | Incorporated municipalities: 2
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Our Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys for St. Johns County
Serving St. Johns County since our founding, with deep knowledge of local Building Services Division requirements and 6 FEMA flood zone types.
Large-scale St. Johns County projects benefit from drone LiDAR efficiency
St. Johns County site surveys accelerated with aerial LiDAR technology
Complex terrain in St. Johns County ideal for drone-based mapping
With Rapid growth population growth and $489,200 median home value, St. Johns County has active demand for drone mapping & aerial surveys
Common Projects in St. Johns County
What's Included
What's Included in Your St. Johns County Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys
Every survey includes comprehensive deliverables and professional certification.
Aerial Data Collection
LiDAR and/or photogrammetric flight over project area In St. Johns County, Ultimate design wind speed per Florida Building Code Figure 1609.3(1)-(4) — varies by Risk Category and by location within the county requirements may apply.
Ground Control
Survey-grade control points for data accuracy Research includes St. Johns County records at the Clerk of the Circuit Court (recording fees: $10.00 first page, $8.50 each additional page).
Point Cloud Processing
Classified point cloud with ground, vegetation, buildings Verified against the zoning and land development code governing your parcel in St. Johns County.
Topographic Surface
Digital terrain model suitable for engineering design
Orthophoto Mosaic
High-resolution georeferenced aerial imagery
Frequently Asked Questions: Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys in St. Johns County
Answers to common questions about our services in your area.
Is drone surveying legal in St. Johns County?
How accurate is drone LiDAR for St. Johns County surveys?
What can drone surveys capture in St. Johns County?
What are the setback requirements for drone mapping & aerial surveys in St. Johns County?
What FEMA flood zones affect drone mapping & aerial surveys in St. Johns County?
Are land surveys worth it in St. Johns County?
Can I do a drone mapping & aerial surveys myself in Florida?
Related Services
Other Survey Services in St. Johns County
Explore additional surveying services available in your area.
Related Professional Services
Advanced 3D Documentation
For projects in St. Johns County requiring Matterport virtual tours, digital twins, or BIM-ready 3D models, we recommend THE FUTURE 3D — America's #1 3D scanning and drone documentation company serving clients nationwide.
Service Area
Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys Near St. Johns County
We also provide drone mapping & aerial surveys in these nearby areas.
Statewide Coverage: Our licensed surveyors serve all 67 Florida counties. Don't see your area listed? Contact us for service availability.
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Using Your Drone Mapping Data
Drone mapping data from St. Johns County produces survey-grade orthomosaics, digital terrain models, and 3D point clouds. Engineers use these deliverables for site design, volumetric calculations, and progress monitoring. For projects requiring high-detail 3D documentation, THE FUTURE 3D provides laser scanning services that complement aerial drone data with ground-level detail.
Ready to Get Started with Drone Mapping & Aerial Surveys in St. Johns County?
Get your free drone mapping & aerial surveys quote for St. Johns County in St. Johns County. Our PSM-licensed surveyors know St. Johns County's X, AE, A, VE, AH, AO flood zones and Building Services Division requirements.
Licensed & Insured | Florida PSM | Proudly Serving St. Johns County, St. Johns County | 600.6 sq mi land service area