Surveying & Mapping Department

TONY RETTKE, P.S.

Director of Surveying and Tax Map

The Surveying and Mapping Department performs a variety of surveys to meet the continuing development and infrastructure needs of Franklin County. Use of a countywide network of horizontal and vertical control monuments and the satellite Global Position System (GPS) enables the most accurate surveys necessary for the design of construction projects and the definition of road centerlines, property limits, and county, municipal and township boundaries.

“It is the responsibility of the County Engineer to maintain a current set of property ownership maps. These maps assist the County Auditor in keeping an accurate tax base” (Ohio Revised Code Section 5713.09).

The County Engineer has an office and staff in the Franklin County Administration Building, located at 373 South High Street, 19^th Floor, Columbus, Ohio.  This office is known as the Tax Map Division.  The primary function of this office is to produce a set of maps which will display the current property boundaries, ownership, transfer dates, parcel numbers, acreage or lot number and subdivision names, as compiled from the information available from the Franklin County Records.  The following is a brief list of the Tax Map Division responsibilities and duties:

• Update and maintain an accurate set of maps for the County Auditor
• Check all real estate transfers for compliance to the “Transfer and Conveyance Standards of the Franklin County Auditor and the Franklin County Engineer” as well as the “Minimum Standards for Boundary Surveys”.
• Check annexation plats for the County Commissioners regarding content and accuracy of the legal description and plat.
• Check subdivision plats for compliance to the “Transfer and Conveyance Standards of the Franklin County Auditor and the Franklin County Engineer” as well as the “Minimum Standards for Boundary Surveys”.
• Check Condominium Declarations for compliance to the “Transfer and Conveyance Standards of the Franklin County Auditor and the Franklin County Engineer” as well as the “Minimum Standards for Boundary Surveys”.
• Maintain and create a comprehensive Highway Map for the entire county per Administrative Code.
• Issue addresses for all new construction in the unincorporated areas of Franklin County.
• Assist with the Location Based Response System (LBRS) initiative.