How to calculate property square footage?

[Matt Mainini]

I am building an ADU on my property and need to know the total square footage of the property. It seems straight forward, but it's a complicated measurement. Length x Width = Area right? It's not that easy unfortunately.

I have had an expensive topographic survey done, however my Architect and Surveyor struggle to provide the total square footage. The shape of the land is an irregular quadrilateral with no known angles. All 4 lengths are known. Can you please help?

[Jim Adrian]

@Matt Mainini

This is a 10 minute task in cad.   Tell your surveyor you are too busy to pay him.

 I would take the survey into the Building dept, but you have a case to lower your taxes.  You will need the survey (3rd party verified) to state the sq ft or some unit of area measurement.