Who is legally allowed to prepare a soil report?

A soil report needs to be prepared by a qualified geotechnical engineer or suitably qualified soil testing professional — this is a genuine technical assessment requiring real expertise in soil mechanics and testing methodology, not something a builder or homeowner can assess informally.

See our geotechnical vs structural engineer guide for how this role differs from your structural engineer, who then uses the soil report’s findings to design your actual foundation — two genuinely distinct, both essential, professional roles in the process.

Building surveyors reviewing your permit application will expect a soil report from a genuinely qualified source as part of proper compliance documentation, not an informal assessment.

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