Finding Your Property Boundaries

When someone has a backyard fence installed, they typically want to enclose as much of their backyard space as possible. This naturally involves going up to property lines (or as close as allowed by your city and association). In order to come extremely close to property lines, it needs to be established precisely where they are. Here a few methods that can be used.

1.)  Metes and bounds – A metes and bounds survey is a description of a property which uses natural markers and distances/directions to establish your property boundaries. Often you can find them in county records when running a parcel search. They are not perfect however, because natural markers can be moved or removed completely from the parcel. They will however, give you a good general idea of where your property lines are located.

2.)  Property pins – Property pins are metal markers that are placed underground to establish the corners of your lot. Property pins are a great method for establishing where your fence can go. However, property pins sometimes get pushed down so far that they cannot be located or they are difficult to find.

3.)  GIS information – GIS stands for “geographic information system” – Many counties now have GIS systems. Although not a replacement for a legal survey, a GIS can give specific dimensions of a parcel. They should not be relied on completely though, as these measurements can be inaccurate. They are typically used in conjunction with property pins. Knowing the approximate parcel dimensions can assist in locating a pin that is difficult to find.

4.)  Old legal survey or plat map – Counties often keep old surveys and plat maps filed away. These records are often retrievable to anyone (usually for a fee). Sometimes the plat maps or surveys are outdated though, so you must consider the age of the survey before deciding whether or not it will be helpful to your project. Again, an old survey or plat typically is used to assist in locating property pins, but does not replace a new survey.

5.)  A new legal survey – when in doubt, a new legal survey should be completed. Licensed surveyors can find changes to the property, new easements, replace missing or moved property pins, and place fresh visible stakes. They also will account for new buildings on the property which may not have been there when the last survey was completed. If you are ever in doubt in regard to your property lines, a licensed surveyor should be contacted.

Note: While a fence contractor, or any contractor for that matter, will do their best to help you establish property lines, a licensed surveyor should be consulted. The ultimate responsibility to make sure all projects stay within property boundaries lies with the homeowner. If you wish to have a new survey completed before starting your project, but do not know where to start, we can refer you. Ask us who we recommend!

Additional note about surveyors: Just as fence contractors are extremely busy in the spring time, surveyors tend to be booked out during this time as well. If you know that you wish to have a new survey completed, it is best to schedule this several (at least 7-8) weeks in advance so it does not delay your projects.