Property Lines: Everything You Need To Know

Are you planning a project like adjusting fencing, extending your driveway or adding an outbuilding? First, you need to know where your property lines are. While property lines often align with fence lines, they aren’t always exact.

Before starting a project or making alterations to your property, make sure you know the precise location of your property lines.

What Are Property Lines?

Property lines, or boundary lines, define the points where properties begin and end. These boundaries are used when installing features such as fences, pools, and home additions. Some property lines have physical markers, whereas others are invisible.

It’s important to know that a property line in the front of a house determines the measured distance of the land, known as the frontage. In contrast, the property boundaries on the sides of your house are known as sidelines. Understanding this information is helpful when property owners are making potential improvements to their homes, like major landscaping decisions.

Why Is Knowing Your Property Lines Important?

Knowing your property lines is an important part of being a homeowner. Being aware of where your property lines begin and end can prevent conflicts or legal disputes with your neighbors. It can also help ensure that you respect your neighbor’s privacy and space.

It’s important to note that an unknown property line encroachment, when neighbors overstep surrounding property lines, could result in a title company refusing insurance.

How To Find Property Lines

A property owner can find or evaluate their property lines in a few easy ways. Consider the following:

Read The Property Line Map Or Plat

A property line base map, or plat, is a drawing that maps out your property’s boundary lines and includes details like elevations, bodies of water and structures. You might even be able to find plat maps of neighboring properties if you share property lines.

When you buy a home, a plat map is typically included with your property records. If you don’t have the plat, you should be able to find it at your local assessor’s office or find it online.

Check The Deed To The Property

One way to check your property lines is to look at your property’s deed. Your deed should have a legal description of your land’s boundaries. If the current deed doesn’t describe the property lines, it will refer you to an older one that does. However, be careful when you use older deeds because they might include outdated information.

If you don’t have a copy of your deed, you can request one online or through your county’s recorder office. You should expect to pay a fee for a copy, usually a few dollars or so.

Get A Property Line Survey

A property line survey is a precise measurement of a land’s legal boundaries. Sometimes, a property line survey isn’t included with the plat and property deed. In this case, you can hire a professional land surveyor to measure where your property ends and your neighbor’s begins.

Land surveyors will also research the property’s history, including subdivisions, easements and ecological restrictions. Mortgage lenders usually require a new survey for a property upon purchase.

Look For Property Line Markers

Some newer properties may have property line markers, such as stakes, from when the property was initially divided. If you have a slightly older property, you may still be able to walk your property lines and find stakes that are sticking up or flush with the ground. This method may be less accurate for older properties because the markers may have moved over time.

Try To Find Survey Pins

Survey pins are thin iron bars staked into the ground. Some builders use survey pins during the construction process, and sometimes, these iron bars are left behind.

If you don’t uncover these bars with a quick visual survey, employing the use of a metal detector might help you find survey pins underground. Uncovered survey pins should give you a good idea of where your property ends. But since other contractors, like utility companies, might use similar iron bars, this method is far from foolproof.

Check With Your Local Zoning Office

You can visit your county’s zoning department website or office to determine your property lines. The department often provides assorted maps and tools to help you research property lines. If you’re planning a project, knowing the local zoning laws ahead of time is crucial. You may be able to use their online tools to get started.

Use An App

One high-tech solution is to use an app like LandGlide. This app uses GPS to determine the property’s location and pulls in parcel records from 3,000 counties across the country to help you find the boundaries of your property.

Can Your Neighbor Build A Fence On The Property Line?

If your neighbor wants to build a fence on the property line between your two homes, they must be aware of all necessary laws and regulations. Where a neighbor can build a fence on the property depends on jurisdiction laws and any applicable deed restrictions on either property.

Generally, laws state that a fence must be built at least 2 to 8 inches from a neighbor’s property line. A fence built directly on a property line may result in joint responsibility for the fence between the neighbors, including maintenance and costs. However, this may not be true in all states, so you’ll want to check your state and local laws.

Can You Find Your Property Lines Online?

Yes, you can usually find your property lines online. Your county may have online maps for all of the real estate in your area, accessible through the official county or assessor’s website. Property lines can also be found through any online search engine on geographic information system (GIS) maps. Another way to view property lines online is on interactive maps.

The Bottom Line: Consider Your Home’s Boundaries

As a homeowner, it’s crucial to know your property lines to stay on good terms with your neighbors. Before you start an outdoor project, such as building a fence on the property line, consult with your neighbor and check with your local assessor’s office.

Considering a home project? Get the funds you need by starting an application for a Home Equity Loan today.