Where to get it:\u00a0<\/strong>PropertyShark\u00a0or a similar database make for the easiest and quickest ways to verify deeds and legal property descriptions, based on\u00a0accurate, verified information.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n2.\u00a0Plat or\u00a0Subdivision\u00a0Map\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If the parcel is in a recorded subdivision, the plat is often the quickest way to understand the lot.\u00a0A plat or subdivision plat is prepared by surveyors, approved through the planning\u00a0process\u00a0and then recorded with the county recorded to establish clear bounds for legal transactions. It normally shows subdivision boundaries, lots, lot numbers, setback lines and easements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where to get it:\u00a0<\/strong>The county recorder\/clerk,\u00a0archives\u00a0or the local planning\/public works records portal. If you are using an assessor copy, remember that some counties explicitly say the online assessor copy is informational and not the official recorded plat.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n3.\u00a0Recorded\u00a0Surveys\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A survey is the most direct record of where a surveyor found or reestablished the line. A survey typically contains\u00a0the legal description, including bearings and distances, and can be used to prove the legal boundaries of a property. However, not\u00a0every survey is recorded.\u00a0If a plat\/survey was recorded, you can get it from the clerk\u2019s office; if it was not recorded, it may still be in the homeowner\u2019s closing papers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where to get it:<\/strong>\u00a0Start with the recorder\/clerk if the survey was recorded.\u00a0Then,\u00a0check the title\/closing package, seller files, lender\/title company\u00a0records\u00a0or the surveyor who prepared it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>How to Do On-Ground Recon (Approximate Only)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf your goal is to walk the lot and\u00a0gather data, use your county viewer or a parcel-overlay tool on your phone and follow the approximate line on the ground. This is useful for spotting fences, driveways, streams, tree\u00a0lines\u00a0or\u00a0likely corner\u00a0areas before you pay for a survey.\u00a0However, remember that all these findings are\u00a0approximate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look for\u00a0corner monuments\u00a0such as iron pins, pipes, disks, concrete\u00a0markers\u00a0or other referenced monuments. Monuments control property and boundary locations on the\u00a0ground, and\u00a0disturbing them can create costly problems.\u00a0Make sure not to\u00a0pull, bend,\u00a0cover\u00a0or move a monument.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why the field walk is only approximate:<\/strong>\u00a0Parcel geometry can be generalized; imagery can be slightly misaligned; county maps can\u00a0lag behind\u00a0recent deed changes or splits; and assessor maps are not survey products. That is why\u00a0on-ground recon\u00a0can help you get\u00a0close but\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0settle a legal question.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>When You Must Hire a Surveyor \u2014 And What You Get<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nA\u00a0licensed land surveyor\u00a0is needed\u00a0when the answer needs legal weight. Good examples include:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Building a fence, shed, garage, deck,\u00a0retaining\u00a0wall or addition near a line\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Resolving an encroachment or neighbor dispute\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Preparing a subdivision\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Filing survey plans with public officials\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
According to\u00a0New York\u2019s Office of the Professions,\u00a0licensed surveyors perform boundary surveys, help determine whether one property encroaches on another and lay out subdivision lots\u00a0It also notes that public officials\u00a0generally require\u00a0surveying plans stamped and signed by a licensed land surveyor.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A proper boundary survey is more than a map screenshot. Official standards describe deliverables such as research, field survey work, monumentation\/marking,\u00a0a survey\u00a0map or plat, legal\u00a0descriptions\u00a0and a surveyor\u2019s report.\u00a0A\u00a0survey\u00a0is typically defined\u00a0as a legal document signed by a\u00a0licensed land surveyor that shows, at minimum, property lines, monument\u00a0locations,\u00a0dimensions\u00a0and structures.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only a licensed land surveyor can legally\u00a0determine\u00a0or reestablish the line for construction,\u00a0permitting\u00a0or dispute purposes. Boundary or land surveyors\u00a0determine\u00a0the legal\u00a0land\u00a0property lines\u00a0and the exact locations of real estate and construction projects.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAQs\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can I find\u00a0a\u00a0<\/strong>land boundaries\u00a0map<\/strong>\u00a0for free?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nYes, but\u00a0often\u00a0only\u00a0approximately. Start with your county assessor or GIS parcel\u00a0viewer to\u00a0pull\u00a0a parcel outline, APN\/parcel\u00a0ID\u00a0and related assessment data. You can also check your county recorder\/clerk for\u00a0deeds,\u00a0plats\u00a0and any recorded surveys. Just remember that free web maps are typically informational and are not a substitute for a survey.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How\u00a0accurate\u00a0is\u00a0PropertyShark?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nPropertyShark\u00a0is a research tool, not a legal survey. Its reports combine verified public record data, deed information\u00a0and other official\/governmental sources, but data depth varies by\u00a0market\u00a0and map layers are still best treated as orientation and due-diligence tools. Use\u00a0PropertyShark\u00a0to research boundaries,\u00a0deeds, lot size,\u00a0zoning\u00a0and ownership, but\u00a0use a licensed surveyor when the line must be legally defensible.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do I read my deed or plat versus the map?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nUse the deed and recorded plat or survey as the controlling\u00a0records and\u00a0check\u00a0the web map for orientation. If your deed\u00a0is metes\u00a0and bounds, match the bearings, distances,\u00a0calls\u00a0and monuments to the survey. If it is a lot-and-block description, match the lot and block to the recorded subdivision plat. Do not treat the web map alone as the legal answer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When should I call a surveyor?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nCall a surveyor before construction near a line, when a permit or public filing requires a survey, when you suspect an encroachment or when you are subdividing or conveying land and need a legally reliable boundary. That is especially important for fences, decks, sheds,\u00a0retaining\u00a0walls\u00a0additions\u00a0and other improvements that could cross a line or setback.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you need to find land boundaries fast, you can start with a free county parcel\/GIS viewer or a premium platform like PropertyShark to see an approximate parcel outline and lot data. However, keep in mind that a web-based land boundaries map is a starting point, not the legal finish line.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2470,"featured_media":47977,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[328,796],"tags":[11182],"class_list":["post-47976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-york-real-estate","category-how-to","tag-how-to-toc"],"yoast_head":"\n
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