Understanding Property Lines and Easements

KNOW YOUR PROPERTY BEFORE YOU BUILD
A fence, shed, addition, driveway, or garage may seem like a straightforward home improvement. What many homeowners do not realize is that the ground beneath that improvement can involve property lines, easements, setbacks, access rights, utility rights, drainage requirements, and other restrictions that are not always visible.
Inside this book, you will learn how to:

• Understand what a property boundary actually means
• Find useful information in your deed and recorded plat
• Understand the role of surveys, property markers, and monuments
• Recognize common types of easements
• Understand how easements can affect fences, sheds, additions, driveways, and landscaping
• Avoid relying on fences or online maps as proof of a property line
• Understand the difference between property lines, setbacks, easements, permits, and building codes
• Recognize common boundary and encroachment problems
• Know when to involve a surveyor, building department, or attorney
• Protect yourself before construction begins

This book is part of the Informed Homeowner Series, a collection of practical guides created to help homeowners better understand the decisions, requirements, and potential problems that come with owning and improving a home.
You do not need to become a surveyor, attorney, contractor, or building official to become an informed homeowner. You simply need to know what questions to ask, what information to verify, and when to seek professional help.
Informed Homeowner Series