How Do I Find My Property Lines?

Plenty of homeowners have no idea exactly where their property begins and ends, but if you’re planning to build anything — even something as simple as a fence or a shed — it pays to have that information so you don’t run afoul of your neighbors or local authorities.

Property lines are the defined legal points where your land ends and your neighbor’s begins. You can use those boundary lines to determine where you can legally place features such as fences, pools, garages, driveways or even trees. Doing so can help you avoid disputes or lawsuits that can arise from encroaching onto your neighbor’s property or common easements.

You can find your property lines several ways. Which one works best depends on whether you need a casual understanding of your property boundaries or exact measurements. Here are the most common ways to find them:

1. Check Google Maps

This one is the quickest and easiest way to establish where your property lines are. But it can also be the most hit or miss since Google Maps doesn’t show boundary lines for every U.S. property. To check, go to the Google Maps website or app and type in your address. If you’re on the app, zoom in on the red pin until you see the shape of your house. Continue zooming in until you see pale gray lines. Those are your property boundaries.

If you’re on the Google website, go to the "maps" search and type in your address. Look for the red pin, which will be your home. Zoom in on the property by using the slide bar on the lower right side of the page (represented by + and –). Use the + sign to zoom in until the property lines appear. To get a satellite image, click on the box labeled “layers” in the lower left side of the page.

You can also find boundary data on other apps that require paid subscriptions. Those apps include LandGlide and Regrid, which offer free trials.

2. Hire a surveyor

This is the second easiest, but also the most expensive since you’ll be hiring a professional surveyor to do the work for you. Hiring a professional could be a good option if you need precise boundaries, and you can’t get your hands on or decipher some of the documents listed below. 

The surveyor can measure and map your property and will generally also mark the corners of the property with stakes.

The cost of hiring a professional surveyor depends on your location and project. If you decide to hire a surveyor, ask friends and family members for referrals. Talk to several surveyors to discuss your needs, and choose a licensed one with experience whom you feel comfortable working with.

In addition to possessing a state license, the surveyor should carry professional liability insurance, which can cover you if the surveyor makes a mistake when surveying your property. 

Ask if the surveyor is willing to walk your property lines with you following the completion of the survey.  Also ask about the equipment the surveyor uses; GPS and CAD, for instance, allow for more precise surveys than those possible before these innovations. Tell your surveyor why you need a survey and which services you require so you won’t be paying for things you don’t need.

3. Check online property records

This option is also relatively quick and straightforward if you can access the records online. The county where you live is usually the repository for records related to property. (If your county government doesn’t keep them, check with your municipal government.) You can often search property records online for free with either the parcel number, owner name or address. Many governments use Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping tools that give you a wealth of information about your property, including the property boundaries. 

You can often access free records like deeds, permits and surveys with a simple web search using the terms like “.gov search property records in (NAME OF COUNTY).” Adding .gov will ensure that you get a government-run site instead of a commercial site that will likely charge you to search. 

You also can access records in person at the department that holds the records. 

4. Look for physical markers on your property

Another quick way to find your property line is to look for physical markers. They include:

Survey pins: Also known as survey markers, stakes, or monuments, survey pins are metal rods that indicate property lines. If the property has been professionally surveyed, the pins are usually placed at every corner of a property, as well as at any change in direction of the boundary line. Since the pins are usually made of metal, a metal detector could help you find any that have been placed on your land.

An important note if your markers are covered with dirt: Before you dig, call 811 — the national call-before-you-dig number for homeowners and professional excavators. You can also visit www.call811.com for state-level information on how to have utility lines on your property marked with paint or flags before you dig. Calling 811 is free and can help you avoid environmental harm, damage to your property or utilities, injuries or even death. 

The location of each survey pin is typically shown on a plat map, which can be found at the county or city clerk or recorder’s office.

Existing fences, walls or tree lines: These aren’t as precise as the pins or a formal survey, but they can give you a general idea of your property boundaries. One caveat: Unless you can contact the previous owner who erected the fence, you might not be able to tell whether they built the fence on or behind the boundary. 

Utilities: Water lines and electric and cable boxes are often installed near property lines to make it easier to read meters or make repairs. The location of a utility box can give you a general idea of at least one of your property lines.

5. Check your property deed

Your deed is a legal document that officially establishes ownership of a property and is used to transfer ownership of real estate. You should have gotten a copy of your deed when the home became yours, but it’s relatively easy to get a copy.

The deed includes a legal, written description of the property boundaries, and may include named landmarks such as trees or creeks that you can measure from. Not all deeds include identifiable objects, and the descriptions can be highly technical to the point of being meaningless without a plat map. 

If the most recent deed for your property does not contain a description with identifiable landmarks, it will refer you back to an older deed. You can continue to follow the references back, until you find a deed with a boundary description.

6. Check a plat map

When you bought your home, you may have received a map, also known as a plat, showing property lines and measurements. If it wasn’t included with your paperwork, check with your local county or city clerk's office or zoning department. Some of these maps may be available online, while others will be hard copies or microfiche copies at government offices. Even maps of neighboring properties can be valuable if they show shared property lines.

If you live in a subdivision or neighborhood where many homes were built around the same time, it’s possible your deed’s legal description will be vague, reading something like “Parcel 17, New Castle Development” or “Lot 7, Second Addition.” This is an indication that surveyors created multiple lots at the same time and drew one map showing where they were all located. You should be able to find the master plat in public records.

Plat maps are usually created by a surveyor and used in real estate transactions to verify ownership and property details. 

7. Review your property survey

A property survey — known as a metes and bounds survey — also contains a precise description of your property lines, along with the locations of easements, zoning categories and improvements like septic tanks or wells. These documents typically exist for older properties, and may make references to physical landmarks like large trees or streams.

Your mortgage company (if you financed your purchase) likely has a copy, as will the title company. Another source for a copy is your county or local recorder’s office.

If you run into issues accessing documents or find them indecipherable for your purposes, check in with your local zoning office, where the staff should be well-versed in property boundaries.

Chasing down documents can be a hassle, but it’s well worth it to avoid the very serious issues that can arise by building in the wrong spot.