If you’re considering installing a new fence around your property, one of the most important first steps is identifying exactly where your property lines are located. Knowing the boundaries of your land will ensure your new fence is installed in the right spot and doesn’t accidentally encroach on your neighbor’s yard. Here are some key reasons why finding your property line is crucial before putting up a fence:
Avoids Disputes with Neighbors
Installing a fence right on the property line without verifying its location first can lead to tense disputes with neighbors. Even a few inches of overhang into the next door property can cause problems. Finding the property pins and markings ahead of time eliminates any guesswork and confirms you’re fencing in your own land.
Complies with Local Laws
Most municipalities have specific regulations about fence placement and height in relation to property lines. Building too close to the boundary or exceeding height restrictions based on inaccurate property lines can result in violations and fines. Identifying the correct markers first ensures your new fence complies with local legal requirements.
The Best Way to Find Your Property Lines:
Check your property deed and plot plan (home purchase paperwork) – In the stack of real estate documents that you got when you purchased your home, a plot plan should be included. This may have detailed descriptions or maps showing property measurements. While this document does not tell you where exactly the property corners are, it can lead you to approximately the right location and then you can search for the metal property pins that are driven into the ground. The best way to do this is use the plot plan to get you close to where you suspect the property pin to be, then use a metal detector to find the underground property pin. Make sure to dig it up and ensure its really the property pin and not some other random metal.
- Property Markers and Pins – Many properties have above ground wood flags driven into the dirt with colored flags on them. These stakes and flags will have notations about the property location and surveyor. Since these stakes are easy to pull up and move, it is better to use these as an approximate location and still search for the underground metal pins. If you are wondering who would move these above ground stakes, we have have seen neighbors in a property line disagreement move them.
- Hire a surveyor – This is probably the best option to ensure that new new fence is going to be installed in the right location. While there is a cost involved to hiring a surveyor, the accurateness of the line marking will be completely accurate line and unquestionable. When you hire a land surveyor they can place new markers and provide a detailed plat.
- Compare with neighbors – Getting your neighbor involved in highly recommended, so you can ensure they won’t be any conflicts or disagreements with you fence installation. Walk the perceived property line with neighbors to ensure the new fence is going in to an agreed upon location.
Knowing your property’s boundaries is a simple but crucial step when planning any major landscaping project like fencing. Identifying those lines ahead of time through deeds, markers, or professional surveys gives fence installation the clear direction needed to avoid headaches down the road. Finding these property lines is the responsibility of the property owner so having this marked ahead of your fence installation is important. Contact our fencing experts today for a no cost estimate on your upcoming fence installation.