6 Tips for Reading Plat Maps: 1. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 250,673 times. This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Review the entire written report and discuss any questions, discrepancies, or concerns with the surveyor immediately. Plat maps list the house number for each parcel, along with the shape of the parcel, or the parcel boundary. Here is how Georgia is divided up for GIS purposes (UTM zones are actually divided by longitude): 2023 COURTHOUSEDIRECT.COM. They ensure land for public use remains public. To read a plat, first locate the north arrow. . I did it primarily for trying to make sense of real estate listings, but I think it should be good for recreational land by sticking the output in a GPS. Next, find the survey legend. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Plats ensure lots comply with zoning rules and restrictions. For example, the description above would be read "The north 1/2 of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 24, township 32 north, range 18 east." However, the easiest way to interpret descriptions is from back to front (or, right to left). Tips for formatting your coordinates. Third three numbers of the assessor's parcel number (APN). This will open a pop-up window. Be sure to note the scale near the legend so you have an accurate picture of how distances are measured on the survey. Latitude and longitude are measurements of location on the globe. Find the latitude and longitude markers, and use a ruler and a pencil to draw a line from your point to the nearest east or west edge of the map. Now that you know why you should read a plat map and the basic elements youll find on a plat map, youre ready to hone your skills with a few pro tips. Including gated and guarded communities, equestrian ranches, acreage and estate homes serving various regions around Southern California. The source of this information will be the office of the county assessor. Site created and maintained by CourthouseDirect.com, Inc. shows a piece of land, drawn to scale, with details such as nearby properties, boundaries, land size, flood zones, the surrounding neighborhood, easements, and monuments. Assessor Parcel Map PDF/DWG locator. The plat map that you receive for a title search or when you buy a home will include a significant amount of symbols and numbers, which are used to set the boundaries of property lines, trees, geography, and utilities. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. How to add lat, long coordinates from an Excel spreadsheet into ArcGIS. The boundary lines, or "legs," are often denoted in feet and listed directly below or after the bearing. A 1:24000 scale, for example, means one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches of real-world terrain. If youre buying or selling a home, you need to peruse the plat map. At the largest scale (1:24,000) these maps show section (and quarter-section) corners (and, implicitly, most meander corners) and section lines; all sections are numbered, and towns and ranges are labeled. If youre trying to understand what a plat map is, this type of map: Whether youre looking to buy a home or place your property on the market, having a plat map on hand can prove useful for a wide variety of scenarios that could arise. The GPS coordinates are presented in the infowindow in an easy to copy and paste format. Looking at your map online can give you several advantages, such as the ability to zoom in on small print. The descriptions are generally read from front to back. You miss figure the declination from the magnetic bearing shown on the plat by 2 degrees. The parcel number thats assigned to each lot by the county assessor will include three separate numbers, which extend to the book number, the book page number, and an individual parcel number. 1. If this happens, the only way for you to know about the easement before purchase is by taking a look at the plat map. Click Expand to reveal additional location options. The antimeridian is at 180 either east or west from the prime meridian. When youre interested in making an offer on a property, a title search can be made by an attorney or title company on behalf of you as the buyer. If there is only one block on the map, however, the number will be 0. Move the pointer to a location on the map and view the coordinates in the Location window. It is drawn to scale and records the land's size, boundary locations, nearby streets, flood zones, and any easements or rights of way. While a plat map can be highly beneficial for a homeowner, it can also be useful when accessed by a prospective buyer. A township that theoretically measures 6 miles in size and is the first six miles north of the base line is described as township one north and written as T1N. Type (or paste) the coordinates into the text box and click one of the buttons to Pan to, Zoom to, Flash, Add a Point, Add a Point Labeled with Coordinates, or Add a Callout. ). The large number in the middle of the property, the one underlined, bolded, and/or italicized, is the parcel number. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This article has been viewed 300,048 times. The scale of your plat map will be in the maps legend. The Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt is located at 295831N, 31815E. You should check any third party involvement in the land. The block number follows the page number and in this example is 2. A survey is the best way to learn the exact location of boundary lines and other property elements. This Web site is not the official Web site of Compass. My lot is about 6 acres on undeveloped rural land. Reading a plat map is a straightforward process if you know what youre looking for. A map with that scale covers a larger area overallbut it . On the Settings (light) toolbar, click Map tools and choose Location . Although the plat map can appear daunting at first, it can prove invaluable if you know how to decipher it. To do this we can divide 1 (minute) into 60 (seconds). You can search by Township/Range or Section, County, Lease Number, Lessee Name, Property Name or Lat/Long coordinates. The county must sign off on the land survey to make it part of official public record. When you buy a home, a plat map will likely be provided to you by your title company. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. Open the tool from the toolbar, then select a coordinate format. Learning to read a property survey will help you understand your rights as a landowner. An easy way to remember which is which is to think of longitude as "long" like hair that hangs down. Get the coordinates of a place. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Alternatively, to find longitude, look for a series of vertical lines from the North Pole to the South Pole. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The map should also indicate where the latitude and longitude depicted are relative to the equator and prime meridian, respectively (e.g., North or South, East or West). No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. The book number is 025 and the page number in the book is 13. A. Assessor's Book Number. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Email notifications of recently filed Oil & Gas related documents including Leases, Mineral Deeds, Royalty Deeds, Pooling Agreements, etc. If you're using the map view, you'll need to long-touch and select an unmarked location until a red pin appears. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/aid1406944-v4-728px-Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. Megaera Lorenz is an Egyptologist and Writer with over 20 years of experience in public education. Here's an example for your 1000 acre parcel. Coordinates for locations are provided using two sets of numbers on a simple Cartesian coordinate system. You should also see private and shared driveways, as well as any roads with easements. Some plat maps will even include the square footage of each lot, which can be helpful when youre trying to determine the size of a piece of land. A map is easier to understand. From Survey Markers to GPS Coordinates. Nicki & Karen | Southern California Luxury Real Estate | Copyright 20082022, How to Read a Plat Map: The Basics You Need to Know, How to Buy an Investment Property with No Money Down, What to Consider When Building Wrap-around Porches, A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Build an Outdoor Kitchen, Nicki & Karen Southern California Luxury Real Estate, 9 Nightlife Hotspots for Ventura Residents and Visitors, Provides a precise description of a portion of land, Ensures that public land continues to be used by the public, Allows property owners to have access to necessary utilities, Prevents trespass onto your private property by anyone who isnt authorized to be on the property, Makes sure that all lots adhere to zoning guidelines and restrictions. Anyone can immediately ascertain the size and shape of the land and usually its location relative to landmarks such as roads or rivers, or other parcels. NW: Subtract angle from 360. Report inaccuracies to the surveyor for immediate correction. First, find out if you canfind your plat map online. This may affect future development of the property. Another tip is when in doubt, pay for a land survey. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. You Should Check Any Third Party Involvement In The Land. FileViewer provides access to scanned indexes and image of (handwritten and typed) Real Property, Plats and Oil and Gas Records all over Texas and New Mexico. You can also use that page to identify the correct parcel, and then pull it up in Google Maps where if you right-click a point and choose What's Here? The second six miles would be T2N, T3N and so on. If the scale ratio had a number like 1:65,000, though, that would mean that each inch on the map covered 65,000 inches of terrain. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/16\/Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/16\/Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/aid1406944-v4-728px-Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. The plat map will help you determine where your property ends and where the other begins. - Search for properties by owner, address, or parcel numbers. It is a legal document that a professional, Now that you know why you should read a plat map and the. Discussion in 'Mapping & Navigation' started by Gert, Apr 5, 2007. To read a property survey, start by familiarizing yourself with the legend so you can get your bearings and make sense of the document. This is a wonderful quick tutorial and fun to do for, "I had a basic understanding of longitude/latitude, but I didn't know what the min/sec indicated. LandGlide is the most advanced and comprehensive parcel data and property line map application. You must be logged in to your SurveyorConnect account to submit your location to the map. How do you read latitude and longitude on a map? The first character is the y coordinate (a through z). The legend is usually located in the corner of the survey and contains icons and labels to indicate their meaning so youre able to read the survey. The scale will be the ratio between the distance on the map and the distance of the actual property. For an actual compass bearing, note that a compass points at the north magnetic pole, not the true north pole (earth axis). The property lines that you see on the plat map will have numbers alongside them. Q. I found the deed online, have a smart phone with GPS and the survey lines up in Plat Plotter- can I use that instead of getting a new survey for the land I'm buying? Without this map, its possible that some of the shed could be situated on your neighbors land, which would undoubtedly create problems that you would rather avoid. Since no unnecessary information is included in a plat map, they should never be too difficult to read. We can help you find approximate property lines and corners and by producing the most accurate GPS coordinates possible without hiring a surveyor. My survey map has the following type of notation under each Iron. Start with a line segment if there is one. Write down the vertical coordinate, which is latitude, and the horizontal coordinate, which is longitude. You might even be able to find property maps of neighboring properties if you have shared property lines. 1. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. For example, you could end up with 32205N, 1201412E as your coordinates. Be sure to file your survey somewhere safe for future reference. This could lead to more money in your pocket if you decide to sell in the future. Reading the Land Survey Plat Step 1 Find the point of beginning if the land is described by metes and bounds. Understanding your land survey. Read The Property Line Map, Or 'Plat' A property line basemap, or a "plat," is a drawing that maps out your property's boundary lines and includes details like elevations, bodies of water and structures. You can find your latitude and longitude in decimal format at the top. To copy the coordinates automatically, left click on the latitude and longitude. Site Map. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. There's also pictures and examples of the coordinates; also very helpful. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Here are the best places to start your search for your local plat map: County clerk. Use a ruler to make a line going up and another one going to the side of the point to mark the measurements for your location. As a homeowner, knowing where these easements are located may be able to put your mind at ease if you spot someone else on your property. Find the location you're measuring on the map. Learn the difference between platted and unplatted properties. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. To find latitude on a map, look for a series of evenly-spaced horizontal lines with numbers along the edges. I have it somewhere, and have used it to locate the boundaries fo large rural properties. 2. If youre buying or selling a home, you need to peruse the plat map. Below is an example of what you might have. Ben Fry created an basic application called zipdecode that shows the location of all the ZIP codes in the United States. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. You can use the search bar to find a general location or use the map view to locate it manually. 2. Step 1. The small numbers along the bottom of the parcel is the width, and the number along the right side of the parcel is the depth. Once youve accessed the most recent plat map of your property, get the most out of reading it with a few additional tips. We have a sample for you here, where you can see that 'Access' is shown on map, by. Take care not to confuse the latitude and longitude lines with. Use the map server to download a copy of a lease: Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. A plat is typically . Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. I went to a topographical map and found it on our parcel. DWF or DWG files: Due to compatibility issues we have decided to focus our support efforts more toward the Adobe's PDF file format, we still do provide access to Autodesk's DWG and DWF file formats. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. A plat map shows a piece of land, drawn to scale, with details such as nearby properties, boundaries, land size, flood zones, the surrounding neighborhood, easements, and monuments. If you are the owner of any content used on our website and would like us to remove your content, please contact us immediately and we will promptly remove this content from our website. 2. During GIS-based research consultations, I often help people understand the importance of coordinate reference systems (or spatial reference systems if you prefer, aka "map projections"). First, learn what the many small numbers on a plat map mean. Latitude graticules are marked along the east and west edges of the map. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Subdivision plats must be completed by a licensed surveyor and meet the survey plat recording requirements of 27 V.S.A. How do you read latitude and longitude on a map? Check out the examples page to see some of the property line maps we have produced to help our clients. A plat of subdivision, for example, might have information about the parcel as well as the division of land. This will show the boundaries of the lot. The corners of your plat map will have the book and page number. Enjoy! Once you have the basics down, learn how to identify latitude and longitude markers on a map and pinpoint exact locations. Process to purchase a county owned property that will be declared as a surplus property. The meridian on the opposite side of the earth from the prime meridian is called the anti-meridian. Unplatted lots are not recorded subdivisions. Although you'll have to schlep all the way to your county courthouse to get your hands on the physical plat map, you might be able to find a copy online. These are slightly different than the ones posted by QOCMike, but they're pretty close (138 feet) to his first point. Be careful with that. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Understanding the concept of the global positioning system is the first step to learn how to read and write coordinates of longitude and latitude correctly. These maps are used in a wide range of different real estate transactions. If your map shows minutes, but not seconds, then you can estimate your latitude or longitude to within 6 seconds by dividing the space between each graticule into 10ths. Learn how we can help you get more value out of data. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(206668, 'adeff6b8-c1c7-4d75-8334-50b1fd510ffb', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); By CourthouseDirect.com Team - March 08, 2021, By CourthouseDirect.com Team - February 26, 2021, By CourthouseDirect.com Team - November 18, 2020. Posted by CourthouseDirect.com Team - 21 March, 2018. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(206668, 'd992129f-9bf8-4e44-a7bf-19f5276bc762', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Before we dive into reading a plat map, learn why you should utilize this important piece of information. Grantor Grantee Indexes and filtered searches for Counties in Texas, California & New Mexico. The plat is actually based on a previous plat drawn in 1850 so you're another 2 degrees off. Latitude and longitude are measured in degrees rather than absolute units of measurement (such as miles or kilometers) because the Earth is spherical. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. the information found on a survey depends on its type and intended use. This way, locations can be found using easting/northing (or x, y) pairs. - Hover over a property to instantly view details. From there, you will have to look more closely at the map to distinguish the different numbers, markers, and symbols. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. We can map your land. Use a ruler to get the most accurate reading of your plat map. Persons interested in purchasing a surplus property (county has title to property) must provide a written request to purchase with the following details: a) one single Parcel id and property address b) petitioner's name and mailing address Read more Corners for which the best information was available are identified with a point symbol. Learn more A property survey -- also known as a boundary survey, plat survey, or land survey -- is an essential document if you are purchasing a residential or commercial building or land parcel. GPS coordinates converter. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. For example, if your latitude line falls about 5 above the 3220N line, your point is at a latitude of approximately 32205N. Including Ventura County, Thousand Oaks, North Ranch, Westlake Village, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Hidden Hills, Lake Sherwood and the San Fernando Valley. An indication as to whether the property is zoned for residential or commercial use. Consulting the plat map before you make an offer on a property can help you avoid making a purchase that youll later regret. Add a CSV file containing latitude and longitude coordinates from a local or network drive to Map Viewer, or add CSV, TXT, or GPX files to Map Viewer Classic to draw features on the map for each row in the file. The correction for that may be a few degrees and depends on your location. County assessor. The bearing represents the angle between north or south and east or west. You can measure this angle from a central point with a protractor. - Save your favorit Let's start in Your property lines are noted in a few different locations, including in the legal description for the lot, which would be on your property deed and on a plat map, which is typically available through your local assessor's office or planning office. and the boundary (in most cases). The small numbers along the bottom of the parcel is the width, and the number along the right side of the parcel is the depth. Most plat maps have these numbers in feet. Based on the numbers you have stated, that would be the page number and then book number. The app is able to transform coordinates within EPSG , ESRI, IAU2000 references from online database, and convert X & Y coordinates, geodetic datums and projected systems. How do you use a plat map? You can also create a free account to access Google Maps . These numbers will be underlined and set in a bold typeface, which should make them easy to identify. You should also be able to determine the general shape of the property that youre considering buying. Plat maps show the south, north, east, and west orientation of the property, which is why these maps are necessary when adding a solar power array to your home or when building a home that requires directional placement of a kitchen or bedroom. Latitude lines run horizontally across the Earth and are parallel to the equator. For instance, there may be a Graticule marked at every minute within a degree instead of every degree (e.g., 320, 321, and so on). You can use a plat map for numerous situations. Write down the vertical coordinate, which is latitude, and the horizontal coordinate, which is longitude. The Public Land Survey System is based on a principal meridian - an imaginary north-south line - and a baseline or imaginary east-west line from which other survey lines are projected. The map will show the size of the land, any nearby streets, boundary locations, easements on the land, and possible flood zones. The best part the information is written in easy-to-read language; so easy to understand. The illustration is basically a map of the area surveyed. We do this by taking the information you supply and combining it with any . If a piece of land is going to be divided into separate lots for building homes, a plat map is required. Last Updated: February 15, 2023 A plat map displays how a large area of land is effectively separated into lots. The report will also indicate if these improvements meet the code standards set up by the local building department. If youre thinking about creating a storage shed in your yard, a plat map will be essential during development. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Nicki LaPorta DRE #01233940 / Karen Crystal DRE #01346860Compass DRE #01992628. To SW: Add angle to 180. Determine whether there are any buildings, additions, or improvements that encroach onto adjacent properties. To find the GPS coordinates of an address or a place, simply use our latitude and longitude finder. Water structures such as a lake or stream, Shared fencing, driveways or sidewalks with a neighboring property, Existing property points of entry or egress, Buildings, repairs, modifications or structural improvements on the property, Locations of utilities, including water pipes and other plumbing, electrical, cable and/or telephone lines, gas lines, and utility poles. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Sure seems like we're in violent agreement on the key points: as stated in the programs 'frequently asked questions:'. Establish the physical address on the your deed and compare it to the address on the survey illustration. Any other property improvements that may have occurred since the latest survey on file. . This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/88\/Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/88\/Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/aid1406944-v4-728px-Read-a-Property-Survey-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved.