How to Find a Survey Line on a Property

A survey line is the invisible line that delineates one property from another, whether it's private property or government parkland. It is based on the property lines presented on a plat. A plat is a map drawn to scale showing the legal divisions of land ownership. You'll need to know where your property line falls if you wish to build for the first time, if you plan to erect a fence, or if you want to make an addition to your home.

Things You'll Need

• Metal detector
• 4 stakes
• String
• Neon tape

Instructions

1. Use a metal detector to locate the pins on your property. If a property has been surveyed before, they will be located at the four corners of the property. If it hasn't been surveyed, it needs to be done by a professional land surveyor. These pins are about 18 inches in length and about a half inch wide and are hammered into the earth and slightly buried beneath the surface. They usually have a round cap on top with the original surveyor's license number.

2. Once you locate a pin, put a stake on the side facing one of the other property pins.

3. Tie a string to each stake and run the string to each pin until you have the border of your property outlined by string.

Tips & Warnings

• Tie neon-colored tape to the stakes and spaced out along the string to make it more visible.

• It's always best to hire a professional surveyor rather than trying to find the pins and the property line yourself.

References

• Rockville MD

Resources

• Wisconsin State Cartographer's Office