What is plat of survey?

A plat of survey, often simply called a plat, is a scaled engineering drawing that shows the divisions of a piece of land. It's a legal document prepared by a licensed surveyor that depicts the boundaries of a property, as well as other features like easements, rights-of-way, and any existing structures. Plats are recorded in the local land records office (often the county recorder or similar office) and become part of the public record.

Here are some key aspects of a plat of survey:

• Boundary Lines: Clearly delineates the property's boundaries, showing the length and direction (bearing) of each line. This is the most fundamental aspect of the plat.

• Measurements: Includes precise measurements (usually in feet and decimals of a foot) of all property lines and distances to other features.

• Bearings: Indicates the directional orientation of property lines, typically expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds (e.g., N 45° 30' 15" E).

• Legal Description: Provides a written description of the property that is unique and legally sufficient to identify it. This description is often used in deeds and other legal documents.

• Easements: Shows any easements that affect the property, such as utility easements (for power lines, water pipes, etc.) or access easements (allowing others to cross the property).

• Rights-of-Way: Identifies any rights-of-way that cross or abut the property, which are often used for roads or public utilities.

• Existing Structures: May depict the location of buildings, fences, and other structures on the property.

• Adjoining Properties: Identifies the owners of neighboring properties.

• Surveyor's Information: Includes the name, license number, and contact information of the surveyor who prepared the plat, along with their seal or signature.

• North Arrow: Indicates the direction of true north.

• Scale: Shows the scale of the drawing (e.g., 1 inch = 50 feet), allowing users to determine distances on the plat.

• Recordation Information: Displays the book and page number or document number where the plat is recorded in the local land records.