“No, That Fence is not the Property Line”: A Primer on Surveying (1.5 LU)

As architects, we often run up against site conditions that throw the location of property lines into doubt: difficult topography, wandering fences, and leaning retaining walls, for example. Or, our design work may make the location of property lines and topographic features especially important–for example, if an addition proposes construction at the property line or near a setback, or if a new house is designed to step down a steep hill. In such cases, it’s prudent to contact a surveyor, and having a basic knowledge of surveys can improve our service as architects. How are surveys done? What are the basic tools and techniques? What are the different kinds of surveys, and when must a survey be filed as a legal document? What conditions are especially challenging for surveyors? This presentation will be give a broad overview of these topics, to be followed by Q & A.