Have you found the county's online records to be pretty current overall, or do you usually end up double-checking with an actual person? I've had mixed luck—sometimes they're spot-on, other times...not so much.
I've found the online records to be hit-or-miss too. Last year, I was working on a renovation project and the county's site showed a utility easement running right through where we planned an addition. Nearly gave me a heart attack...but when I called down to the office, turned out it was outdated info from an old subdivision plan that never went through. Makes me wonder how often these systems get updated—anyone know if there's a standard schedule for that kind of thing?
Had a similar scare myself a couple years back. We were putting in a pool, and the online map showed a drainage easement cutting right through our backyard. I was ready to scrap the whole thing, but my contractor suggested we double-check with the city directly. Turns out, the online records hadn't been updated since the subdivision was first planned—like 15 years ago—and the easement had been relocated before construction even started. The city clerk told me updates happen "as needed," which basically means whenever someone notices or complains enough, I guess. Not exactly reassuring, but it taught me to always verify directly with the county or city office before making any big decisions based on online maps. Seems like there's no real standard schedule, just depends on how proactive your local office is.
Had a similar experience myself when I was planning an addition to our garage. The online maps showed a utility easement running right along the side of our property, which would have made the project impossible. Like you, I decided to double-check directly with the city planning office. Turns out, the easement was actually narrower than indicated online and didn't affect our plans at all. When I asked why there was such a discrepancy, they mentioned something similar—that updates are done sporadically, usually when someone raises an issue or there's a new development.
It does make me wonder how many homeowners have scrapped or altered their plans unnecessarily because of outdated online records. You'd think there'd be some kind of regular schedule or at least clearer disclaimers about accuracy. Definitely taught me to always verify directly before making any big decisions based solely on those online tools...
I've wondered about that too—do they ever update those maps proactively, or is it always reactive? When we built our deck, the online map showed a drainage easement cutting right through our backyard. City said it had been rerouted years ago, but the online records never caught up. Makes you think how many people just trust those maps and end up ditching perfectly good plans...