Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve had a few wins with the county GIS maps lately.
- Sometimes it’s about who you get on the phone—one time I tracked down a tech at the assessor’s office and they actually fixed a boundary line within a week.
- Granted, it’s hit or miss, but I wouldn’t write them off completely.
- For quick ballpark checks, those tools have saved me a trip or two.
- Still, yeah, if I’m staking out for a foundation or fencing, nothing beats a licensed surveyor.
Just saying, sometimes persistence (and maybe a little luck) pays off...
Still, yeah, if I’m staking out for a foundation or fencing, nothing beats a licensed surveyor.
- Totally agree on that—learned the hard way after trusting the online map for my shed. Ended up two feet into the neighbor’s side yard...
- GIS maps are decent for rough ideas, but those easement lines? Sometimes they’re just plain missing or outdated.
- I’ve had luck calling the county too, but it’s a coin toss who picks up.
- For anything permanent, I double-check with a pro now. Not worth the headache later.
DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
Honestly, those online maps are like a treasure map drawn by someone who’s never seen your neighborhood. I tried to figure out where my utility easement was before putting in a pool—ended up with three different answers depending on which site I used. The county clerk’s office was helpful... eventually, but it took a few calls and some patience. I get why folks just hire a surveyor and call it a day, but sometimes I wish the tech was just a little less cryptic.
Yeah, those online easement maps are kind of a mess. I’ve had clients pull up three different “official” maps for the same property and none of them matched up. Even the county GIS layers can be outdated or just plain wrong, especially if there’s been any recent development. Honestly, unless you’ve got a recent survey or you can get your hands on the original plat with all the easements marked, it’s a bit of a guessing game. I always end up recommending a surveyor before anyone does major digging—costs a bit, but it’s cheaper than hitting a utility line or having to move something later. The tech’s getting better, but yeah... still feels like reading tea leaves sometimes.
Definitely agree that relying solely on those online maps is risky. I’ve seen projects where the digital easement data was off by several feet compared to what the surveyor found on site. Even when you overlay county GIS with utility company records, things rarely line up perfectly. It’s frustrating, but until there’s a standardized, regularly updated source, I wouldn’t trust anything for construction planning unless it’s from a recent, stamped survey. The tech’s improving, but we’re not there yet...
