Precise Land Survey


Survey Terminology TITLE SURVEY - What is it? “A land title survey is defined as a complete and total study, investigation and evaluation of all factors affecting and influencing the location of the boundaries, ownership lines, rights of way and easements within or immediately surrounding a certain lot, parcel or quantity of real estate. Such study and evaluation will culminate in the deliberate and clear location or relocation on the ground of the perimeters, division lines or boundaries and the determination of area of the certain lot, parcel or quantity of real estate.” Why is it necessary? A survey may be used to describe property boundaries, locate physical characteristics of the property, locate matters of record, identify how land use laws affect the property, and assist in evaluating the property. A land title survey is sufficient for title insurance purposes. It denotes merely a boundary depiction, but may contain other information pertaining to the property. TITLE SEARCH An examination of the records of the registry of deeds or other office, which contains records of title documents to determine whether title to the property is good. (Also see abstract of title or examination) FLOOD An inundation of water over land not usually covered by it. PLAT A map of a town, section, or subdivision showing the location and boundaries of individual parcels of land subdivided into lots with streets, alleys, easements, etc. Usually drawn to scale. PLAT MAP A plat map is generally drawn after the property has been described by some other means, such as a government survey system. Once a plat map is set, legal descriptions are defined by referring to the given map in a lot and block description. MONUMENT 1. In real-property law and surveying, monuments are visible marks or indications left on natural or other objects indicating the lines and boundaries of a survey. 2. Any physical object on the ground which helps to establish location of a line called for; it may be either natural or artificial, and may be a tree, stone, stake, pipe, or the like. SET BACK (BUILDING LINE) The distance from a curb, property line, or structure, within which building is prohibited. Setback requirements are normally provided by ordinances or building codes (provisions in zoning ordinance regulating the distance from the lot line to the point where improvements may be constructed). EASEMENT The right of the owner of one parcel of land, by reason of such ownership, to use the land of another for a special purpose not inconsistent with the general purpose. ADJOINER Land that lies contiguous, adjoins, or touches other land. METES AND BOUNDS Method of describing land by measure of land (metes - course and distance) of the boundary lines (bounds - adjoiners). The most common method is to recite direction and length of each line, as one would walk the perimeter. RIGHT OF WAY Any strip or area of land, including surface, overhead, underground, granted by deed or easement, for construction and maintenance according to designated use, such as drainage, irrigation canals, ditches, electric power, telephone, oil, gas, water, other pipelines, highways, etc. RECORDED PLAT A map or plat recorded in the county courthouse that shows exact lot lines, street right-of-ways, utility easements, etc. These plats usually require a certification from a licensed engineer or surveyor regarding the accuracy of details of the plat. TAX PLAT Map usually created by the tax office or central appraisal district representing the amount of land being assessed for taxes. F.E.M.A. Federal Emergency Management Agency F.I.R.M. Flood Insurance Rate Map ELEVATION CERTIFICATE Verifies that the finished floor elevations for homes meet or exceed the requirements set by the F.I.R.M. maps. EXPLANATION OF ZONE DESIGNATIONS ZONE A · areas of 100-year flood; base flood elevations and flood hazard factors not determined. ZONE A0 · areas of 100-year shallow flooding where depths are between one (1) and three (3) feet; average depths of inundation are shown, but no flood hazard factors are determined. ZONE AH · areas of 100-year shallow flooding where depths are between one (1) and three (3) feet; base flood elevations are shown, but no flood hazard factors are determined. ZONE A1-A30 or ZONE AE · areas of 100-year flood; base flood elevations and flood factors determined. ZONE A99 · areas of 100-year flood to be protected by flood protection system under construction; base flood elevations and flood hazard factors not determined. ZONE B · areas between limits of the 100-year flood and 500-year flood; or certain areas subject to 100-year flooding with depths less than (1) foot or where the contributing drainage area is less than one square mile; or areas protected by levees from the base flood. ZONE C · areas of minimal flooding. ZONE D · areas of undetermined, but possible, flood hazards. ZONE X (no shading) · areas determined to be outside 500-year floodplain. ZONE X (shading) · areas of 500-year flood; areas of 100-year flood with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; and areas protected by levees from 100-year flood. WHAT IS FEMA? The Federal Emergency Management Agency is the federal agency in charge of helping people before and after a disaster. FEMA is called upon to help when the President of the United States declares an area a disaster zone. Disasters are declared after hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, or other similar events strike a community. The Governor of a state must ask for help from the President before FEMA can respond. FEMA was created in 1979, when President Jimmy Carter merged five different agencies and four different programs into one agency dedicated to planning for and helping after an emergency. FEMA headquarters is located in Washington D.C. with ten regional offices across the country.
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Survey Terminology

TITLE SURVEY - What is it?

“A land title survey is defined as a complete and total study, investigation and evaluation of all factors affecting and influencing the location of the boundaries, ownership lines, rights of way and easements within or immediately surrounding a certain lot, parcel or quantity of real estate. Such study and evaluation will culminate in the deliberate and clear location or relocation on the ground of the perimeters, division lines or boundaries and the determination of area of the certain lot, parcel or quantity of real estate.”

Why is it necessary?

A survey may be used to describe property boundaries, locate physical characteristics of the property, locate matters of record, identify how land use laws affect the property, and assist in evaluating the property. A land title survey is sufficient for title insurance purposes. It denotes merely a boundary depiction, but may contain other information pertaining to the property.

TITLE SEARCH

An examination of the records of the registry of deeds or other office, which contains records of title documents to determine whether title to the property is good. (Also see abstract of title or examination)

FLOOD

An inundation of water over land not usually covered by it.

PLAT

A map of a town, section, or subdivision showing the location and boundaries of individual parcels of land subdivided into lots with streets, alleys, easements, etc. Usually drawn to scale.

PLAT MAP

A plat map is generally drawn after the property has been described by some other means, such as a government survey system. Once a plat map is set, legal descriptions are defined by referring to the given map in a lot and block description.

MONUMENT

1. In real-property law and surveying, monuments are visible marks or indications
    left on natural or other objects indicating the lines and boundaries of a survey.

2. Any physical object on the ground which helps to establish location of a line    called for; it may be either natural or artificial, and may be a tree, stone, stake,    pipe, or the like.

SET BACK (BUILDING LINE)

The distance from a curb, property line, or structure, within which building is prohibited. Setback requirements are normally provided by ordinances or building codes (provisions in zoning ordinance regulating the distance from the lot line to the point where improvements may be constructed).

EASEMENT

The right of the owner of one parcel of land, by reason of such ownership, to use the land of another for a special purpose not inconsistent with the general purpose.

ADJOINER

Land that lies contiguous, adjoins, or touches other land.

METES AND BOUNDS

Method of describing land by measure of land (metes - course and distance) of the boundary lines (bounds - adjoiners). The most common method is to recite direction and length of each line, as one would walk the perimeter.

RIGHT OF WAY

Any strip or area of land, including surface, overhead, underground, granted by deed or easement, for construction and maintenance according to designated use, such as drainage, irrigation canals, ditches, electric power, telephone, oil, gas, water, other pipelines, highways, etc.

RECORDED PLAT

A map or plat recorded in the county courthouse that shows exact lot lines, street right-of-ways, utility easements, etc. These plats usually require a certification from a licensed engineer or surveyor regarding the accuracy of details of the plat.

TAX PLAT

Map usually created by the tax office or central appraisal district representing the amount of land being assessed for taxes.

F.E.M.A.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

F.I.R.M.

Flood Insurance Rate Map

ELEVATION CERTIFICATE

Verifies that the finished floor elevations for homes meet or exceed the requirements set by the F.I.R.M. maps.

EXPLANATION OF ZONE DESIGNATIONS

ZONE A · areas of 100-year flood; base flood elevations and flood hazard factors               not determined.

ZONE A0 · areas of 100-year shallow flooding where depths are between one (1)                 and three (3) feet; average depths of inundation are shown, but no                 flood hazard factors are determined.

ZONE AH · areas of 100-year shallow flooding where depths are between one (1)                 and three (3) feet; base flood elevations are shown, but no flood
                hazard factors are determined.

ZONE A1-A30 or ZONE AE · areas of 100-year flood; base flood elevations and                                            flood factors determined.

ZONE A99 · areas of 100-year flood to be protected by flood protection system                   under construction; base flood elevations and flood hazard factors                   not determined.

ZONE B · areas between limits of the 100-year flood and 500-year flood; or certain               areas subject to 100-year flooding with depths less than (1) foot or               where the contributing drainage area is less than one square mile; or               areas protected by levees from the base flood.

ZONE C · areas of minimal flooding.

ZONE D · areas of undetermined, but possible, flood hazards.

ZONE X (no shading) · areas determined to be outside 500-year floodplain.

ZONE X (shading) · areas of 500-year flood; areas of 100-year flood with average             depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile;             and areas protected by levees from 100-year flood.

WHAT IS FEMA?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is the federal agency in charge of helping people before and after a disaster. FEMA is called upon to help when the President of the United States declares an area a disaster zone. Disasters are declared after hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, or other similar events strike a community.

The Governor of a state must ask for help from the President before FEMA can respond. FEMA was created in 1979, when President Jimmy Carter merged five different agencies and four different programs into one agency dedicated to planning for and helping after an emergency.

FEMA headquarters is located in Washington D.C. with ten regional offices across the country.