Parcel boundary data show the legal boundaries of a property or piece of land. A parcel is an area of owned land that is defined by clear perimeters or property lines. Property lines can become blurred over time as development occurs and natural landmarks that may have indicated boundaries disappear.
Accurate boundary and property measurements are critical for legal and planning purposes. There are many resources for boundary and property data, such as local assessor offices and county recorders. However, property data providers like ATTOM offer convenient online access to the most recent parcel boundary data for the United States.
Here’s an in-depth look at US parcel boundary data, who uses it and why, and where to find the most accurate information.
What Are Parcel Boundaries?
Parcel boundary data show the legal boundaries of a property or piece of land that have been determined by the city, county, or state depending on how a neighborhood was founded. However, just because a boundary is legally recorded does not mean those lines cannot change. For example, if a property owner decides to sell a portion of their land, the boundaries will be updated. In this case, a surveyor establishes the new boundaries, marks them, and updates them in a survey.
Accurate boundaries and measurements for a property are critical for homeowners who want to develop a property, builders who want to build on a parcel, insurers who want to know what type of environmental risks a property or piece of land might be subject to, and land planners who want to plot out new communities. Boundary data are also needed by insurance companies to determine the risk to properties that might in in a flood zone or affected by environmental risks.
Geographical information systems (GIS) map boundaries and compile them into larger maps that include all properties within a county. These maps are often combined with additional specific data attributes about a property or piece of land. All the data is then overlaid to provide layers of property data on one map.
Who Uses Parcel Boundary Data?
Boundary data is a valuable resource for any industry or business with an interest in real estate or properties.
- Real estate portals display maps showing the boundary lines for target and surrounding properties along with other relevant data specific to the selected parcel. These maps inform investors and buyers of property lines and details.
- Mortgage lenders and title insurance companies rely on verified property lines to facilitate mortgage loan qualification.
- Land developers use parcel boundary data for zoning and subdivision development.
- Insurers use boundary data and catastrophe mapping to show where fires, tornados, and hail will affect properties and the associated level of risk. Properties are mapped against flood zones for insurance estimates.
Property owners, investors, and developers need access to reliable parcel boundary data. Hiring a surveyor to conduct a property survey is the most foolproof way to get boundary data, but there are other sources.
9 Sources for Property Boundary Data
There are many sources of property boundary data, such as public record offices, mortgage and title companies, zoning offices, and property data providers.
1. Public Records
Assessor offices and county recorders keep records of legal property boundaries, such as deeds, surveys, and maps. The documents are accessible to the public, and many counties offer online access to property line, also called plat maps. A plat map shows the lot number of a property, the house number, the parcel number, area measurements, and easements.
2. Google Maps or Similar Apps
Google Maps uses aerial imagery to show property lines. You can find boundary data by plugging in a property address. You can view the map in GPS, satellite, terrain, or street view. The data on Google Maps, however, are estimates, and data may not be available for remote locations.
Other apps that offer property and boundary data, in addition to the ATTOM platform, are Landglide and Regrid.
3. Property Data Platforms
Property and Real Estate platforms like ATTOM specialize in providing extensive property data. Datasets range from physical attributes to climate and flood risk data to neighborhood and boundary data.
ATTOM’s easily accessible property boundary data and maps show the size and shape of a building footprint within a parcel boundary, all the homes for sale within a subdivision or neighborhood boundary, nearby schools, community services and shops within walking distance of the home, the boundaries of a federally designated flood zone located on or near the parcel boundary line, and more.
ATTOM’s GIS team updates its parcel boundaries every six months to keep up with parcels that are split, combined, or modified.
4. Property Deeds
A property deed is a document given to the property owner at closing. It shows the legal boundaries of the property. Copies of deeds are available for a fee from the county recorder’s office. Deeds are not always complete or clear, and a property survey or other records may be needed for accuracy.
5. Metes and Bounds Surveys
A metes and bounds survey uses natural landmarks to plot the boundaries of a property. The survey might cite a landmark, such as a road, tree, or body of water, and call it “the point of beginning.” The problem is that these types of landmarks may disappear over time.
6. Mortgage or Title Companies
Lenders often require a property survey before a buyer closes on a home. Buyers need title insurance, and title companies often order a survey before they provide title insurance. A lender or a title company could provide parcel boundary and property line data.
7. Property Markers
There are physical markers to look for that show property lines and boundaries. Survey markers are often placed in the ground by surveyors during construction and indicate property corners. Construction companies also mark property lines to ensure compliance with zoning regulations and property deeds, prevent disputes with neighbors, facilitate utility allocation, and aid infrastructure planning.
Survey pins are markers that builders use to mark the boundaries of a plot of land. These pins are often made of steel or iron and planted into the ground near the curb or sidewalk.
8. Local Zoning Offices
City or county zoning departments typically keep maps and plats showing land divisions and parcels by zip code. The records can be accessed for a fee. Some zoning records may not be available for older homes.
9. Land Surveyors
Hiring a licensed and certified land surveyor is the official way to map out the boundaries for a property. The cost of hiring a land surveyor to do a boundary survey depends on how big your property is and how much time it takes to compile all the data recorded.
The property surveyor will first check county records to understand the history of the lot. Then they will look at the easements, subdivisions, and any other important factors that could affect your land and what you choose to do with it.
The cost to hire a licensed land surveyor typically runs between $330 and $670 per survey and depending on the location, size, and property history, it could be up to $1,000 per survey.
ATTOM’s Parcel Boundary Data
ATTOM is a leading source for property and parcel boundary data. Our boundary data are captured from reliable census data and other public records. At the property level, ATTOM has more than 155 million parcel boundaries in the United States, representing roughly 99% of the population.
Contact an ATTOM representative to find out how we can further serve your data needs.
Written by: Kara Taylor