If a piece of land is going to be divided into separate lots for building homes, a plat map is required. The map will show the size of the land, any nearby streets, boundary locations, easements on the land, and possible flood zones. What is a Plat Map?Ī plat map displays how a large area of land is effectively separated into lots. The following will talk about what a plat map is, how to properly read one, and why you should know how to read one. Once you’ve obtained a plat map, it’s important that you know how to read one, which can be difficult if you’ve never looked at one of these maps before. If you don’t want anyone else to use your land, knowing if there are any easements could play a big part in whether or not you select the property. This map will display if there are any easements on the land, which are portions of the land that could be designated for use by other people or businesses. If you’re looking at real estate and are considering purchasing a home or piece of land, the plat map will be essential for you. Plat maps show the south, north, east, and west orientation of the property, which is why these maps are necessary when adding a solar power array to your home or when building a home that requires directional placement of a kitchen or bedroom. When you buy a home, a plat map will likely be provided to you by your title company. Some deeds will instead use geographic references to detail the shape and size of a property, which means that it has yet to be platted. It’s used for very specific pieces of property wherein the deed assigns a subdivision lot number to the property. 5 Reading a Plat Map in a Property SurveyĪ plat map is a type of map that’s used to show the divisions of a parcel of land.

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