Why To Have A Land Survey Done Before You Build And What Could Happen If You Don't
If you've bought an RV or you've accumulated so much equipment that you don't have room to store it in your garage, it may be time to build an outbuilding on your property. You can build it to fit a class A RV, or you can build a small one for a motorcycle and lawnmowers. First, you'll want to start with a land survey. Here's why a survey is important and what can happen if you construct your new building in the wrong place.
Why You Need A Land Survey Before You Build
A land survey provides you with important information about your property. If you've owned the land for a long time, or if it was passed down from your parents, you may not know exactly where your property lines are.
It's possible your fence is on a neighbor's property and neither of you know it. A fence isn't that bothersome to remove, but you don't want your building to be in the wrong place and suffer the consequences.
When you have a land survey, you'll find out where your property boundary lines are located, and these will be marked so you can see where they are. You'll also find out where the easement and setback areas are on your land.
These are areas that might be controlled by your local government or utility company when it comes to what you can do with the land. Once all these areas have been marked on your property, you'll be able to pick out an area where you can erect your outbuilding without worry of running into disputes in years to come.
What Might Happen If Your Building Crosses A Line
If you don't get a land survey and you accidentally build your new outbuilding in the wrong area, you could run into trouble with your neighbor, the city, or a utility company. Your neighbor could sue you and force you to tear the building down, or at least the part that's on their property.
The city may also require you to change your building plans or even move the building if the mistake is not caught in time. You'll need a permit to put up your building if you live in the city, so the code enforcement officer will look over the plans you submit before giving you the permit. A land survey may even be required before your permit is approved to make sure you're not putting a building in a setback area.
The utility company may not make you move your building unless they need to access the area and can't do so because of your outbuilding. Utility service might include a sewer pipe under the ground or utility poles for electricity.
Your building could go for many years and never run into problems when it's built on a utility easement, but the risk is probably not worth it. By building your new outbuilding in a place you know is safe, you'll have peace of mind you'll never have to move it or worry about a lawsuit over the building's placement. For more information, look up land surveying sites like this one: http://www.burgetassociatesinc.com