When a boundary survey is performed by a licensed land surveyor, part of the surveying process is to find, locate, expose, and set property corners. There are several different types of survey monuments that adhere to state statute requirements. Let’s take a look at the most common ones:
- Rebar – According to statute, this must be a minimum of 18” in length and ½” in diameter. It is a solid iron rod that is typically placed flush with the ground. When a survey monument is set by a surveyor, it must have a cap placed on the rebar which has the company name and license number stamped into it. Common colors of the caps are pink, orange and yellow.
- Iron pipes – According to statutes this monument must be a minimum of 18” in length with a ¾” outside diameter. These monuments typically have a plastic cap set inside of the pipe with the same characteristics as mentioned for a rebar.
- Cut crosses –This one is a little tricky. If the cross is set at the centerline of the street or located on a curb, there is a high probability that this is NOT an actual property corner. It is most likely a point on the projection of the property line. Crosses are typically etched into the concrete.
- Cotton Spindle – This is a 6”- 8” spindle from a cotton picking machine. Farmers sell “worn out” spindles to surveyors, who use them to monument property corners that fall into asphalt, tree roots, etc. The spindle has a sharp tip that allows it to be set where a traditional survey monument, such as a rebar, cannot be set.
The wood markers and pin flags that are commonly seen are not the property corner themselves. They are witness items to help you find the property corner that is located flush with the ground. So if the little boys next door pull the wood stakes to have a sword fight, all is not lost. Look for spray paint and hopefully you’ll find the survey monument that marks the property corner.
Information provided should not be considered legal advice and all buyers, agents and title companies should consult their attorneys for legal advice.