As residents begin the rebuilding process, Lake County Surveyor Gordon M. Haggitt cautioned against removing some critical pieces of metal. Survey markers, he said, will be a major part of the success as people restore their property.
Haggitt pointed out that the location of property boundaries, roadways and utility easements begins with the survey mapping and physical placement of the survey markers. These “markers” are usually comprised of rebar or iron pipes in various diameters and lengths and are oftentimes buried just below the surface to avoid disturbance.
Although often times overlooked, the markers are critical to the rebuilding process, especially on the smaller lots or parcels of land where setback limits have to be met along with other County building standards.
“To build a home, and all the landscaping and improvements that go with it, without knowing the property boundaries is like playing Russian roulette — sooner or later it’s going to turn out badly,” Haggitt said in a press statement. “Therefore, it’s extremely important for the property owner and contractor doing the cleanup to know where the property corners are and to leave them undisturbed.”
Even the remnants of fences, rock walls or other evidence of property lines should be left in place to aid the surveyor in locating or reestablishing property corners.
An on-site meeting between the owner and contractor as part of the “right of entry” process prior to cleanup is advisable, Haggitt pointed out. If you need the help of a surveyor you should include him in the discussion.
“Your contractor is there to help you, so help him protect one of your most important assets as a property owner — the property corners,” he explained in the statement. “After all, the preservation of survey markers will prevent a costly survey later and it’s the law in California.”
