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1. Where is my property line?

Property boundaries are originally identified, recorded, and marked with irons at each corner, or change in line direction, at the time a parcel or lot is platted. A three-quarter inch diameter iron pipe with a plastic cap is commonly used as an iron marker. Sometimes the irons are destroyed during grading and construction activities and cannot be located. Property line measurements can be found on the Dakota County website.

Dimensions shown on the Dakota County GIS page are rounded off and generally accurate within the nearest foot or two. Using the recorded information and a metal locator (iron), it is often possible to find existing iron markers to determine property lines. The other option is to hire a licensed land surveyor to locate and mark your property lines.

2. Why is my yard marked up with different colors of paint or flags?

Flags and paint markings are utilized to identify the location of underground utilities. State law requires that utilities are located through the Gopher State One Call system prior to excavation activities to help avoid damage and accidents caused by striking the buried lines. These activities could include repair of sewer and water services, damaged cable, or phone lines, or even installation of new utility lines. These markings will also appear if a property owner in the area is making an improvement to their property such as the installation of landscaping walls or a pool.

3. What is a right of way?

A right of way is the publicly owned area in a development or neighborhood. Rights of way are important for the installation and maintenance of streets and private and public utilities, including electrical, phone, sewer and water, and storm sewer lines. A common misconception is that the homeowner’s or business owner’s property line goes right up to the curb. It does not. The public owns a certain amount of the land behind the curb (right of way) that extends into the residential or business yard. The size of the right of way is not the same for every property.

The right of way area behind the curb is also used for snow storage when the city plows streets. The city administers the use of this area through a permitting process. Right of way locations can be found on the Dakota County website.

4. What is an easement?

An easement is a right given to another person or entity to utilize land that the person or entity does not own. Easements can be used for roads, water and sewer lines, drainage, and ponding, or be utilized by private utility companies for the right to bury cables or access utility lines.

Typically, easements are either included as part of the original plat of the property or have been established through negotiation with a property owner. The easement stays in effect until the easement is no longer needed and is vacated. If the property is bought and sold, the easement remains in effect.

Almost every property has an easement of some form on it. The most common form of easement in a residential area is a drainage and utility easement. This easement is normally 5 to 20 feet wide and runs on all sides of a property. This allows for uses such as drinking water, drainage, and sewer conveyance as well as private utilities such as phone, gas, and cable.