No. 56

Find your property lines

It’s the first step in any outdoor project

Before you build anything in your yard (a deck, fence, even a doghouse) you have to know where your property lines are. If you build over the line, or even too close to it, local authorities can make you demolish your project.

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Locate the stakes

Iron stakes mark property lines in most communities. They’re typically located at corners and jogs where property lines meet. To get started, request a plot plan from city hall. You may be able to find the stakes by dragging a rake over the suspected location. But more likely, the stakes will be several inches underground. In that case, your best bet is to buy or rent a metal detector (cheapies cost less than $40). When you’ve found your target, dig to make sure that it’s really a stake and not just a lost quarter.

Voice of experience

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Setback regret

Before building my garage, I got the plans and location approved by the city. But during construction, I asked the contractor to extend the eaves by a few inches. When the inspector showed up, he noticed that the eaves went beyond the setback line. The correction cost me almost $1,000. Ouch.

Greg Handler, The Family Handyman Field Editor

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Know your setbacks, too

A “setback” is the minimum distance between the property line and any structure. Setbacks vary by community and the type of structure. A privacy fence, for example, can be closer to the property line than a garage or deck. Some cities also have setback rules for tree planting.