Why Maine Property Lines Are Not Where You Assume
In states with modern grid-based subdivision layouts, residential property lines often sit where a reasonable person would expect them to be. Lots are rectangular, streets run in straight lines, and corners were set when the plat was recorded in the past few decades.
Maine does not always work this way. Much of the state was divided and subdivided under metes-and-bounds descriptions written in the 1700s, 1800s, and early 1900s, when the surrounding landscape was the primary reference point. The result is that Maine property lines frequently sit in unexpected places, and the distance between where an owner assumes the line is and where it legally sits can be several feet, or more.
When Maine Property Owners Need to Know Their Property Lines
Before Installing a Fence or Wall
Building a fence without confirmed boundaries is risky in Maine because lot shapes are frequently irregular and corner monuments are often missing. An encroachment on a neighbor's property, even by a few inches, creates a legal problem that can require removal and dispute resolution.
Before Applying for a Building Permit
Municipal permit applications for structures, additions, and accessory dwellings require site plans showing setback compliance. Since setbacks are measured from property lines, a current boundary survey is effectively required to produce an accurate site plan.
Before Purchasing a Rural or Coastal Property
Buyers who want to understand exactly what they are purchasing benefit from a boundary survey before closing. This is particularly important for rural land in Aroostook, Piscataquis, or Washington counties with large acreage and older deed descriptions, and for coastal properties in York, Lincoln, Knox, or Hancock counties where tidal boundary complexity adds another layer of uncertainty.
When a Boundary Dispute Arises
If you and a neighbor disagree about where the property line sits, a licensed survey is the legally recognized starting point for resolution. Maine courts, attorneys, and title companies treat a certified survey by a licensed PLS as authoritative.
Why DIY Approaches Are Not Legally Sufficient in Maine
Online Maps Are Approximations
Online tax record databases and mapping tools display approximate lot outlines derived from recorded plats. These tools are useful for identifying a parcel and understanding its general shape and size. They are not precise enough to establish where the physical boundary sits on the ground. The coordinate accuracy of these maps can be off by several feet, and they do not account for field conditions or historical monument locations.
Maine's Metes-and-Bounds Descriptions Reference Landmarks That Have Changed
A deed from 1890 that describes a boundary by reference to a stone wall, a brook, and a birch tree tells you where the line was in 1890. The stone wall may have been cleared for a subdivision in 1960. The brook may have shifted or been channeled through a culvert. Reading the deed yourself does not tell you how to reconcile a vanished landmark with current ground conditions. A licensed surveyor does that work as part of the research and field process.
Tidal Boundaries Require Specialized Measurement
For coastal Maine properties, the property line at the water's edge is not a fixed line you can find on a map. Maine law places the boundary at mean low water on tidal shorelines, and mean low water is determined from tidal datum measurements. Only a surveyor familiar with Maine's tidal boundary law and the applicable tidal benchmarks can establish this boundary correctly.
How a Licensed Surveyor Finds Property Lines in Maine
County Registry of Deeds Research
The surveyor begins at the county registry of deeds, pulling the deed, plat, and any recorded easements or encumbrances for the parcel. For older Maine parcels, this research traces back through multiple registry volumes to find the original grant or subdivision description. The surveyor also pulls deed records for all adjoining parcels to understand how the neighboring boundaries were established and whether there are any gaps or overlaps in the chain of title.
Field Measurements and Monument Location
After the research phase, the surveyor goes to the field to locate existing monuments, measure distances and angles, and determine whether field conditions match the recorded description. When monuments are missing, the surveyor re-establishes corners using the recorded data and measurements from known reference points. Where solid granite bedrock prevents driving a standard pin, the surveyor drills into the rock and sets a cemented monument.
Certified Plat and Monument Setting
The surveyor sets physical monuments at each corner, produces a certified plat drawing showing the boundaries, dimensions, and monument types, and certifies the document with their PLS seal and signature. That certified plat is Maine's legally recognized statement of where your property lines are.
You do not need to handle any part of the registry research, deed tracing, or field measurement yourself. That is what you are hiring the surveyor to do.
Find a Licensed Surveyor in Maine
Every surveyor in our Maine directory is sourced from state licensing records, organized by county so you can find professionals working in your specific area. Browse the Maine directory to find a licensed PLS and get an accurate quote for establishing your property lines.