Month: February 2023

Owning property can be a proud moment for any person. While most people look forward to owning the building on that property, the land offers many issues that any homeowner will have to face. One of those issues is having to determine what you own based on where your property is located. You’re going to find many things along your property line, ranging from fences to sheds. One of the most difficult objects to move is a tree. When it comes to a tree being on your property line, there are many laws that get in the way of the removal of that tree. This is when you should call a land surveyor to see what you can do to get rid of said tree. 

So the first real question is “who owns the tree”? When a tree is suspiciously close to your property line, it may be difficult to determine its exact location. The tree’s location is what will make its removal that much more difficult. It’s important that you locate the tree relative to where your property line is before you move forward with any removal.  

That’s where the surveyor gets involved.  Before you can make a determination of whether or not you can trim or cut down the tree you first have to make a determination as to where the tree is located in reference to the property lines. A land surveyor has the knowledge to locate your property lines and also mark out where that line is on your property. Without the proper tools, locating your property lines can be almost impossible. Thanks to modern technology, a land surveyor can potentially survey your home and stake it out all in the same day.

You may be wondering what a stake is when it comes to land surveying. This references a marker, typically an iron pin or a wooden stake. A surveyor will place these markers, or stakes, at property corners to indicate where the property lines are. The homeowner can then tie a string off at each stake to physically lay out where their property lines are.  Another option would be to place markers along the property line in addition to the corners.   

Now that a land surveyor has located your property lines, you may be ready for trimming. Trimming the part of the tree that is on your property is legal but you can’t go onto your neighbor’s property.  Also, cutting the tree down is illegal unless you have your neighbor’s consent or the tree is causing a hazard.  And even then you would have to put the tree owner on notice that the tree is causing the hazard. Lastly, if the tree straddles the line then you both own it and if you can’t come to an agreement, then you would have to go to court.

According to Title 18, Chapter 1, Section 18-129 of the New York City Administrative Code, it is

illegal to remove, kill, or damage a street or park tree. Before removing any trees that are close to your property line, reach out to a land surveyor to help you determine where your property lines fall. Contact All County Land Surveyor PC today to see how we can help!

Whether you’re a homeowner or an enterprise level client, getting a survey done in the winter can seem like an impossible task. While most people have difficulty driving to work during a dusting of snow, land surveyors are expected to complete jobs that can range from the average home to acres of farmland. So this brings up the question, is it worth it to order a survey in the middle of winter? While land surveyors can run into issues surveying during the winter, there are many workarounds. The right company will always find a way to get the job done for you. Here are some common obstacles land surveyors run into during the winter and how they work around them. 

Low Visibility 

For any land surveyor, no matter what tool they’re using, being able to see what’s in front of you is vital. Whether they’re collecting direct measurements around a house or utilizing a total station, seeing what you’re measuring is absolutely necessary. Snowfall is one of the obstacles that would slow down a job the most. Snow can actually stop a total station from processing measurements. All this does though is slow down the job. For any persistent land surveyor, snowfall is just another element that disrupts the job. 

Locating Pertinent Information

While snowfall can slow down a job, most people would think snow on the ground would be even more disruptive. This stops a land surveyor from locating things like sidewalks, pavers, low curbs and other important things to include in a survey. Some surveyors would see this as a reason to postpone a job, but this shouldn’t stop most. Every great surveyor makes sure to include the tools required for any and all jobs in their work vehicle. This includes a snow shovel, an ice pick and anything else that can help to locate important information. 

Frigid Cold

The one variable that is constant in any land surveying job is the surveyor. Without the land surveyor, the job cannot be completed. Surveying is not an easy job for most people, and one reason that’s the case are the elements, and this includes single digit weather. While most people stay home during a winter weather advisory, you’ll find a land surveyor in the snow locating monuments. While skiers dress warmly a couple of times during the winter, a professional land surveyor will layer every single morning to make sure they can endure the coldest of climates for 8 to 12 hours. 

Nothing Gets in the Way

With all of that being said, a professional land surveyor that you can rely on will be there no matter how poor the temperature is. So don’t hesitate to call if you’re in need of a winter job that requires a quick turn around. All County Land Surveyor will be there for you no matter what the conditions! Call us today!