How to Read a Survey Plat

What Is a Survey Plat?

A survey plat (sometimes called a "plat map" or simply a "plat") is a scaled drawing that shows the boundaries, dimensions, and legal description of a piece of land. In Georgia, plats are prepared by a licensed professional land surveyor and can be recorded with the county Clerk of Superior Court.

If you have ever purchased property, refinanced a home, or settled a boundary question, chances are you have seen a plat. But for most people, the technical markings can be confusing at first glance. This guide breaks down each element so you can read your plat with confidence.

Key Elements of a Survey Plat

Every properly prepared plat in Georgia will contain several standard elements. Here is what to look for:

• Title Block -- Located in the corner of the plat, the title block identifies the property owner, the county, the land lot and district, the date of the survey, and the name and license number of the surveyor who prepared it.
• North Arrow and Scale -- The north arrow shows orientation, while the scale (for example, 1 inch = 50 feet) lets you gauge real-world distances on the drawing.
• Bearings -- Bearings describe the direction of each property line using compass notation, such as "N 45 30' 22" E." The first letter (N or S) is the reference pole, the numbers are the angle, and the last letter (E or W) is the direction of the turn.
• Distances -- Shown in feet (and sometimes decimal feet), distances tell you how long each boundary line is. A call of "N 45 30' 22" E, 150.00'" means the line runs in that bearing for 150 feet.
• Iron Pins and Monuments -- The plat will note what markers exist at each corner. Common notations include "IP" (iron pin found), "IPS" (iron pin set), "RB" (rebar), and "CP" (concrete monument). These are the physical markers in the ground that define your corners.
• Easements -- Easements are areas where someone else has a right to use part of your land. Common examples include utility easements (for power lines or water mains) and access easements (for a shared driveway). They are typically shown with dashed lines.
• Right-of-Way (ROW) -- The right-of-way is the strip of land along a public road that belongs to the city, county, or state. Your property line usually does not extend to the edge of the pavement; it stops at the right-of-way line.

How to Find Your Plat in Georgia

If you do not have a copy of your survey plat, there are a few places to look:

• Closing Documents -- If you had a survey done when you bought the property, a copy should be in your closing paperwork from the title company or attorney.
• County Courthouse -- Recorded plats are kept in the Clerk of Superior Court's office, organized in plat books by date. In Polk County (Cedartown), you can visit the courthouse in person or request copies by mail.
• County GIS / Tax Assessor Website -- Many Georgia counties now offer online access to parcel maps and sometimes recorded plats through their GIS portal. This is a good starting point, but the online version may be lower resolution than the original.
• Your Surveyor -- If S&S Land Surveying prepared the original plat, we keep copies in our records and can provide a duplicate.

When Do You Need a Plat?

Georgia requires a recorded plat for any subdivision of land (splitting one parcel into two or more). Beyond that legal requirement, a plat is extremely useful any time you need to document your property boundaries, including:

• Selling or buying property
• Applying for a building permit
• Installing a fence along property lines
• Resolving a boundary dispute
• Obtaining title insurance

If you need a boundary survey and recorded plat in Georgia, S&S Land Surveying can help. Based in Cedartown, GA, we serve property owners across the entire state with over 40 years of industry experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

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