Blog · October 14, 2026 · Pennsylvania
Reading the Canonsburg Plat Map for a lot
A recorded plat shows how land near McDonald was divided into lots.
Main page: Washington County, PA GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, county facts and neighboring maps).
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Checking easements on a house in Canonsburg? What you want is the Canonsburg plat map, since it shows lots, streets and easements as approved. This Canonsburg guide covers: where to request a copy, how a plat differs from a parcel map, and what to look for on the sheet.
Tracking down the Canonsburg plat map
For a subdivision near Houston, the deed usually cites the plat; use it to request a copy.
Getting to the right map
Your first stop is the Washington County ArcGIS parcel map; it covers each tax parcel from Houston to East Washington. For property near Green Hills, put in a street address, an owner's name or a parcel number, then pick the result to center the map on it. On ground around Finleyville, the record panel typically gives the owner of record, assessed acreage, the parcel number and sometimes recent sales.
Land outside a subdivision
Acreage around Washington outside a subdivision is often described by metes and bounds or survey description; look for a recorded survey for land near East Washington.
What the map can't tell you
Tax maps are drawn for assessment, not measured on the ground, so a fence near Houston may sit some distance off the line on screen. Near Finleyville, records update in batches, so a deed recorded last month can take weeks to appear.
Where Canonsburg fits in
Canonsburg is part of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and the county assessor maps its lots. With a lot near Washington, the municipality handles matters such as zoning, permits and utilities for lots inside the boundary, while the county keeps the tax map. Acreage past the town limits out by East Washington usually follows county rules rather than the town's.
When a parcel crosses a boundary
Washington County meets Allegheny County, Beaver County, Fayette County, Greene County, and Westmoreland County, all with their own assessor records. Acreage along the edge near McDonald may show up across two assessors' files, so open the neighboring map before you assume the acreage. For acreage around McDonald, our state page lists every bordering county map for Pennsylvania.
The paper trail behind a parcel
The map is an index, not the title: deeds, plats and easements covering ground around East Washington are kept by the Recorder of Deeds. Older tracts around Green Hills may sit on a long string of deeds, and a title company earns its fee before a purchase.
Amended plats
An amended plat may change lots around Houston, so check for later filings; vacated streets or alleys also get recorded.
Two different maps
When the two disagree for a lot near Washington, the recorded plat and a survey control.
How land is described here
Older tracts around Finleyville commonly use metes-and-bounds descriptions, which trace the boundary call by call. Platted lots around East Washington refer to a recorded plat, making them easier to find. Keep the legal description for land near Finleyville when you talk to a surveyor.
Lots, blocks and easements
If the land is near Green Hills, the sheet usually includes lot and block numbers, dimensions and bearings, street rights-of-way and easements.
Ordering the Canonsburg plat map
If the land is near Green Hills, some counties put plat images online, otherwise call or visit with the reference; small fees are common.
A quick look at the area
Washington holds the county offices, which is where the courthouse records live. You'll also find Houston, East Washington, and McDonald, each with its own cluster of lots. Roughly 210,232 people call Washington County home (Census estimate, 2023) spread over roughly 857 square miles. Washington County was formed in 1781, and some chains of title near Finleyville are long.
Who handles what
For assessment questions about property around East Washington belong with the county assessment office, the office behind the parcel record. Building or septic questions for a lot near Finleyville go to planning, building or health offices, depending on whether the land is inside town limits.
Using it on a phone
Most viewers work in a phone browser, which helps when you're standing on land near McDonald, but coverage can be spotty out of town. A saved image of the lot near Finleyville and its lines is a good backup.
Frequently asked
What is a replat in Canonsburg?
For most people, lot splits in Canonsburg go through the planning office, often with a surveyor's drawing.
What is a lot and block description in Canonsburg?
With a lot near Washington, lot and block refer to a numbered lot within a block on a recorded subdivision plat; the deed names the subdivision.
Who has recorded plats for land near Finleyville?
In most cases, recorded plats near Washington are filed with the Recorder of Deeds; small copy fees are common.
What do the dashed lines on a plat mean in Canonsburg?
For a home near East Washington, recorded plat easements usually show on the sheet; read the plat notes.
How do I save a parcel from the viewer near Finleyville?
Most viewers have a print or export tool, and it's worth keeping the parcel ID visible for land near Finleyville.
Open the official Washington County, PA parcel map See it in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.