Blog · September 27, 2026
How Scale Works on a Plat Map
The scale is the ratio between a distance on the sheet and a distance on the ground.
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A note such as 1 inch equals 100 feet belongs to the original sheet size. A letter-size photocopy is not at that scale unless it was printed to scale.
On the recorded sheet
Dimensions written on the lines control. If a scaled measurement disagrees with a printed foot distance, use the printed distance.
The mix-up to avoid
Pinch-zooming a scan does not create a larger-scale survey.
Find the county map
The county GIS map is the practical place to start. Find it from the Platbookmapper directory, then treat the recorded plat and deed as the documents behind the picture.
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.