Land records · Parcel maps · October 5, 2026
How to Find Deed Restrictions on a Property
How to find deed restrictions: pull the deed and prior conveyances, check HOA CC&Rs and the plat, and confirm they still run with the land you own.
How to find deed restrictions on a property means hunting for private limits that run with the land—use limits, architectural rules, setbacks stricter than zoning, or bans on certain structures. They can appear in the deed itself, in earlier deeds in the chain, in a declaration of covenants, or on a recorded plat. HOA CC&Rs are a common modern form.
Search order that works
- Read your current deed for phrases like “subject to,” “reserves,” or “covenants of record.”
- Pull the title commitment or policy Schedule B exceptions; restrictions are usually listed with recording references.
- Download each cited document from the county recorder.
- Get the subdivision plat and read every note and building line—see how to find a recorded plat.
- If an HOA exists, request the current CC&Rs, bylaws, and any recorded amendments from the association or title company.
Plat notes vs deed text can both matter. Deed restrictions vs plat notes compares those sources.
Confirm they apply to your parcel
Open the lot on the county GIS viewer via our county GIS map directory and match the subdivision name, lot, and block to the documents. A restriction that applies to “Lots 1–40 of Green Hills” may not bind an adjacent metes-and-bounds tract with a different chain of title.
Zoning is separate
City or county zoning can ban a use even when covenants allow it—or the reverse. Always check both. For setback math, use how to find building setbacks.
How to find deed restrictions FAQ
Are deed restrictions the same as zoning?
No. Zoning is public regulation. Deed restrictions and CC&Rs are private recorded limits. Both can apply.
Where are HOA CC&Rs recorded?
Usually in the county land records as a declaration, with amendments also recorded. The HOA should provide the current set.
Can restrictions expire?
Some contain term limits or amendment clauses; others run indefinitely. Read the document and state law.
Will GIS list deed restrictions?
Rarely. Use the recorder’s documents, title commitment exceptions, and the plat notes.