Blog · September 27, 2026
Waterfront Lot Lines vs the Shore
The shore moves with water levels. The lot lines on a plat were drawn to a definition of the water, not to today's puddle.
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The plat may call the boundary the ordinary high water line, a bulkhead, a contour, or a meander. Each of those is a different place.
On the recorded sheet
Fill and erosion change what you see. They do not rewrite the plat by themselves.
The mix-up to avoid
A satellite photo at low water shows mud that may not be your lot, or may be. The call on the plat decides which question you are asking.
Find the county map
Start at Platbookmapper, search the county, and open the local GIS link. Write down the parcel number before you compare the screen to a paper plat.
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.