Blog · September 27, 2026
What Is a Riparian Lot Line
A riparian line is the side line of a waterfront lot as it approaches the shore or extends to the water.
Platbookmapper is an Amazon Associate. If you buy through an Amazon link on this page, we earn a commission. The link is a product, not the county map.
Plats may run the side lines perpendicular to the shore, along a prolonged bearing, or to a point on a bulkhead. The method should be stated.
On the recorded sheet
Neighbors' docks get crossed when people extend the side lines by eye. The plat's rule is the one to follow, and water law can modify it.
The mix-up to avoid
The grassy bank and the legal line move differently. A survey is how you mark the line the plat describes.
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.