Blog · September 27, 2026
What Is an Encroachment
An encroachment is a structure or use that crosses a lot line or an easement without a right to be there.
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A garage over the line, a driveway on the neighbor's lot, or a deck in a drainage easement are typical cases. The plat shows the line. A survey shows where the building sits.
On the recorded sheet
Encroachment is a fact on the ground. Whether it creates a legal right is a different question, and it is not answered by the GIS screenshot.
The mix-up to avoid
A small overlap on a web map can be drawing error. Confirm with the plat dimensions and a survey before you call it an encroachment.
Find the county map
Search the county on the Platbookmapper home page. The directory links to the official parcel viewer. It does not draw the lots, and the line on the screen is an assessment map, not a survey.
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.