Blog · September 27, 2026
What Lot Width Means on a Plat
Lot width is the distance across the lot, measured where the code or the plat says to measure it.
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Many ordinances measure width at the front setback line, not at the curb, because cul-de-sac frontage is narrow. The plat may print both the frontage and the width at the building line.
On the recorded sheet
Using the street number of feet when the rule wants the setback line is how a lot looks buildable and then fails review.
The mix-up to avoid
Width is a horizontal distance on the record, not a tape measurement across a slope unless the plat says otherwise.
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.