Property line The legal boundary separating one lot from an adjacent lot or from the public right-of-way, as recorded in city land records.
The property line doesn't always align exactly with the building line, especially on older or irregularly shaped lots, which is why surveys sometimes matter when determining exactly which flags "belong" to which owner for repair purposes — including the intersection quadrant assigned to corner properties. Disputes between neighbors over where one property's sidewalk repair obligation ends and another's begins usually trace back to questions about the property line's exact location. A current survey or the property's deed is the most reliable way to resolve this.
Frequently Asked Questions About Property line
What is a property line?
The legal boundary separating one lot from an adjacent lot or from the public right-of-way, as recorded in City land records.
Why does the property line matter for sidewalk repair?
It determines which flags fall within an owner's frontage and repair obligation, including the intersection quadrant assigned to corner properties.
What if neighbors disagree about where it falls?
Disputes usually trace to uncertainty about the exact line. A current survey or the recorded deed is the most reliable way to resolve it.
Does the property line always match the building face?
No. On older or irregularly shaped lots the building can sit forward of or behind the line.