Elevation

A drawing of the walls of one side of a building, with all lines drawn to a scale to show true vertical and horizontal dimension. Can also mean the distance above or below a certain reference point, usually sea lev

Flood Plane

The position occupied by the water surface of a body of water during a particular flood. Commonly refers to the highest point the water has risen during a flood in the area. These records are kept by the City and County and normally date back 50 to 100 years.

Footprint

The outside dimensions of a building describing the amount of space it occupies on the ground. Usually expressed in square feet. For example, a 1-story house measuring 50 feet by 20 feet has a 1,000-SF footprint. A 3-story house of the same dimensions has the same size footprint, even though it is a much larger building.

Hub and Tack

The process a surveyor uses to mark specific points. A wooden stake (or "hub") is set in the ground and a nail (or "tack") is placed in the top of the hub that precisely marks the point being set.

Legal Description

A description of a specific parcel of real estate which is acceptable to the courts in that state, and which allows an independent surveyor to locate and identify it. Usually it uses one of the following methods: government survey, metes and bounds or recorded plat (lot and block number). It should so thoroughly identify a parcel of land that it cannot be confused with any other.

Monument

Any kind of marker to indicate the boundary or corner of a parcel of land. Often the the surveyor will drive a length of iron rod vertically into the ground so that the top is at or below natural grade.

Plat

A drawing of surveyed land showing the location, boundaries, and dimensions of the parcel. The recorded plat, usually sent to an appropriate governmental office or the county recorders office, also contains information as to easements, restrictions, and lot number.

Property Line

A line established by survey, which sets the legal boundaries of a property.

Set Back

The minimum distance from the property line or other established line within which no structures may be erected. These distances are usually recorded by the city, as part of its zoning restrictions.

Site Plan

A view of the project site, showing in detail, the boundaries of a site and the location of all improvements, including utilities and drainage proposed for a specific parcel of land. A detailed site plan might also include sidewalk and driveway locations, curbs, street names, landscaping and legal description of the property.

Survey

A legal document prepared by a surveyor that illustrates the property boundaries and measurements, specifies the location of buildings on the property, and indicates any easements or encroachments.