GETTING STARTED
 
Beginning your projects correctly is a critical step in the development process of any project. I recommend that you hire an attorney and a surveyor to help you with these issues.

If you still want to do some checking on your own, you can. Consider the following as a guide, but note that not all projects are the same. Nothing herein will replace the advice of your attorney, engineer, and surveyor. Be careful of the outside advice you get. People are generally helpful by nature, but leave the hard questions for the professionals.

Getting started is easy; our government is designed be helpful and it is generally easy to find out what you need to know. It is important that you keep your questions general in nature. It is very difficult for zoning officials to help at this stage. Keep it simple. Your attorney, engineer, and surveyor can help walk you through the more difficult steps.

Step One:
Visit the Tax Assessors office. You are looking for mapping,often called Geographical Information Systems - "GIS;" here you can find tax maps that show a rough draft of properties. The maps are intended for tax assessment only. They generally do not show easements or other important factors and are not a legal survey. Get a copy of the tax map and the Tax ID card. The Tax ID card will generally have the information that you need for step two.

Step Two:
The Register of Deeds. This office holds copies of property records. You can use the tax information to guide you to deeds you may want to review.

Step Three:
Zoning. Check with the local zoning department to find the current zoning classification. You can use the tax map you found in step one to show the location of your project to the proper zoning officer. Zoning is the difficult part. Zoning can make you or break you. Be very careful with zoning. Be sure to get written copies of your zoning regulations.

This should get you started. Don't forget many GIS, Register of Deeds, and Zoning Departments are now online. Use the links I have provided on my web site; at least you can get directions and phone numbers to the correct offices. I also recommend you download my Service Outline and start a project log. I have included a general property and general zoning checklist within my outline.

Good Luck..