Ever open a Greenville County plat map and feel like you’re reading another language? You are not alone. Plat maps pack a lot of important information into small symbols and lines, and you want to be confident about what you own, where you can build, and what restrictions apply. In this guide, you’ll learn how to find recorded plats, how to read the key elements, what local checks matter in Greenville County, and when to bring in a surveyor or attorney. Let’s dive in.
Find Greenville plats and maps
If you do not already have a copy, start with the Greenville County Register of Deeds. Recorded plats list the official lot boundaries, easements, and approvals. Search by plat book and page or an instrument number if you have it.
Use the Greenville County GIS viewer for parcel lines, aerials, and links to recorded documents. The GIS is great for context, like seeing adjacent parcels and road right-of-way.
For approvals and right-of-way acceptance, check Greenville County Planning & Development and the County Engineer or Roads/Public Works. If your property is inside city limits, coordinate with the City of Greenville Planning & Development as well.
For flood zones, use FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. Utility companies and local municipalities maintain service and easement records that can clarify what runs through or along your lot.
Licensed land surveyors and title companies provide certified boundary surveys, title searches, and professional interpretation when the plat is unclear.
Read core plat elements
Title block and dates
Look for the survey title, the owner or subdivision name, and the type of plat. Note both the survey date and the recorded date. The recorded date and the plat book/page or instrument number help you pull the official document.
Scale and north arrow
The scale (such as 1 inch equals 50 feet) lets you estimate distances on the drawing. The north arrow shows orientation and may indicate grid or magnetic north. Use bearings and distances for legal measurements rather than the drawn scale.
Bearings and distances
Each boundary line has a direction and length, often written as metes and bounds. Example: N 45°30'00" E, 150.00'. Start at the Point of Beginning and follow the calls around the lot to trace the boundary.
If the plat is old, field monuments may have shifted. For exact boundary location, a current boundary survey is best.
Curves and curve tables
Curved segments are listed in a curve table with radius, central angle, arc length, chord bearing, and chord length. These appear on cul-de-sacs and along larger roads. Use the table to understand how the boundary bends.
Lot numbers and area
Inside each lot you will see the lot number and area, often in square feet and acres. Area on the plat can differ from tax records, so use the recorded plat to verify.
Easements, rights-of-way, and setbacks
Common labels include U/E for Utility Easement, Drainage Easement, and Ingress/Egress for access. Right-of-way lines mark the limits of public roads. Plats may also show building setback lines or building restriction lines. These lines impact where you can place structures.
Monuments and Point of Beginning
Surveyors set or find physical markers such as iron pins or concrete monuments and note them on the plat. The Point of Beginning is your reference start. Missing or disturbed monuments can cause boundary questions, which is why field work matters.
Certifications and approvals
Look for the surveyor’s certification and seal. County approval stamps or signatures show the plat was accepted for recording. Some subdivision plats include HOA or developer approvals.
Symbols and abbreviations
Most plats include a legend. Common abbreviations include:
- R/W or ROW: Right of Way
- U.E. or UE: Utility Easement
- I/E: Ingress/Egress
- B/L or BSL: Building Setback Line
- POB: Point of Beginning
- IP: Iron pin found; SR: set rebar
Always read the legend. Abbreviations vary by surveyor.
What plats may not show
Not every plat shows topography, tree lines, underground utilities, or all improvements. Some features, like retention ponds or common areas, may be included while others are not. A field survey can map improvements and potential encroachments.
Greenville County checks
- Recorded status: Verify the recorded plat with the Register of Deeds. This is the legal reference for lots and recorded easements.
- GIS context: Use the county GIS for parcel boundaries, aerial imagery, and road centerlines. Check for links to recorded documents.
- Parcel identifiers: Greenville County uses a parcel or tax map ID. Keep it handy when ordering deeds or tax records.
- Road dedication: Ask the County Engineer or Planning Office if a road or right-of-way shown on the plat was accepted for public maintenance.
- Zoning and setbacks: Confirm current zoning and setbacks with Greenville County Planning or the City of Greenville Planning if inside city limits. Setbacks on older plats may not match today’s rules.
- Floodplain: Check FEMA FIRMs and county floodplain overlays. Flood zones affect insurance, permits, and site planning.
- Utilities: Even if a plat shows an easement, verify active utility lines and service with local providers.
- Historic plats: Older family plats can be incomplete. When location matters for a project or sale, order a modern boundary survey.
Step-by-step reading guide
- Identify the property
- Confirm the subdivision name or “Survey for [Owner].”
- Note the plat book/page or instrument number and recorded date.
- Confirm orientation
- Find the north arrow and scale.
- Locate the Point of Beginning.
- Trace the boundary
- Follow bearings and distances around the lot.
- Use the curve table for any arcs.
- Check use limits
- Mark easements and right-of-way lines.
- Note building setback lines.
- Verify area and identifiers
- Confirm lot area and lot number.
- Match the parcel ID with county records.
- Review approvals and notes
- Look for the surveyor’s seal and county approval stamps.
- Read all notes and legends for conditions or exceptions.
Buyer checklist for plats
- Get the recorded plat from the Register of Deeds or the GIS.
- Compare the plat to your deed legal description and title report.
- Identify utility, drainage, and ingress/egress easements and how they affect your build area.
- Confirm setbacks and map a realistic building envelope.
- Check if right-of-way or dedicated open space reduces usable yard.
- Review FEMA and local floodplain designations.
- If boundaries are critical, order a current boundary survey. Your lender may require an ALTA/NSPS survey.
- Ask the title company to search recorded easements and restrictions and to issue owner’s title insurance.
- Verify current zoning and any covenants or HOA rules with county or city offices.
Seller checklist for plats
- Share the recorded plat and any newer surveys with buyers and agents.
- Disclose known easements, encroachments, or boundary disputes.
- If fences, driveways, or structures might cross lines or easements, consider a new survey before listing.
When to hire a pro
Hire a licensed land surveyor when you need exact corners set on the ground, when monuments are missing, or when improvements are close to a boundary or easement. Bring in a title company to review recorded easements, restrictions, and exceptions and to issue title insurance. If a recorded plat and deed appear to conflict, consult a real estate attorney and a surveyor to resolve it.
If you would like help lining up the right team, our local network includes surveyors, title professionals, and contractors who know Upstate standards and county processes.
Understanding a plat map saves you time and protects your investment. When you know where to find the official record, how to read bearings and easements, and which Greenville County checks matter, you can buy or sell with confidence. If you want a second set of eyes or help coordinating next steps, reach out to Locke & Key Associates. Let’s talk about your home.
FAQs
How to get a Greenville County recorded plat
- Start with the Greenville County Register of Deeds and search by plat book/page or instrument number, or use the county GIS if it links to the document.
What bearings and distances mean on a plat
- Bearings give direction from north or south, and distances give length in feet for each boundary line so you can trace the lot from the Point of Beginning.
What easements and right-of-way lines restrict
- Utility and drainage easements allow access and maintenance and usually limit building, while right-of-way lines mark public road limits that reduce usable yard.
How to check flood risk from a plat
- Use FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center and county floodplain overlays to see if the property sits in a flood zone that affects insurance and permits.
When to order a boundary survey in Greenville County
- If location is critical, monuments are unclear, or you suspect encroachments, order a current boundary survey and have a title company review recorded easements.
