I do this all the time. Look up a land plat here in Palm Beach County. It’s particularly useful for waterfront property to see details on the canal. Also great to know if the property has any easements that one could not build over or otherwise encumber the use of the property. One can also see the lot dimensions on these.
- Go the Property Tax Appraisers web site for say Palm Beach County and look up the property you are trying to find the recorded plat of.
- Once you find it look in the area under “Sales Information” and click on the link to the OR Book/Page of the last Warranty Deed. This will bring you to the Clerk of Courts web site record.
- Open the document and read down through it looking for verbiage to the effect of this instrument conveys say Lot 35 in Block 3 as shown on Plat 1 of the Village of North Palm Beach as recorded in…Book 24 on Page 202. Jot down the book and page given.
- You are already on the Clerk of Courts web site so hit the “New Search” button. Select the “Book/Page” tab. The Select the “Plat Book” option from the drop down menu. Now enter the Book and Page in the correct format like 24/202 and hit search. And, there it is.
- Save this locally and start to examine it.
- Start with the general notes and look for things like use restrictions, easements like utliity or drainage and the like.
- Now find the subject property and look at it. Note any easements or roads shown FOR THAT PROPERTY. Note the lot dimensions.
