FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PLATS AND MAPS
  
  1. What are the requirements for recording a map?
  2. What are the map size requirements for other North Carolina counties?
  3. What maps are exempt from review by a review officer?
  4. What does it cost to record a map?
  5. How do I obtain a copy of the map to my property?
  6. Where can I get a tax map, PIN map, topo (topography) map, or aerial map?
  7. Once I record my map in the Register of Deeds office, do I get the original back?
  8. Why is there no recorded survey of my property at the Register of Deeds?

1. What are the requirements for recording a map?

  • Refer to N.C.G.S. 47-30 for the procedures and requirements that govern maps and plats
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  • Rockingham County prefers 18" x 24" due to storage and scanning requirements but also accepts maps measuring 18" x 24" or 21" x 30" or 24" x 36".

  • All plats must contain a Certificate signed by a duly appointed Review Officer.

Review Officers can be contacted by calling the Rockingham County Planning Department at (336) 342- 8134.

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2.  What are the map size requirements for other North Carolina counties?

To view a list of plat sizes accepted by other North Carolina Register of Deeds offices, see Size Requirements for Recorded Plats

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3. What maps are exempt from review by a review officer?

EXCEPTION TO THE REQUIREMENT OF REVIEW BY A REVIEW OFFICER

The following types of plats are exempt from review by a review officer and may be recorded without a review officer's certification, but must have a certificate signed by a surveyor stating that the survey is of the nature exempted:

  • A survey located in a portion of a county or municipality that is unregulated as to an ordinance that regulates parcels of land. G.S. 47-30(f)(11)(b).

  • A survey of an existing parcel or parcels of land and does not create a new street or change an existing street. G.S. 47-30(f)(11)(c)(1).

  • A survey of an existing building or other structure, or natural feature, such as a watercourse. G.S. 47-30(f)(11)(c)(2).

  • A control survey. G.S. 47-30(f)(11)(c)(3).
MAPS ATTACHED TO DEEDS OR OTHER INSTRUMENTS (ILLUSTRATIVE PLATS)

  • Must be no larger than 8-1/2 " x 14"

  • Must contain the signature of a duly appointed Review Officer or

  • Must be conspicuously labeled

"THIS MAP IS NOT A CERTIFIED SURVEY AND HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS."

  • Fee  for recording a map as an attachment is the same as the additional $3 per page fee for any recorded document.

MISCELLANEOUS MAPS
There are several types of miscellaneous maps that are on record in our office. Each of these has their own registration requirements and are exempt from review by a review officer.
  • Highway Right-of-Way Plans are governed by G. S. 136.19.4 and filed by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT shall certify a copy of the cover sheet, plan, and profile sheets of right-of-way plans to the register of deeds in the county where the road project is located. The certified copies are to be approximately 17" x 11" and are to be recorded in a special book for this purpose.
  • Transportation corridor official maps are governed by G.S. 136-44.50, which authorizes local, regional, and state authorities to adopt official maps that show roads and rail lines. A certified copy of the map must be filed with the register of deeds in a special file. The map must be 20" x 12", including a border of no less than 1-1/2" on the left side.
  • Annexation maps are governed by G.S. Chapter 160A, Article 4A, which requires a municipality extending its limits to record a map of the annexed area with the register of deeds. These maps do not have to meet any particular requirements. They do not have to be prepared by a registered land surveyor, and they do not have to meet any size requirement.
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  • Condominium Plans are governed by G.S. 47C-2-109 and have their own requirements. These are plans of buildings rather than a land area, and will have been prepared by an architect or engineer, not a registered land surveyor. Although condominium plans are not expressly exempted from review officer certification, they are part of a separate statutory scheme and appear not to be subject to the general plat recording rules.
      • Must be on a material that is reproducible such as mylar film, cloth, linen or other permanent material.
      • No larger than 21" x 30" or smaller than 8 ½ 2" by 11" with 1-1/2" border on all sides.
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4. What does it cost to record a map?

The fee is $21.00 per sheet or page. 

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5. How do I obtain a copy of the map to my property?

If your property is located in a subdivision or if your survey has been recorded, you may obtain an uncertified copy for $.25 or a certified copy for $5 from the Register of Deeds office.  Or, you can download a copy from our website for free and can print it any size, depending on your printer.

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6. Where can I get a tax map, PIN map, topo (topography) map, or aerial map?

Contact the Rockingham County Tax Department located in the Governmental Center located in Wentworth. You may contact them by telephone at (336) 342-8249.

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7. Once I record my map in the Register of Deeds office, do I get the original back?

No. The Register of Deeds office retains the original.

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8. Why is there no recorded survey of my property at the Register of Deeds?

Often it is the lender who requires a survey. A surveyor is hired and the plat is brought to the Register of Deeds office to be recorded.

Sometimes a deed description may reference a plat, but the plat is not on record because it was never recorded. You may want to check with a previous owner to see if they have a survey that was not recorded.

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See section on "Plats and Maps" for more information.

 

 

©2008 Rockingham County Register of Deeds