Question

In the context of a metes and bounds land description, what is the starting point of the survey known as?

Accepted Answer

In a metes and bounds land description, the starting point of the survey is known as the point of beginning. This location serves as the essential anchor for the entire description, providing a fixed and identifiable place from which the survey measurements commence. A metes and bounds description uses a sequence of distances, known as metes, and directional bearings, known as bounds, to trace the perimeter of a parcel of land until the boundary returns to this original point. Because the description relies on this specific location to define where the property exists on the earth, the point of beginning must be a permanent, easily discoverable monument, such as a metal stake, a stone marker, or a significant natural feature like a large boulder or a specific tree. If the point of beginning is not clearly defined or is lost, the entire legal description becomes impossible to accurately plot, which is why it is legally required to be tied to a known reference point, such as a government survey corner or a street intersection, before beginning the formal measurements of the property lines.

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In the context of a metes and bounds land description, what is the starting point of the survey known as?