how do you measure water front

[winterh]

Is it standard to measure frontage by the shore or by drawing a line from certain points?

[LongBay]

As I understand, from someone who once owned waterfront property and actually saw a NH assessor do this, they take out their flexible measuring tape and they start at one end of the property line and go around all the rocks and nooks until they get to the other end of the property line.

[trfour]

By keeping a close eye on the weather! :laugh:
Terry
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[tis]

It has been our experience that different appraisers do it different ways. Years ago the state did it and they measured a state line. The more recent private ones do all the nooks and crannies.

[Bear Island South]

I guess it depends on what the measurement is for, if you a filing for a permit than you should have it documented correctly and hire a land surveyor. The land surveyor will measure along the reference line (natural mean high water line-elevation 504.32). If it is just for your own personal use buy a 100' tape from Lowes or Home Depot and measure the shore at angle points where the water meets the bank. Of course, you need to know where your property lines end at the shore.

[Smith Point]

We just had one of our other properties surveyed and they walked the river bank with a GPS, its amazing how accurate those units are.

[Onshore]

It depends on the purpose for which you are measuring. Are you measuring for the purpose of subdividing, determining the number of boat slips allowed, or to calculate the sq ft of accessory structure allowed in the waterfront buffer under the Shoreland Protection Act?

[Slickcraft]

Our deed uses the actual shore distance measured along the high water point. The deed also states the straight line distance between two points. The lot was surveyed.

The Town of Gilford lists only the actual shore distance which of course is the larger distance.

[MAXUM]

Well you know for tax purposes they will measure any nook and cranny they can. That extra inch or two means big bucks right? :rolleye2:

When they are done accurately measuring your water frontage, next they will use a range finder to measure your view. :emb:

[DickR]

For Shoreland Protection purposes, there is this, from:
des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/.../ilupt_chpt_2.6.pdf

"Shoreland Frontage: The average of the distances of the actual natural shoreline
frontage and a straight line drawn between the property lines (RSA 483-B:4,
Definitions)."

[Onshore]

The method for calculating shoreline frontage for Shoreland Protection purposes was changed July 1 of last year to read:

XX-a. "Shoreland frontage'' means the actual shoreland frontage along the water front measured at the reference line.


The old definition quoted by Dick R is still the method required by Wetlands when calculating the number of boat slips allowed and the Subsurface Systems Bureau for lot sizing when subdividing shorefront property. the Wetlands definition is somewhat fur refined to read:

Env-Wt 101.89 "Shoreline frontage" means the average of the distances of the actual natural navigable shoreline footage and a straight line drawn between property lines, both of which are measured at the normal high water line.

[songkrai]

So in reading responses, how many ways is the waterfront of a lake property measured?

[AC2717]

I am saying three so....

In the words of the Great Tootsie Roll Lollipop Owl, Mr. Owl

3, 3 ways (licks) to the center of a tootsie roll lollipop (to measure the shoreline)

in the words of the Count from Seasame Street"

3, 3 ways to measure the distance of the shore line, ah ah ah

[BroadHopper]

My dad and I were going over the deeds to the lakefront property the family held since 1892. We notice in 1892 it was a straight line distance between the two property lines. When the land was transfered from my great grandfather in 1953, it was still straight line.

In 1998 the deed was transfered from my Dad. This time the town of Gilford request a complete survey because of changes in the state property tax rulings. The results almost double the shore front length and quadrupled the tax bill!

What brought this up, is that my neighbor who is a state legislature was able to reduce his shore frontage substantially because part of his land is wetlands. Part of my property is a dry riverbed and consqeuntly unusable. We are investigating.

[codeman671]

The method for calculating shoreline frontage for Shoreland Protection purposes was changed July 1 of last year to read:

XX-a. "Shoreland frontage'' means the actual shoreland frontage along the water front measured at the reference line.


The old definition quoted by Dick R is still the method required by Wetlands when calculating the number of boat slips allowed and the Subsurface Systems Bureau for lot sizing when subdividing shorefront property. the Wetlands definition is somewhat fur refined to read:

Env-Wt 101.89 "Shoreline frontage" means the average of the distances of the actual natural navigable shoreline footage and a straight line drawn between property lines, both of which are measured at the normal high water line.

I have some particular questions that I will PM you regarding a specific lot. Any guidance would be appreciated.

[Merrymeeting]

It also seems to have changed as technology has changed.

A few years ago, New Durham completed a survey using aerial photos. Once completed, almost all lakefront properties became "larger" and had associated tax increases as a result.