how do you measure water front

winterh · 01-03-2012, 10:06 PM

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

LongBay · 01-03-2012, 10:57 PM

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 · 01-04-2012, 12:00 AM

By keeping a close eye on the weather!

Terry
______________

tis · 01-04-2012, 07:13 AM

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 · 01-04-2012, 07:45 AM

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 · 01-04-2012, 08:18 AM

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 · 01-04-2012, 08:46 AM

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 · 01-04-2012, 09:44 AM

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 · 01-04-2012, 09:52 AM

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

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

DickR · 01-04-2012, 10:31 AM

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 · 01-04-2012, 10:41 AM

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 · 01-04-2012, 10:47 AM

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

AC2717 · 01-04-2012, 10:52 AM

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 · 01-04-2012, 02:58 PM

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 · 01-04-2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shore things

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 · 01-04-2012, 03:51 PM

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.

01-03-2012, 10:06 PM	#1
winterh Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 249 Thanks: 30 Thanked 135 Times in 62 Posts	how do you measure water front Is it standard to measure frontage by the shore or by drawing a line from certain points?

01-03-2012, 10:57 PM	#2
LongBay Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 151 Thanks: 48 Thanked 61 Times in 35 Posts	The Answer: 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.

01-04-2012, 12:00 AM	#3
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	And Also... By keeping a close eye on the weather! Terry ______________ __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

01-04-2012, 10:52 AM	#13
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,574 Thanks: 753 Thanked 354 Times in 266 Posts	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 __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

01-04-2012, 02:58 PM	#14
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,573 Thanks: 3,209 Thanked 1,103 Times in 794 Posts	Funny thing 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. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

01-04-2012, 07:13 AM	#4
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,721 Thanks: 752 Thanked 1,457 Times in 1,014 Posts	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.

01-04-2012, 07:45 AM	#5
Bear Island South Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southboro, MA Posts: 579 Thanks: 75 Thanked 384 Times in 170 Posts	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.

The Following User Says Thank You to Bear Island South For This Useful Post:
Bear247 (01-04-2012)

01-04-2012, 08:18 AM	#6
Smith Point Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Smith Point/ Bangor ME Posts: 195 Thanks: 198 Thanked 35 Times in 18 Posts	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.

01-04-2012, 08:46 AM	#7
Onshore Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 502 Thanks: 12 Thanked 423 Times in 145 Posts	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?

The Following User Says Thank You to Onshore For This Useful Post:
Jonas Pilot (01-04-2012)

01-04-2012, 09:44 AM	#8
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,301 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,087 Times in 955 Posts	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.

01-04-2012, 09:52 AM	#9
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	Well you know for tax purposes they will measure any nook and cranny they can. That extra inch or two means big bucks right? When they are done accurately measuring your water frontage, next they will use a range finder to measure your view.

01-04-2012, 10:31 AM	#10
DickR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 751 Thanks: 4 Thanked 259 Times in 171 Posts	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)."

01-04-2012, 10:41 AM	#11
Onshore Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 502 Thanks: 12 Thanked 423 Times in 145 Posts	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.

The Following User Says Thank You to Onshore For This Useful Post:
Slickcraft (01-04-2012)

01-04-2012, 10:47 AM	#12
songkrai Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 732 Thanks: 35 Thanked 146 Times in 99 Posts	So in reading responses, how many ways is the waterfront of a lake property measured?

01-04-2012, 03:51 PM	#16
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	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.