Why Land Surveys and Setbacks Matter when Buying Land

By Jeff Burke

We bring professionalism, a high level of communication, negotiation, and execution to all our clients. We serve the greater Lansing and Grand Rapids- West MI area, where we are committed to protecting our client’s best interest and giving that 5-star experience!

Are you excited to finally buy your dream house? Before you finalize your purchase or that wide-open piece of land, there are two things you need to understand first: land surveys and zoning setbacks.

They may sound technical or boring, but ignoring them can lead to some seriously expensive problems.

What is a land survey? It isn’t just a map. It’s your legal boundary showing you exactly where your property begins and ends, where easements run, and whether anything encroaches on your land or vice versa.

We’ve seen buyers who skipped the survey end up in boundary disputes or forced to move fences, sheds, or even driveways. It’s not fun and it’s not cheap.

What are zoning setbacks? These are invisible lines dictated by local code that tell you how far back from your property line you’re allowed to build. Want to put up a new garage, pool, or a small guest house? If it crosses that setback line, the city can and will deny your permit.

“A land survey isn’t just a map; it’s your legal boundary.”

We’ve watched excited buyers sink thousands into architectural plans, only to discover they can’t legally build what they had in mind because they did not check their zoning setbacks.

These mistakes are avoidable. But they happen all the time because people jump straight to buying their dream home without checking the foundation.

Before you move forward on any property, get a survey. Check the zoning setbacks. Ask questions. It’s better to be cautious now than to be surprised and broke later.

If you’re not sure where to start, reach out. Feel free to call or text me at (517) 853-6385 or email me at jeff@jeffburkeassociates.com. I can walk you through it and make sure your dream home doesn’t come with a legal nightmare.