Monuments in land surveys are primarily used to establish what?

Monuments in land surveys are primarily used to establish boundaries. These physical markers, which can be stones, metal rods, or other durable materials, help demarcate property lines and provide a reference point for determining the extent of a parcel of land. By using monuments, surveyors can accurately identify and record the precise location of these boundaries, which is crucial for legal purposes, property transactions, and resolving disputes over land.

While lot size, variances, and zoning rules are important aspects of land use and property management, they do not directly rely on the physical monuments established during a survey. Lot size refers to the area of the property, variances are exceptions to zoning laws, and zoning rules dictate how land can be used, none of which inherently focus on the establishment of boundaries as monuments do. Monuments are foundational to understanding and defining where one property begins and another ends.