the land between a sidewalk and the road...

[tlowery04]

private or public?

 

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[arnofarrell]

In my town it is public.

 

[Minrelica]

Not exactly sure around here but even if its public I'm sure many homeowners would be yelling out their front doors if you were to hunt it due to the fact that they probably mow it and feel as though its theirs... For that reason alone I'll only hunt that strip around parks or in front of friends houses.

 

[Ism]

The respectable thing to do would be to talk to the homeowners and let them know your plans. If they protest too much, then move on.
While its most often public property and your legal right, they can quickly take the fun out of detecting and potentially cause the city/town to restrict it.
Nothing like solving a problem by banning it completely....That seems to be the political solution.

 

[old digger]

Usually, original street front property lines extends out to the center of the roadway. And when the city builds a sidewalk, that cost is charged to the property owner. If you was to detect in front of my house, along the street, I sure would not like it unless you asked me for permission. I personally think that it would be more polite to get permission first. Just my opinion as a property owner.

 

[chenty]

In my area of Ca. I talked to the CHP, they said....That anything from the power poll back is considered there property
and from the power poll to the street is public? we have a parking problem here, people putting up no parking signs in front of their house..... so I asked and that is what I was told.

Always better to be a good neighbor and ask

 

[dholland02]

Its public property. When I decide to do it in my town I always go in the morning so I dnt have to deal with people.

 

[TerryC]

Check your city/town ordinances. The streets in Milwaukee (residential) go out 33 feet from the centerline, I believe. That much of it belongs to the municipality. If sidewalks are installed, the land owner MUST allow them because they are in that 33 feet. Any grass strip formed between the sidewalk and the traveled portion of the roadway is fair game UNLESS an ordinance was written otherwise. TTC

 

[DirtAngler]

I've heard stories about people who went to the homeowner and asked if they'd mind if they detected the grass strip, explaining that they heard it is actually public property but wanted to make sure the homeowner wouldn't mind because they maintained it, were then even given permission by the homeowner to do their yard. Just something to consider, that handling it the right way could maybe gain more access.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

If it was Private the home owner would build on it, they don`t even pay property tax on it ...you never see anything built between the road and the sidewalk...you will almost never find a property pin there but that is in N.Y. State....all property pins that mark you house site are 25' to 30' from the center line of any street or road so if you want to get technical with them...you can hunt 5' to 10' in their front yard.
All my brothers are surveyors retired now so we know this well.
Please for our hobby never fight about this with them the home owner,it will just look bad for us and our hobby...just go up or down the street away and hunt.
Where ever you live just call a surveyor and ask where they can put the pins in your state.
Gary

 

[bbells]

Per the county, I own the land to the middle of the road I live on. But, the county has right of way on the area that they mow, etc. It is about 2 feet onto the shoulder of the road. This doesn't mean the county owns it. It just means they have a right of way - just like power companies don't own the land between their poles. This all came up when the power company wanted to change from below ground wires to above ground. Since we didn't give them right of way they were restricted to using the same area where the wires were originally buried. Hopefully this will make it clear that right of way and ownership are 2 different things. May be different in other places.

 

[BottleCapBandit]

I work for a water sewer contractor in St. Paul MN. Property lines are subject to change from one house to another in some cases. Most of the time property lines end at the sidewalk if one is there. I always see two guys with E-tracs pounding out the boulevards and streets. Awesome time to detect it is when it's destroyed already so check on those construction sights. HH

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

It is part of utility easement and owned by the city or county. Property ower maintains it by choice, but if you pulled up their property survey you would see it is not on their property...

 

[tlowery04]

I think I'll just ask the owners first, I'm a visitor here and dont plan to be back any time soon, but that doesnt mean i want people angry at detectorists. I'll start with a few businesses and maybe work my way on to some vacant lots (i have permission by proxy) and then ask some owners if nothing pans out. Just thought it would be nice to hit a few areas by some old trees on my walk on sunday.

 

[maxpower]

what's a side-walk lol

 

[Redtaill944]

Well I love hunting these areas but I always ask permission, I know when I was a kid, thats where my brother and I played with our trucks and toy solders. I have only been turned down once. asking has actually led me to hunt quite a few front yards and a few back yards as well. I say always ask and always leave the area better than you left it.