Legal Definitions - cadastre

A cadastre is an official, comprehensive public record or map system that details the ownership, boundaries, value, and use of land parcels within a specific geographic area, such as a county or municipality. Its primary purpose is to provide a systematic basis for property taxation, but it also serves various other administrative and legal functions related to land management and property rights.

Here are some examples illustrating how a cadastre is used:

• Property Tax Assessment: Imagine a local government preparing to send out annual property tax bills to all homeowners and businesses in its jurisdiction. The cadastre contains detailed information for every single property, including its precise location, lot size, current owner, and an assessed valuation. Tax officials use this data to accurately calculate the amount of property tax each owner owes, ensuring fairness and consistency across the region.

• Urban Planning and Infrastructure Development: A city council is planning to widen a major road and build a new public park. Before they can proceed, they need to identify which private properties would be affected by the road expansion and which parcels of land are suitable for the park. By consulting the cadastre, city planners can pinpoint exact property lines, identify current landowners, and understand existing land uses, which is crucial for acquiring necessary land, rerouting utilities, and ensuring the project complies with zoning regulations.

• Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction: Following a devastating hurricane, many homes in a coastal county are severely damaged or destroyed. Emergency services and government agencies need to quickly identify affected properties, verify ownership, and assess the extent of the damage to coordinate relief efforts, distribute aid, and issue rebuilding permits. The cadastre provides the authoritative record of every property's location and owner, allowing authorities to efficiently manage the recovery process and ensure aid reaches the rightful property holders.