Trace or edit the property boundary
Draw straight and curved property lines, close the boundary, and adjust it to match your source.
On this page
The property boundary establishes the outer edge of the site. Trace it from aerial imagery or a plot plan, then adjust the outline until it follows the source closely enough for the design work you are doing.
When you imported a plot plan, set its scale before tracing. The boundary can only represent real distances accurately after the source has been calibrated.
Draw a new property boundary
Choose Lot boundary
Choose Lot boundary from the drawing tools. The tool is on the left on a wide screen and across the top on a narrower screen.
Add the corners
Click each corner of the property in order. You do not need to use many points along a straight edge. Fewer well-placed points are usually easier to edit later.
Draw a curved edge
Click and drag while drawing an edge to make it curved. Use the curve for property lines that follow roads, cul-de-sacs, streams, or other rounded features.
Close the shape
Click the first point again to close the boundary. You can also press Enter once the outline has enough points.
On a phone or tablet, tap each corner. Drag while adding an edge to make it curved, then tap the first point again to close the shape. Use the visible Undo control to remove the latest point.
Correct a mistake while drawing
Press Backspace to remove the latest point or segment without discarding the whole boundary. Press Esc to cancel the in-progress shape and return to Select.
Hold Space and drag when you need to pan without leaving the boundary tool.
Edit an existing boundary
Choose Select, then select the property boundary. Drag its corners or edges to bring the outline into alignment with the source.
Zoom in before making a precise adjustment. It is often easier to correct a broad curve with a small number of intentional points than to approximate it with many short straight segments.
If an imported boundary is substantially wrong, deleting it and tracing a clean replacement may be faster than correcting every edge.
Work in Tracing mode
Imported plans open in Tracing mode so the source remains clear and shape fills do not cover it. Keep Tracing mode on while you compare the boundary against the image.
After the property boundary, house footprint, and major planting beds are ready, open Layers and turn off Tracing mode to return to the illustrated plan.
The boundary will not finish
Click the first point again or press Enter. The shape needs at least three points before it can close.
The source is hidden behind the boundary
Open Layers and turn on Tracing mode. This shows the source clearly and hides shape fills while you trace.
The boundary is difficult to select
Choose Select first. Zoom in, hide overlapping layers when necessary, and click an exposed edge of the boundary.
One edge should be curved
Select the boundary and adjust that edge, or redraw the boundary and click-drag while creating the curved edge.