Property Information

Wake County provides a wide range of property information through the IMAPS website. Property owner information, tax records, aerial views, demographics, planning jurisdictions, voting precincts, environmental data, links to deeds and plats, and much more are accessible through this web-based mapping system, which is updated and maintained by Wake County.

Easements

An easement is a right to cross or otherwise use someone else’s land for a specified purpose. The property’s recorded plat will display easements that may apply. Some of the more common easements that affect homeowners are:

• Public Utility Easements
  • For preserving access for inspection, maintenance, and repair of public utilities including water, sewer, and storm drainage infrastructure.
  • The Town is required to maintain these easements to allow access to the infrastructure. Maintenance activities could include mowing and vegetation removal. There is no set frequency for how often maintenance activities occur, as long as access is preserved.  
  • Structures such as sheds, fences, pools, patios, etc. are not allowed within a public utility easement. While some low-growing and non-obstructing landscaping (small and medium shrubs, groundcovers, and grasses) may be permitted in these areas, the Town is not responsible for damage to landscaping within the easement.
• Private Drainage Easements
  • For preserving an area for stormwater to flow. Types of stormwater runoff may include an area for stormwater to flow over land, channel flow (ditches or swales), and underground piped conveyances.  
  • If not specifically listed on the plat, all drainage easements outside of the right-of-way are considered private. The Town does not perform maintenance on private drainage easements.
  • Some improvements (fences, landscaping, etc.) may be allowed at the discretion of the entity the easement serves (HOA, landowners, etc.). The Town will not grant permission for installation of structures on these easements. See Engineering Design and Construction Standards Section 8.06 for more information.
• Stormwater Maintenance Access Easements
  • Most commonly used for preserving access for routine maintenance and inspection to structural stormwater control measures, such as basins or retention areas.  
  • Some improvements (fences, landscaping, etc.) may be allowed at the discretion of the entity the easement serves (HOA, landowners, etc.) The Town will not grant permission for installation of structures on these easements.

Impervious Surfaces

Impervious surfaces (also called built-upon areas) are any hard surface that does not allow rain to soak into the ground. Some examples are driveways, patios, roofs, buildings, etc. Depending on your development, your property may be subject to impervious surface restrictions. Unlike some other municipalities, the Town of Holly Springs does not limit impervious areas based on zoning or percentages of built-upon areas. Rather, impervious restrictions are placed on lots based on the development’s stormwater management plan. Impervious limits will be listed on the plat and can be located on the IMAPS website.

The Town will not grant approval for exceeding impervious limits.

The Town does not consider permeable materials (like permeable pavers, etc.) on private lots as exempt from impervious calculations unless a stormwater management plan that meets the NC DEQ Minimum Design Criteria and the Town’s Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance is submitted and approved.

Drainage Improvements to Your Property 

The Town of Holly Springs does not regulate drainage from private lots. Storm drainage issues between property owners is a civil matter. If you plan improvements or modifications to your landscape that impact the flow of water, please take your neighbor’s property into consideration. Any land-disturbing activity that causes sediment or erosion must be controlled on site.