Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 189-3-7 - Map Design The manual or automated creation of finished tax maps shall follow standard cartographic design principles to ensure maps are legible, easily interpreted, visually appealing, and communicate effectively the cadastral information to the map reader
7.1. Map Sheet Size. -- The final map size for finished maps shall depend on the scale and coverage of the maps; however, finished tax maps shall not exceed a page size of 36" x 36".7.2. Map Scales. -- Unless original tax maps permit other scales, all revised and new tax maps shall be prepared according to the following map scales. 7.2.a. Urban areas. Corporations, and Insert Maps: -- 1:1200 (1" = 100').7.2.b. Rural areas: -- 1:4800 (1" = 400') or 1:1200 (1" = 100').7.3. Map Material. -- All new master maps created manually shall be drawn on stable base film of at least 0.004" thickness. Computer-generated maps may be printed on either film or paper.7.4. Map Color. -- All tax maps shall be designed so they can be interpreted when scanned or printed in black and white. Consequently, instead of depending on multiple colors to contrast line features, map producers shall use variations in line thicknesses, line styles, and other unique symbols to distinguish line features like parcel boundaries, lot lines, streams, roads, and boundaries.7.5. Symbols. -- Throughout the finished tax maps, the symbol sets shall be consistent, conforming to the standard mapping symbols and cartographic specifications shown in the Appendix of the Standard on Manual Cadastral Maps and Parcel Identifiers (lAAO 2004). Computerized mapping systems shall follow a similar cartographic standard. 7.5.a. Parcels. -- Boundaries of individual parcels shall be delineated by solid lines. In a geographic information system, parcel polygons shall have validated topology; that is, all parcel lines shall form closed polygons with no overlapping or sliver polygons, and the line work shall have no dangles, overshoots, or undershoots.7.5.b. Lots. -- Interior tracts or lots within parcels shall be delineated by dashed or broken lines.7.5.c. Streams. -- Single-line streams shall be delineated by a line pattern consisting of a long dash and three dots. Doubled-line streams and water bodies may contain a fill pattern.7.5.d. Roads. -- Roads shall be delineated by solid double line or road casing. Where possible, it is recommended that the edge-of-pavement or roadway be shown on maps with a dashed line or fill pattern.7.5.e. Railroads. -- Railroads shall be displayed by the typical solid line and hachure pattern, with the hachure lines displayed at the appropriate length and spacing.7.5.f. Political and Tax District Boundaries. -- Line styles for political boundaries and tax district boundaries shall be greater in width than parcel lines.7.5.g. Right-of-Way Boundaries or Easements. -- Right-of-way boundaries for streets, alleys, roads, and utilities may be indicated by dashed or solid lines.7.5.h. Structures. -- The symbol set of the U.S. Geological Survey's topographic maps is recommended for dwellings, schools, churches, hospitals, airports, and other man-made features, Improved structures may be represented by a small circle or rectangle.7.6. Annotation. -- Annotation is the text or labels plotted graphically on a map. Map producers shall ensure that the arrangement, style, or general appearance of text is legible and interpreted easily. 7.6.a. Annotated Features. -- All the basic map features listed in subsection 6.1 of this rule shall be labeled. Unless otherwise denoted in these specifications, all lettering on finished cadastral maps shall conform to the character height and orientation shown in the Appendix of the Standard on Manual Cadastral Maps and Parcel Identifiers (lAAO 2004). Computerized mapping systems shall follow a similar cartographic standard.7.6.b. Text Placement Ranking. -- Priorities for assessment labels to be placed within a small parcel of land where space is limited shall be (1) parcel identifier, (2) dimensions, and then (3) lot number and block numbers.7.6.c. Parcel Identifier. -- Parcel identifiers shall be oriented in the same direction for readability, unless there is not enough space within a parcel boundary in which case the identifier may be rotated. A circle or oval shall be drawn around each parcel identifier. Parcel identifier numbers shall be placed inside the parcel as long as the identifiers are legible. Parcel identifiers outside of the parcel shall have a leader, a line drawn from the encircled parcel identifier to the appropriate parcel. The leader may be angled or curved to avoid another parcel.7.6.d. Lot Number. -- Numbers of all recorded subdivision lots and where applicable, numbers of lots in "unrecorded subdivisions," shall be enclosed in parenthesis.7.6.e. Dimensions and Acreage. -- Each parcel shall be annotated with dimensions and/or acreages. 7.6.e.1. Dimensions. -- Parcels within municipal limits less than one (1) acre shall show deeded dimensions in feet. Distance values shall be centered and placed parallel to the relevant parcel boundary line. Calculated dimensions shall be enclosed in parenthesis or annotated with "(c)" after the number. Deeded dimensions shall take precedence over calculated dimensions. 7.6.e.2. Acreage. -- Parcels one (1) acre or larger shall show acreage. Parcels in rural areas less than one acre may be shown as fractions of an acre or dimensions in feet. Acreage should not exceed two (2) places beyond the decimal point. A decimal point and zeros are unnecessary for whole acreages. The abbreviation "Ac." shall follow the acreage value. If the deeded acreage does not match the calculated acreage, then the deeded acreage shall take precedence. If both deeded and calculated acreages are annotated on the same map, then the deeded and calculated acreages shall be identified by "(d)" and "(c)" respectively.
7.6.f. Divided Parcels. -- A parcel of land divided by a highway, river, etc. or map sheet shall be properly annotated. 7.6.f.1. Part of Parcel. -- Divided parcels shall be annotated by "p/o parcel" (part of parcel).7.6.f.2. Land Hook. -- A land hook graphic shall be used on divided parcels too small to denote the p/o reference.7.6.g. Right of Way. -- Right of way dimensions may be annotated with "R/W" (e.g., 60'R/W).7.7. Computer System Guidelines for Annotation. 7.7.a. Transferability. -- It is recommended that computer mapping systems store labels or annotation in a separate layer file or database and not in the map document file. This practice allows for an easier exchange of textual information between different software programs or versions.7.7.b. Typography. -- Text shall be legible and placed logically on the map. Uppercase lettering shall be used sparingly (water bodies, or widely spaced lettering) since lowercase (or proper case) is easier to read. Maps should use at most two font styles. Sans-serif fonts (Arial, Verdana) generally are recommended for terrestrial features, such as geographic regions (counties and states), roads, utilities, etc., and for smaller text. Serif fonts (Times New Roman) are recommended to label lakes and rivers and italicized to give the indication of flow. Boldfaced text may be used to emphasize features. Refer to literature on typography and cartography for more information regarding the arrangement, style, or general appearance of textual information.7.8. Map Layout. -- Throughout the finished maps the layout shall be standardized. The following map layout specifications shall be utilized when producing finished tax maps: 7.8.a. Framing of Data and Map. -- All maps shall contain both neatlines and borders. A neatline demarks the limit of the mapped area and frames the data. Borders provide a frame for the map graphic and are usually outside the neatline but may overlay it (meaning that the neatline and border form the same line).7.8.b. Margins. -- It is recommended that each tax map carry a one-inch margin on top and right side; a two-inch margin on the bottom side; and a three-inch margin on the left side for binding and annotation when required. Property lines may extend into the margin on the right side and top of a map sheet but shall not extend into the title block portion of the map sheet.7.8.c. Contextual Items / Title Block. -- The two-inch margin at the bottom shall show contextual elements that include the title (county and district/corporation name, map number), map scale, legend, north arrow, publication date, map producer, revision block/date, key to adjoining maps, and disclaimer. It is also recommended that a limited-use restrictions notice be shown on the finished tax maps. 7.8.c.1. Map Name. -- Map identification information shall be placed in the lower right hand comer of the margin. 7.8.c.1.A. Tax Parcel Map. -- Each surface tax parcel map shall include the state and county names, district or corporation name and identifier, and map reference number.7.8.c.1.B. Index Map. -- Each index map shall include the label "Index Map" and the name of the county, district, or corporation (municipality) for which the index map represents.7.8.c.2. Map Scale. -- It is recommended that map scales be expressed as ratios such as 1:1200 (1" = 100') or 1:4800 (1" = 400'). A bar scale expressed in feet may be used instead of ratios or may supplement the ratio map scale.7.8.c.3. North Arrow. -- An arrow-like symbol indicating the north direction on the map shall be located within the map image area or margin.7.8.c.4. Legend. -- The legend information shall be sufficient to understand the map and the legend symbols shall appear similar to those in the map frame. A properly constructed legend does not need to be framed by a neatline, nor does it require the word "legend" in its title.7.8.c.5. Disclaimer. -- Disclaimers are used to limit and define the map author's responsibility for the content, accuracy, and currency of a map. Tax maps may display the standard disclaimer "For Tax Purposes Only" or a specialized disclaimer such as: "The tax map was compiled for purposes of taxation from available record evidence and has not been field verified. This map is not a valid survey plat and the data on this map does not imply any official status to such data. The State of West Virginia and county assessor's office assume no liability that might result from the use of this map."7.8.c.6. Restriction. -- Published tax maps are restricted in their use and shall not be reproduced, copied, or sold without consent from the county assessor from which it was created. A suggested restriction statement is as follows: "All finished tax maps created under the provisions of legislation are the property of the county assessors who created them and the reproduction, copying, distribution, sale, or lease of such tax maps or copies thereof without the written permission of the respective county assessors is prohibited by law." The State Department of Revenue is hereby designated as an agent for all counties for the purpose of sale, reproduction and distribution of tax maps.