Glossary
Back to DeedSketchPoint of beginning
The point of beginning (POB) is the fixed corner where a metes-and-bounds description starts measuring, and the point the boundary must return to in order to close. It is tied to something locatable — a survey monument, a section corner, or a stated bearing and distance from such a reference.
Also called: POB · place of beginning
Point of beginning vs. point of commencement
Many descriptions first locate a "point of commencement" (POC) — often a section corner or other well-known monument — then give one or more calls to travel from the POC to the actual point of beginning. The POC just gets you to the start; the POB is where the boundary itself begins.
Mixing up the two is a common reading error: the calls between the POC and POB are not part of the parcel boundary.
Why it matters
The point of beginning anchors the whole description. If it is tied to a monument that can be located on the ground or referenced to a section corner, the plotted shape can be placed on a map. Without a recoverable point of beginning, the calls still define a shape but not where it actually sits.
Related terms
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