I'm looking to buy a new house and the builder has said he doesn't have info about whether or not a utility box will be in the front or yard. Is there anyway to find out? I'm reasonably assuming that all utility lines and boxes are planned in advance before new lots are released. Does anyone have more info?
The developer for the area should have the plot plans for the neighborhood well before houses begin being built. The plot plans have the layout and information for each lot predefined. The developer then builds houses themselves, or sells lots to home builders. Source: I used to be a CAD designer for a major Houston home builder.
Do you mean like for your water meter? If so, yes the builder should know where that stuff is going to be located at, don't understand why he would say no. Considering that a waterline has to be installed in the neighborhood and the properties need to be tied into it, this should be known well in advance to get approval from the City Engineer.
Builder is saying they will find out but he doesn't know yet. Lots were released for sale in mid-december so it's only been a month.
Former Land Planner here: the utility easements will be on the development plat approved by the city (or county). Generally, electricity, phone and cable will be on the back lot line and water and sewer will be in the street Right-Of-Way, one on one side, one on the other.
On all the lots in the area, the layout drawing has an acronym spelled "U.E" and "E.E". Does this stand for Utility Easement and Electrical Easement?
yup, easements are reserved for specific uses so they don't conflict. The electrical lines are actually designed by the electrical provider but the storm and sanitary lines are designed by the developer's civil engineer. The Land planner lays them out like he would like them on the Preliminary Plat but they sometimes get changed during the utility design phase. Why do you need to know? (just so I can answer your question)
Most of the time, the plat is designed well in advance of the actual land development. Because of this, easements are sometimes moved around mid-process. I'd say since it's only been about a month, they might be finalizing the location. It's just a matter of your builder getting the final plat plans from the developer.
