Where Your Yard Ends: Property Lines By Cheese Ranch

Living along Cheese Ranch Historic & Natural Area is a daily perk. But if your fence, shrubs, or mowing line meets the trail, it is natural to wonder where your yard actually ends and the public park begins. The edge can be tricky because plats, easements, and parcel maps do not always match what you see on the ground. In this guide, you will learn how to confirm your boundary using Douglas County records, HOA rules, and when to call a surveyor. Let’s dive in.

Cheese Ranch basics

Cheese Ranch Historic & Natural Area is operated by the Highlands Ranch Metro District at 9193 Sugarstone Cir., ZIP 80130. Amenities include a community garden, fishing pond and pier, walking trails, historic interpretive features, and a windmill. You can check the official listing for the park’s details and map on the Metro District site at the Cheese Ranch page: Highlands Ranch Metro District park listing.

Highlands Ranch sits within Douglas County and is unincorporated. Mailing addresses often show Littleton even when the property is in Highlands Ranch. The Metro District manages parks and the Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA) oversees covenants and residential improvements. You can read an overview of the area’s status here: Highlands Ranch overview.

What actually sets your property line

• The legal description on your deed controls the boundary. In subdivisions, this ties to a recorded plat. Older parcels may use metes and bounds or Public Land Survey System references. Deeds, plats, and easements are recorded with the County Clerk & Recorder. Learn how to obtain recorded documents at the Douglas County Clerk & Recorder.
• County parcel maps are helpful. The Douglas County Assessor’s Real Property Viewer shows parcel boundaries, legal descriptions, and links to recorded plats. Start with the Douglas County parcel maps.
• Easements and dedications matter. A trail, utility, or drainage easement can cross or sit along your edge. These are found in recorded documents via the Clerk & Recorder.
• Only a licensed Colorado Professional Land Surveyor can establish or reestablish a boundary on the ground. You can verify surveyor credentials through the state board: Colorado PLS licensing. The Douglas County Surveyor maintains plat records and corner information and can point you to recorded materials.

Step-by-step: Find your boundary by Cheese Ranch

1) Pull your deed and any closing survey

Locate the deed from closing. Check the legal description. If you received an ALTA or owner’s survey, review it first. If you need a copy of a deed or plat, request it through the Douglas County Clerk & Recorder.

2) Check the county parcel viewer

Enter your address in the Douglas County parcel maps. Confirm your parcel boundary and note the parcel ID. Compare your lot to the adjoining park parcel to see if there is a separate strip or greenbelt between you and Cheese Ranch.

3) Review recorded plats and easements

Look up the subdivision plat and any recorded easements or dedications. You are looking for trail, utility, drainage, or park dedications that affect use near the edge. Use the online search tools linked from the Douglas County Clerk & Recorder.

4) Check HRCA covenants and neighborhood rules

HRCA covenants can guide fence style, placement, and maintenance, and may include maps for private responsibilities or setback lines. Review the HRCA covenant guidance.

5) Hire a surveyor before you build near the line

If you plan a fence, wall, deck, patio, shed, or major planting near the boundary, order a boundary or improvement location survey from a Colorado PLS. A stamped survey will locate corners and reveal encroachments. Verify credentials through Colorado PLS licensing. The Douglas County Surveyor can point you to existing plat records.

6) Confirm with the Metro District if you adjoin the park

If your lot touches the park, ask the Highlands Ranch Metro District to confirm the exact park parcel line and any maintenance zones near trails or landscaped buffers. Start with the Cheese Ranch park listing and contact the parks staff listed on the site.

Common edge-of-park situations

Fences and landscaping over the line

A fence sitting over the line is an encroachment. Ownership and maintenance follow the legal boundary and any covenant rules. If a fence or plantings cross into parkland, the Metro District may require removal or relocation. Survey before you build, and review the HRCA covenant guidance for style and maintenance standards.

Trees, roots, and overhangs

You can typically trim branches up to the boundary on your side. Tree ownership and any special protections depend on the exact location and governing rules. If a tree sits in park soil or protected open space, contact the Metro District before cutting.

Drainage, grading, and stormwater

Easements and local policies often limit grading near parcel edges. If your project could affect runoff toward trails, ponds, or open space, confirm rules with the county and HRCA, and consider a survey to map easements accurately.

Adverse possession myths near public land

Colorado recognizes adverse possession in some cases, but rights do not ripen against government-owned land. Long use of a strip next to Cheese Ranch does not create ownership. See the statute for details: Colorado adverse possession law.

Quick homeowner checklist

• Find your deed and any ALTA or closing survey.
• Use the Douglas County parcel viewer to compare your lot and the park parcel.
• Pull the recorded plat and check for easements or dedications along your edge.
• Review HRCA covenants for fence and improvement rules.
• Hire a Colorado PLS before building near the boundary.
• If you adjoin parkland, confirm the line with the Highlands Ranch Metro District.
• If a dispute arises, consider mediation and consult your title company and a Colorado real estate attorney.

Local resources

• Cheese Ranch listing and park info: Highlands Ranch Metro District
• Parcel maps and assessor data: Douglas County Assessor maps (Assessor phone: 303-660-7450)
• Recorded deeds, plats, and easements: Douglas County Clerk & Recorder
• Plat records and survey functions: Douglas County Surveyor
• Verify a surveyor: Colorado PLS licensing
• HRCA covenants and improvements: HRCA covenant guidance

Ready to make a smart move near Cheese Ranch or sort out a boundary question before you list? Tap our neighborhood experience for practical guidance, vetted surveyor referrals, and a calm plan to the finish line. Connect with Pinette Realty Group, LLC to get started.

FAQs

How do I tell if my Highlands Ranch lot backs directly to Cheese Ranch?

• Compare your parcel to the park parcel using the Douglas County parcel maps, then pull the recorded plat and ask the Metro District parks staff to confirm the exact park boundary.

Do county GIS parcel maps count as a legal survey in Douglas County?

• No. The parcel viewer is a helpful reference, but only a Colorado Professional Land Surveyor can establish or reestablish boundaries; verify credentials via Colorado PLS licensing.

What is a plat or easement, and why do they matter near the park?

• A plat is the recorded map of your subdivision lot; an easement grants limited rights for uses like trails, utilities, or drainage. Find them through the Douglas County Clerk & Recorder.

Can I move my fence to the edge of the mowed area by the trail?

• Not without confirming the boundary, checking easements, and reviewing HRCA rules. Survey before building and contact the Metro District if the fence would be near or on parkland.

Does long-term use of a strip next to Cheese Ranch give me ownership?

• No. Adverse possession does not apply against government-owned land; see Colorado adverse possession law.