Field jurors; appointment

Marking out is generally carried out by the state surveying authorities. Bylaws may stipulate that the field jurors participate in the demarcation of the properties. If boundary markers are set in the process, the field jurors shall contribute their secret mark (seven-person secret). This does not relieve the authority responsible for the demarcation of the responsibility for the correct and proper placement of the markers.

Land surveyors may search for and uncover boundary markers once they have been set, if a landowner so requests.

Furthermore, under certain conditions, land surveyors may carry out boundary demarcation work on their own authority and responsibility:

• If a landowner so requests, the field jurors may erect or replace boundary signs, raise or lower boundary signs and secure endangered boundary signs.
• If all the landowners concerned agree, the field jurors may re-erect any missing boundary markers.
  When re-erecting and setting up boundary markers, the field jurors must ensure that the original position of the boundary points is determined with centimetre precision on the basis of the secret marks (the ‘seven-man secret’) or other documents.

The field assessors draw up a report on the boundary marking, which in itself constitutes an administrative act. This report is sent to the relevant Office for Digitalisation, Broadband and Surveying for safekeeping.

Applications for boundary marking by field assessors may be submitted to the relevant local authority (or, in the case of unincorporated areas, to the relevant district office) or to the relevant chair of the field assessors. The applicable expense allowance (in accordance with the current schedule of fees) will be invoiced.

The chairman of the field jury accepts reports of the loss of or damage to boundary markers and assigns the field jurors to duty. He can be contacted via the respective municipality or the district office.

By order of the mayor, the field jurors carry out boundary inspections. The landowners are notified of any defects in boundary markers found during boundary inspections and the mayor is notified of any defects in municipal boundary markers.