Key points
- Boundary marking for land registration (التحديد) is a stage of the land registration procedure: it is directed by the land registrar (conservateur de la propriété foncière) and neighbouring owners are summoned to it.
- For land that is already titled, the registration is not redone: the boundary markers are reinstated on the basis of the title plan (plan foncier) annexed to the land title.
- The delimitation of landed property is the remit of the surveying engineer (ingénieur géomètre-topographe) entered on the roll of the Order (ONIGT), under Law No. 30-93.
- For titled land, it is the land title and its title plan, tied to the geodetic network, that are authoritative, not a wall, a hedge or custom.
- In the event of encroachment, measurement comes first; then an amicable agreement or, failing that, legal action with the help of a lawyer.
- Destroying or moving land registration boundary markers is punishable: the dahir on land registration refers to Article 606 of the Criminal Code.
Two situations not to be confused
In Morocco, the word “bornage” (boundary marking) refers to two different operations. Confusing them wastes time and sometimes leads people to knock on the wrong door.
Boundary marking for land registration (التحديد) is part of the procedure that turns untitled land (held, for example, under a melkia (customary ownership deed)) into a land title (الرسم العقاري). It takes place after a registration application (réquisition d'immatriculation, مطلب التحفيظ) has been filed with the land registry (conservation foncière). It is a public operation, governed by the dahir of 12 August 1913 on land registration, as amended in particular by Law No. 14-07.
Boundary marker reinstatement (rétablissement de bornes) concerns land that is already titled. The boundaries were already set at the time of registration, or of a later plot division, and appear on the title plan annexed to the land title. The aim is not to redefine the boundary, but to find it again on the ground and to replace missing or doubtful boundary markers.
Example: inherited land near Fez, titled long ago, two of whose boundary markers disappeared during farm work. This is not a new registration: it is a boundary marker reinstatement based on the title plan.
Boundary marking in the land registration procedure
After the application has been filed, the land registrar publishes an extract in the Official Bulletin, then sets the date and time of the boundary marking (Article 17 of the dahir). The notice is sent to the court of first instance, the local authority and the municipal council, which post it; the local authority also has it announced in the markets within its area (Article 18).
Under Article 19, the land registrar directs the boundary marking operations, the performance of which is delegated to a sworn surveying engineer of the cadastre, entered on the ONIGT roll. The registrar personally summons:
- the applicant for registration;
- the neighbouring owners named in the application;
- the interveners and holders of real rights who have duly made themselves known.
On site, the applicant indicates the boundaries claimed, the neighbouring owners make their observations and challenges, and the engineer places the boundary markers and draws up a boundary marking sketch (Article 20). A boundary marking report (procès-verbal de bornage) describes how the operation went, the boundary markers, the boundaries, the documents produced and any agreements reached; the parties sign it or their refusal is recorded (Article 21). An objection may also be lodged with the engineer during the operation (Article 25).
If the applicant is absent, no operation takes place. The application is then deemed void if the applicant does not present a valid excuse within one month of the formal notice sent to them (Articles 22 and 23). Once the boundary marking has been carried out, a notice of completion of boundary marking (avis de clôture du bornage) is published in the Official Bulletin; objections may be lodged for two months from this publication (Articles 23 and 24).
Boundary markers are fixed reference points, made of dressed stone, cement or another material complying with the regulations, marked with the letters “I.F”, and both their supply and their installation are borne by the applicant (Article 20 of Decree No. 2-13-18 of 14 July 2014). The title plan is tied to the nearest points of the geodetic network (Article 21 of the same decree). For the full procedure, see our guide to land registration.
Who can act on boundaries?
Law No. 30-93 (Dahir No. 1-94-126 of 25 February 1994) entrusts the surveying engineer (IGT), in their own name and under their own responsibility, with the studies, operations, plans and documents relating in particular to cadastral surveys and to “the delimitation of landed property” (Article 1). Its Article 3 specifies that no one may practise this profession or bear this title unless entered on the roll of the National Order of Surveying Engineers (ONIGT).
In practice, a technician, a builder or a neighbour with a tape measure cannot establish a boundary that is enforceable against others. The ONIGT in fact lists boundary marker reinstatement among the IGT's cadastral services. You can check an engineer's registration on the [roll published by the Order](https://onigt.org/onigt-tableau.php).
Other professionals keep their own role: the land registrar keeps the land title and enters rights; the notary, the adoul (notary under Islamic law) or the lawyer draw up deeds and advise on the law; the judge settles disputes. The surveying engineer measures, physically marks and documents boundaries.
How a boundary marker reinstatement is carried out
For titled land, the work generally follows these steps:
- Gathering documents: a recent certificate of ownership (certificat de propriété), a copy of the title plan and, if possible, the original technical file. The title plan can be ordered online on the ANCFCC website (“E-Plan cadastral” service).
- Locating reference points: the engineer ties the measurements to the geodetic points and to the boundary markers still in place, and checks that the existing boundary markers do match the plan.
- Calculation and setting-out: the position of the missing boundary markers is calculated from the coordinates or dimensions on the plan, then physically marked on the ground.
- Findings in the presence of the neighbours: it is strongly advised to inform the neighbouring owners and invite them to attend the operation; their presence prevents many disputes.
- Deliverables: a signed reinstatement plan showing the boundary markers found, the boundary markers replaced and, where applicable, the discrepancies observed (wall, fence or building outside the boundary).
If the operation reveals a difference between the situation on the ground and the land title, the engineer records it and quantifies it; the engineer does not “correct” it on their own initiative. Changing a titled boundary requires a deed and formalities at the land registry (plot division, transfer of a parcel, updating of the land title). See also our page Boundaries and neighbours.
What is authoritative: the land title and its plan
Under Article 62 of the dahir on land registration, the land title is final and cannot be challenged. The title plan, checked and signed by the cadastre department, is annexed to the land title (Article 21 of Decree No. 2-13-18) and transferred onto the cadastral map (Article 22). It is this plan, with its coordinates tied to the geodetic network, that serves as the reference for finding a boundary again.
Two practical consequences:
- A wall or a hedge does not make the boundary. A fence built in the wrong place, even years ago, does not move the registered boundary.
- Time does not work in the occupier's favour. Article 63 of the dahir provides that prescription cannot give rise to the acquisition of any real right over registered property against the registered owner.
For untitled land, the situation is different: the melkia often describes the boundaries by the names of the neighbours or by natural features, and it is the boundary marking for land registration that will set the boundary. See Melkia or land title. To understand the difference between the title plan and the cadastral plan, see our guide to the cadastral plan.
Older title plans do not all offer the same accuracy as recent ones. Where coordinates are missing or imprecise, the engineer has to rely on the dimensions on the plan, the neighbouring boundary markers and the adjoining land titles; all the more reason to call on a registered professional.
Encroachment, disagreement with a neighbour, moved boundary markers
A disagreement over a boundary almost always begins with a question of fact: where does the boundary of the land title lie? Have it measured first. A plan signed by a surveying engineer, drawn up from the official documents, turns a war of words into a quantified finding.
After that, several routes exist. What follows is general guidance, not legal advice: for any litigation, consult a lawyer.
- Amicable agreement: often, a neighbour acting in good faith agrees to move a fence back once the plan is in hand. If the agreement changes the boundary (transfer of a strip of land, exchange), it must be formalised by a deed drawn up by an authorised professional, accompanied by a technical file, then entered at the land registry.
- Court-appointed expert assessment: in the event of a lawsuit, the court may appoint a court expert, governed by Law No. 45-00 on court experts, to take measurements and give a technical opinion. The judge alone decides.
- Legal action: it is brought before the competent court, in principle with a lawyer, who will choose the procedure suited to your situation.
Moved or destroyed boundary markers. Article 105 of the dahir on land registration provides that the destruction, damaging or moving of geodetic reference points and land registration boundary markers is punishable by the penalties laid down in Article 606 of the Criminal Code, in addition to reimbursement of the reinstatement costs. Article 105 bis also punishes obstructing a boundary marking operation. If you find that markers have been deliberately moved, first have the situation on site recorded by a professional, then seek a lawyer's advice before filing any complaint.
Note: Law No. 45-00 is due to be replaced by Law No. 01-24 on court-appointed experts, adopted by Parliament in 2026; check which text applies on the date of your proceedings.
Documents to prepare and costs
Before contacting a surveying engineer, gather:
- the land title or application number, and a recent certificate of ownership;
- a copy of the title plan, if you already have it;
- the deed of acquisition, the deed of inheritance or the melkia for untitled land;
- the neighbours' contact details, if you wish to invite them to the operation;
- photos of the remaining boundary markers, fences and disputed buildings;
- any previous plan, report or letter concerning the boundary.
There is no single price for a boundary marker reinstatement. It depends mainly on the number of boundary markers to be reinstated, the size and accessibility of the land, the age and quality of the title plan, the distance to usable geodetic points, the terrain and vegetation, the supply of the boundary markers and whether a detailed plan is needed for a dispute. For boundary marking for land registration, land registry fees are added, calculated according to the scale in force.
Ask for a written quote specifying what is included: number of boundary markers, deliverables, presence of the neighbours, travel. Ellipsoide, in Fez, carries out this type of work; you can describe your situation to us via the Request a quote page.
Frequently asked questions
My neighbour refuses to attend the boundary marker reinstatement. Does that block it?
No. For titled land, the boundary is the one on the title plan, and the engineer can find it again in the neighbour's absence. Their presence is still advisable, as it makes an agreement easier. In the event of a dispute, the signed plan can be produced before a court expert or a court.
Can an engineer move the boundary if my neighbour and I agree?
Not by a simple measurement. Changing a titled boundary amounts to transferring part of the land: it requires a deed, a technical file drawn up by a surveying engineer and an entry at the land registry.
My land is held under a melkia. Can I have it “marked out” without registering it?
An engineer can survey the land and physically mark the boundaries described or agreed, which is useful before a purchase or a division. But only boundary marking for land registration, directed by the land registrar with neighbouring owners summoned and public notice given, results in boundaries guaranteed by a land title.
My neighbour's wall has been on my land for twenty years. Has he acquired that strip?
If the land is titled, Article 63 of the dahir on land registration provides that prescription does not give rise to the acquisition of any real right against the registered owner. For what to do next, have a plan drawn up, then consult a lawyer.
What is the notice of completion of boundary marking?
It is the notice published in the Official Bulletin after boundary marking for land registration. It opens a two-month period during which anyone claiming a right over the land may lodge an objection with the land registry (Article 24 of the dahir). These notices can also be consulted on the “Publicité foncière” (land registration notices) service of the ANCFCC website (see our guide to online services).
Official sources
- Dahir of 9 Ramadan 1331 (12 August 1913) on land registration, as amended and supplemented (in particular by Law No. 14-07), Articles 17 to 25, 62, 63, 105 and 105 bis — Ministry of Justice (adala.justice.gov.ma)
- Decree No. 2-13-18 of 16 Ramadan 1435 (14 July 2014) on the formalities of land registration, Articles 20 to 22 — National Agency for Land Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (ANCFCC)
- Law No. 30-93 on the practice of the profession of surveying engineer and establishing the National Order of Surveying Engineers, Articles 1 and 3 — Ministry of Justice (adala.justice.gov.ma)
- The IGT's professions: cadastral services (including boundary marker reinstatement) — National Order of Surveying Engineers (ONIGT)
- Roll of the Order (check a surveying engineer's registration) — National Order of Surveying Engineers (ONIGT)
- Dahir No. 1-01-126 promulgating Law No. 45-00 on court experts — Ministry of Justice (adala.justice.gov.ma)
- E-Plan cadastral service (online ordering of the plan) — ANCFCC
This guide provides general information, up to date as of the date shown. It does not replace the official texts or a professional review of your file. Ask us about your situation.