Protect Your Land: How to Install Boundary Markers to Avoid Disputes

Land disputes often stem from unclear ownership boundaries. Many landowners fail to install physical boundary markers, making them vulnerable to shifts or unilateral claims. To address this issue and ensure legal certainty, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) is intensifying the Gemapatas programme for installing land boundary markers. This programme is not merely advisory but a crucial requirement in the land certification process. Head of Public Relations and Protocol at the Ministry of ATR/BPN, Shamy Ardian, stated that boundary markers, commonly known as patok, offer numerous benefits. “Why must land boundaries be maintained? We need to safeguard land boundaries to prevent conflicts with neighbours, protect ownership rights, facilitate sales and inheritance, and avoid legal problems,” Shamy said, as quoted by Kompas.com on Monday (23/3/2026). Shamy explained that determining the location and boundaries of land is an essential requirement in the land parcel measurement process for registration purposes. This is regulated under Government Regulation No. 24 of 1997 on Land Registration. Installing markers cannot be done arbitrarily. There are several stages and requirements that must be met. Before installing markers, landowners must coordinate and obtain approval from directly adjacent neighbours. This is important to avoid disputes from the outset. The approval process should ideally be done in writing or witnessed by the local RT/RW head. Landowners can perform independent measurements based on information from old certificates or other documents. However, official measurements must still be conducted by BPN officials. The markers used must be strong and durable. Therefore, the use of concrete markers, iron pipes, or sturdy planted ulin wood is recommended. Markers must be installed at every corner of the land boundary. After the markers are installed and approved by neighbours, BPN officials will visit the site to conduct official measurements.