Legal Certainty over Land Boundaries: a Field Study of Re-Measurement Practices at Bpn Yogyakarta City and Sleman

Land boundary disputes remain a persistent challenge in land administration across Indonesia, particularly when physical markers disappear or inconsistencies arise between legal documents and on-site conditions. This study explores the legal and practical aspects of re-measuring land parcels or, in practice, redefining boundaries as an effort to uphold legal certainty in the cities of Yogyakarta and Sleman Regency.Using a normative-empirical approach, field data were collected through interviews with officials from the local offices of the National Land Agency (BPN). The findings reveal a distinct divergence in interpretation: Yogyakarta still refers to the process as a “re-measurement,” following technical guidelines under Ministerial Regulation No. 1 of 2010. In contrast, Sleman no longer recognizes the term “re-measurement,” opting instead for a consensus-based boundary redefinition, citing legal prudence and risk mitigation.Despite using modern surveying tools and formal documentation, both regions face similar obstacles absent neighbors, missing boundary markers, and even post-measurement legal disputes. This study highlights how the concept of legal certainty must not only rest on regulatory compliance but also accommodate social realities on the ground. Drawing from Gustav Radbruch’s theory, the paper argues that true legal certainty in land matters requires a balance between the rule of law, fairness, and practical usefulness.