diff --git a/skimage/measure/fit.py b/skimage/measure/fit.py
index 8fde1ca2..59750940 100644
--- a/skimage/measure/fit.py
+++ b/skimage/measure/fit.py
@@ -94,24 +94,6 @@ class LineModel(BaseModel):
 
         return dist - (x * math.cos(theta) + y * math.sin(theta))
 
-    @classmethod
-    def is_degenerate(cls, data):
-        """Check whether set of points is degenerate.
-
-        Parameters
-        ----------
-        data : (N, 2) array
-            N points with `(x, y)` coordinates, respectively.
-
-        Returns
-        -------
-        flag : bool
-            Flag indicating if data is degenerate.
-
-        """
-
-        return data.shape[0] < 2
-
     def predict_x(self, y, params=None):
         """Predict x-coordinates using the estimated model.
 
@@ -246,24 +228,6 @@ class CircleModel(BaseModel):
 
         return r - np.sqrt((x - xc)**2 + (y - yc)**2)
 
-    @classmethod
-    def is_degenerate(cls, data):
-        """Check whether set of points is degenerate.
-
-        Parameters
-        ----------
-        data : (N, 2) array
-            N points with `(x, y)` coordinates, respectively.
-
-        Returns
-        -------
-        flag : bool
-            Flag indicating if data is degenerate.
-
-        """
-
-        return data.shape[0] < 3
-
     def predict_xy(self, t, params=None):
         """Predict x- and y-coordinates using the estimated model.
 
@@ -450,24 +414,6 @@ class EllipseModel(BaseModel):
 
         return residuals
 
-    @classmethod
-    def is_degenerate(cls, data):
-        """Check whether set of points is degenerate.
-
-        Parameters
-        ----------
-        data : (N, 2) array
-            N points with `(x, y)` coordinates, respectively.
-
-        Returns
-        -------
-        flag : bool
-            Flag indicating if data is degenerate.
-
-        """
-
-        return data.shape[0] < 5
-
     def predict_xy(self, t, params=None):
         """Predict x- and y-coordinates using the estimated model.
 
diff --git a/skimage/transform/_geometric.py b/skimage/transform/_geometric.py
index 54b0cb61..1ff8e9d5 100644
--- a/skimage/transform/_geometric.py
+++ b/skimage/transform/_geometric.py
@@ -41,28 +41,6 @@ class GeometricTransform(object):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
-    @classmethod
-    def is_degenerate(cls, src, dst):
-        """Check whether set of points is degenerate.
-
-        Parameters
-        ----------
-        src : (N, 2) array
-            Source coordinates.
-        dst : (N, 2) array
-            Destination coordinates.
-
-        Returns
-        -------
-        flag : bool
-            Flag indicating if data is degenerate.
-
-        """
-
-        # by default never degenerate since system equations can be under-,
-        # well- and over-determined.
-        return False
-
     def residuals(self, src, dst):
         """Determine residuals of transformed destination coordinates.