Federal Geographic Data Committee

Department of Agriculture ? Department of Commerce ? Department of Defense ? Department of Energy

Department of Housing and Urban Development ? Department of the Interior ? Department of State

Department of Transportation ? Environmental Protection Agency

Federal Emergency Management Agency ? Library of Congress

National Aeronautics and Space Administration ? National Archives and Records Administration

Tennessee Valley Authority

Cadastral Data Content Standard 

for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure

VERSION 1.4 – Fourth Revision

Subcommittee on Cadastral Data

Federal Geographic Data Committee

May 2008
ii

Federal Geographic Data Committee

Established by Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16, the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) 

promotes the coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination of geographic data.

The FGDC is composed of representatives from the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, 

Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, State, and Transportation; the Environmental Protection Agency; the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency; the Library of Congress; the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration; the National Archives and Records Administration; and the Tennessee Valley Authority. 

Additional Federal agencies participate on FGDC subcommittees and working groups. The Department of the 

Interior chairs the committee.

FGDC subcommittees work on issues related to data categories coordinated under the circular. Subcommittees 

establish and implement standards for data content, quality, and transfer; encourage the exchange of information and 

the transfer of data; and organize the collection of geographic data to reduce duplication of effort. Working groups 

are established for issues that transcend data categories.

For more information about the FGDC please contact:

Federal Geographic Data Committee Secretariat

c/o U.S. Geological Survey

590 National Center

Reston, Virginia 22092

Telephone: (703) 648-5514

Facsimile: (703) 648-5755

Internet (electronic mail): gdc@usgs.gov

Anonymous FTP: ftp://www.fgdc.gov/pub/gdc/

World Wide Web: http://www.fgdc.gov/fgdc.html

For more information on this standard or to be notified of subcommittee activities please contact:

Bob Ader, BLM Cadastral Survey

MS CO955

2850 Youngfield Street

Lakewood Colorado 80215

Telephone: (303) 239-3817

Facsimile: (303) 239-3815

Internet (electronic mail): bob_ader@blm.gov

World Wide Web: http://www.nationalcad.org
iii

Preface to Version 1.4

This document was prepared using Microsoft Word 2005 and is published in Adobe Acrobat

version 5. 

This review draft version reflects comments and changes received through May 2008.

The Subcommittee on Cadastral Data thanks the agencies and individuals that contributed to the 

content and reviews of this standard and welcomes additional input and participation.
Cadastral Data Content Standard for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure – May 2008 – Version 1.4

iv

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

1. Introduction .........................................................................................................................1

1.1 Mission and Goals of Cadastral Data Content Standard .................................................... 2

1.2 Relationship to Existing Standards .....................................................................................3

1.3 Description of Standard ......................................................................................................3

1.4 Applicability and Intended Uses of Standard .....................................................................4

1.5 Standard Development Procedures .....................................................................................5

1.5.1 Participants ..............................................................................................................5

1.5.2 Comments and Reviews ..........................................................................................6

1.6 Maintenance of Standard .....................................................................................................6

1.7 Level of Compliance............................................................................................................7

Diagram Conventions

2. Introduction..........................................................................................................................9

2.1 Reading the Diagrams ..........................................................................................................9

2.1.1 Entities .......................................................................................................................9

2.1.2 Associations ...............................................................................................................9

2.1.3 Cardinality ................................................................................................................11

2.2 Attributes ...........................................................................................................................12

Entities and Attributes

3. Introduction .......................................................................................................................14

3.1 Entity Relationship Diagrams ...........................................................................................14

3.2 Entity and Attribute Definitions ........................................................................................20

AGENT .............................................................................................................................21

ANGLE..............................................................................................................................22

CIRCULAR CURVE ........................................................................................................23

CORNER ...........................................................................................................................24

CORNER POINT .............................................................................................................25

COORDINATE REFERENCE .........................................................................................26

COORDINATE VALUE...................................................................................................28

GEOPOLTICAL AREA....................................................................................................31

GEOPOLTICAL LEGAL AREA......................................................................................32

INDIVIDUAL....................................................................................................................33

LEGAL AREA CORNER .................................................................................................34

LEGAL AREA DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................36

LEGAL AREA RECORD BOUNDARY .........................................................................37

ORGANIZATION ............................................................................................................38

OTHER CURVE ..............................................................................................................39

OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF BLOCK ...................................................................40

OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF BLOCK PARCEL ...................................................41
Cadastral Data Content Standard for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure – May 2008 – Version 1.4

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OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF DESCRIPTION ........................................................42

PARCEL ..........................................................................................................................43

PARCEL AREA ...............................................................................................................45

PARCEL LEGAL AREA .................................................................................................46

PARCEL RECORD BOUNDARY ..................................................................................47

PARCEL RIGHT ..............................................................................................................48

PARCEL TRANSACTION ..............................................................................................49

PUBLIC AGENCY ...........................................................................................................50

PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM DESCRIPTION ...................................................51

PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM TOWNSHIP .........................................................53

PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM TOWNSHIP FIRST DIVISION ..........................55

PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM TOWNSHIP SECOND DIVISION .....................56

PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM TOWNSHIP THIRD DIVISION .........................57

RECORD BOUNDARY ...................................................................................................58

RECORD BOUNDARY CORNER POINT......................................................................61

RECORD BOUNDARY OFFSET ...................................................................................62

RESTRICTION .................................................................................................................63

RIGHT AND INTEREST .................................................................................................64

RIGHT TRANSACTION .................................................................................................67

SOURCE............................................................................................................................68

STRAIGHT LINE .............................................................................................................69

SURVEY SYSTEM DESCRIPTION ...............................................................................70

SURVEY SYSTEM FIRST DIVISION ...........................................................................71

SURVEY SYSTEM SECOND DIVISION ......................................................................72

SURVEY SYSTEM THIRD DIVISION ..........................................................................73

TRANSACTION AGENT ................................................................................................74

TRANSACTION DOCUMENT........................................................................................75

3.3 Bibliography and References ...........................................................................................78

3.4 Explanatory Notes .............................................................................................................80

Appendices

Appendix 1: Informative Appendix 1, Corner Classification Domain .........................................82

Appendix 2: Informative Appendix 2, Ownership Type Domain .................................................87

Appendix 3: Informative Appendix 3, Survey System Domain....................................................90

Appendix 4: Informative Appendix 4, Source Type Domain........................................................95

Appendix 5: Informative Appendix 5, References for Marine Cadastral Boundaries.................107
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1. Introduction

The Federal Geographic Data Committee was established by Office of Management and 

Budget Circular A-16 to promote the coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination 

of geographic data.

The Federal Geographic Data Committee is composed of representatives from the 

Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, the 

Interior, State, and Transportation; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency; the Library of Congress; the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration; the National Archives and Records Administration; and the Tennessee Valley 

Authority. Additional Federal agencies participate on Federal Geographic Data Committee 

subcommittees and working groups. The Department of the Interior chairs the Subcommittee on 

Cadastral Data.

Federal Geographic Data Committee subcommittees work on issues related to data 

categories coordinated under the circular. Subcommittees establish and implement standards for 

data content, quality, and transfer; encourage the exchange of information and the transfer of 

data; and organize the collection of geographic data to reduce duplication of effort. Working 

groups are established for issues that transcend data categories.

For more information on this standard or to be notified of subcommittee activities please contact:

Bob Ader, BLM Cadastral Survey

MS CO955

2850 Youngfield Street

Lakewood Colorado 80215

Telephone: (303) 239-3817

Facsimile: (303) 239-3815

Internet (electronic mail): bob_ader@blm.gov

World Wide Web: http://www.nationalcad.org

The following is the recommended bibliographic citation for this publication: Federal 

Geographic Data Committee, 2008, Cadastral Data Content Standard for the National Spatial 

Data Infrastructure, Version 1.4, Subcommittee on Cadastral Data, Reston, Virginia.
Cadastral Data Content Standard for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure - May 2008 – Version 1.4

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1.1 Mission and Goals of Cadastral Data Content Standard 

The FGDC Standard Reference Model defines data content standards as standards that 

provide semantic definitions of a set of objects. Data content standards may be organized and 

presented in a data model such as an entity-relationship model. The Cadastral Data Content 

Standard provides semantic definitions of objects related to land surveying, land records, and 

landownership information. 

The mission of the Subcommittee on Cadastral Data for the Cadastral Data Content 

Standard is: 

To provide a standard for the definition and structure for cadastral data which will 

facilitate data sharing at all levels of government and the private sector and will protect 

and enhance the investments in cadastral data at all levels of government and the private 

sector.

Cadastral data are defined as the geographic extent of the past, current, and future rights 

and interests in real property including the spatial information necessary to describe that 

geographic extent. Rights and interests are the benefits or enjoyment in real property that can be 

conveyed, transferred, or otherwise allocated to another for economic remuneration. Rights and 

interests are recorded in land record documents. The spatial information necessary to describe 

rights and interests includes surveys and legal description frameworks such as the Public Land 

Survey System, as well as parcel-by-parcel surveys and descriptions.

The goals for Cadastral Data Content Standard are:

1. To provide common definitions for cadastral information found in public records, which will 

facilitate the effective use, understanding, and automation of land records,

2. To provide suggested attribute values, which will enhance data sharing,

3. To resolve discrepancies related to the use of homonyms and synonyms in federal land record 

systems, which will minimize duplication within and among those systems,

4. To provide guidance and direction for land records and land surveying professionals on 

standardized definitions, which will improve land records, automation, management, and use, 

and
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5. To use participatory involvement in the standard development to reach out to non-federal 

organizations that will encourage broadly based application of the standard.

1.2 Relationship to Existing Standards

The Cadastral Data Content Standard integrates with existing standards as much as possible. As 

examples, Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Publications were used where 

possible. All geospatial metadata requirements for this standard conform to the Federal 

Geographic Data Committee's Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD001-1998

Other interagency standards, such as the US Geological Survey and Bureau of Land 

Management Public Land Survey System meridian definitions, were adopted where appropriate. 

 This conserved the investment the agencies had in existing automated data and met the 

requirements of OMB Circular A-119, which mandates the use of existing standards wherever 

possible. Additionally, many local and state government standards were reviewed for inclusion. 

In some cases neither interagency nor intergovernmental standards existed. In these 

cases The Cadastral Data Content Standard could be adopted for interagency and 

intergovernmental acceptance and use. The definitions were written to accommodate as many 

requirements as possible. 

There were other cases where there is overlap with other Federal Geographic Data 

Committee Subcommittees. The need for standards for Geopolitical entities, addresses, agency 

names, and private organizations are being handled by other FGDC Subcommittees. As other 

Federal Geographic Data Committee Subcommittees complete standards the linkages will be 

completed. 

This update to the standard, May 2003 Version 1.3 updates the May 2002 Version 1.2 

and the April 1999 Version 1.1. This version corrects language, expands definitions and clarifies 

attributes and suggested domains of values.

1.3 Description of Standard

The Cadastral Data Content Standard forms the basis for automating the legal elements of 

cadastral data found in public records. The standard defines attributes or elements that are in 

landownership related documents. It provides suggested domains for many elements and 

provides an interagency definition for each element. These two standardization efforts, domains 

and definitions, should increase the uniformity of cadastral records. 

The standard does not limit or filter the information that can be included. Cadastral 

information in the public record is modeled, defined and included. For example many types of 

legal descriptions such as metes and bounds, subdivision plats and the Public Land Survey 

System (PLSS) are included in the model and definitions. This does not mean that every 
Cadastral Data Content Standard for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure - May 2008 – Version 1.4

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implementation of the standard has to include every entity and attribute; conversely, the standard 

provides relationships, definitions and attributes to be considered for automation

The standard contains sufficient information to convert record information to a common 

basis. For example, while it is possible to automate distances that have any unit of measure, the 

original measurements units must be indicated in a legal cadastre. This requirement adds a 

significant number of attributes to the standard. Within these added attributes there is an attempt 

to provide suggested domains of values to support future data conversions and migrations. 

These suggested domains are by no means an exhaustive list and additional or expanded domains 

are encouraged. The term suggested domain does not intend to indicate that this is a 

standardized list of domains.

The rules and specifications for automating cadastral information into the standard 

depend in part on the information contained in the landownership records. That is, it is not 

possible to automate information that is not available, but all information that is available could 

be automated. For example, if a parcel is described in a deed as Lot 2 of Green Acre Subdivision 

in Badger County and the bearings and distances around the parcel are not included in the deed, 

then it is not possible to automate the perimeter measurements from this deed.

Other rules for putting data into the standard are based on data integrity. One type of 

integrity is that information can be referenced to a source document. Another type of integrity 

maintains the relationships among the entities and attributes. For example, the relationship 

between parcels and boundaries is a many to many relationship meaning that a boundary can be a 

part of many parcels and a parcel can have many boundaries.

1.4 Applicability and Intended Uses of Standard

The Cadastral Data Content Standard is intended to support the automation and 

integration of publicly available land records information. It is intended to be useable by all 

levels of government and the private sector. The standard contains the standardization of the 

definition of entities and objects related to cadastral information including survey measurements, 

transactions related to interests in land, general property descriptions, and boundary and corner 

evidence data. Any or all of these applications are intended to be supported by the standard.

The intended geographic scope of the standard is all fifty states of the United States 

including all onshore cadastral as well as marine cadastral information. Applicability of this 

standard in other geographic areas and business processes, such as the Insular Areas of the 

United States has not been determined. Additions to this standard for other geographic areas and 

business processes will be determined through the maintenance procedures described in Section 

1.6 of this document.

The standard is not intended to reflect an implementation design. An implementation 

design requires adapting the structure and form of these definitions to meet application 

requirements.
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The standard can be implemented as a stand-alone data system for measurement based 

systems, for transactional information, or as an attribute data system connected to a geographic 

information system. The standard does not contain the spatial and topological linkages and 

spatial features required to build and maintain a geographic information system. 

The FGDC Data Content Standard does not guide the procedures or processes for land 

surveys. Survey standards enunciated in the Bureau of Land Management Manual of Survey 

Instructions (the Manual) provide the standards governing surveys of Federal land interest. This 

means that surveys of Federal lands interest conforming to the Manual will be binding on the 

Federal Government; any survey of Federal lands interest not conforming to the Manual will not 

be binding on the Federal government and no Federal funds will be expended on any survey of 

Federal lands interest not conducted in conformance with the Manual. Similarly surveys and 

survey procedures on non-federal public lands and privately held lands interest will conform to 

governing state laws.

1.5 Standard Development Procedures

1.5.1 Participants 

The table below lists the members of the Subcommittee on Cadastral Data who participated in 

the original standard development. 

 Name Agency

Linda Brooks

Patrick Carroll

Michael Domaratz

Jeff Egan

Theresa Ely

John Guthrie

Paula Langley

Steve McDevitt

Dennis Moonier

Yvonne Morehouse

David Moyer

Richard Naito

Denise Perreca

Thomas Phelps

Louise Precosky

Randy Roberts

Paul Rogers

Gary Speight

Lee Thormahlen

Margaret Watry

Bureau of Land Management

Fish and Wildlife Service

FGDC Secretariat

Tri-Services Technology Center

Bureau of Land Management

USGS National Mapping Division

Bureau of Land Management

US Army Corps of Engineers

US Forest Service

Minerals Management Service

National Geodetic Survey

Minerals Management Service

USGS National Mapping Division

Naval Facilities Engineering

Bureau of Land Management

US Army Corps of Engineers

Minerals Management Service

Bureau of Land Management

Minerals Management Service

US Forest Service

The Technical Advisory Group was assisted by Nancy von Meyer, Fairview Industries. John 

Moeller, Bureau of Land Management, chaired the Subcommittee on Cadastral Data during the 
Cadastral Data Content Standard for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure - May 2008 – Version 1.4

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initial standard development. Don Buhler and Bob Ader co-chaired the Subcommittee during the 

development of this version.

In addition to these participants, representatives from the National Association of Counties 

(NACo), the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) and the International 

Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) have participated as members of the Cadastral 

Subcommittee since the standard development. Current subcommittee members are listed on the 

web page at http://www.nationalcad.org

1.5.2 Comments and Reviews

A review was conducted of cadastral and land records related data and data standards 

from participating federal agencies. This review indicated there was significant duplication in 

collection activities and inconsistent standards for coding and definitions of cadastral related data 

among federal agencies. A comparison of the results from the federal agencies and similar 

information from selected counties indicated that there was a significant volume of cadastral data 

collected and maintained in local governments that state and federal agencies could use, if there 

were standards in place. 

As the standard developed, draft versions were circulated among federal agencies and 

interested parties outside the federal government. Articles were published in various land 

professional and geographic information systems association newsletters describing the standard 

and asking for input. Open forums were held at several national and regional conferences. 

Groups consisting of representatives from county government, data conversion businesses, state 

agencies, and local agencies have participated in follow up seminars and discussions in states 

from Florida to Alaska. The results of review sessions were incorporated into the standard.

In March 1994 Version 1 of the standard was released for comment and review. Copies 

were mailed to over 500 potential reviewers from all levels of government, academia and the 

private sector. Fifty-two responses were received on Version 1 of the Cadastral Data Content 

Standard. Each response and comment was numbered, read, discussed, and answered. A 

document was produced summarizing all comments and responses. 

In September 1994 Version 2 of the standard was completed and submitted to the FGDC. 

 The FGDC released the document for public comment and announced a review period of 

January 1995 to May 31, 1995 in the Federal Register. Over 1,000 copies were sent to potential 

reviewers and numerous requests were served through digital access. Twenty-seven documented 

comments were received by June 15, 1995. These comments were reviewed and incorporated 

into the standard. 

Revisions were done in April 1999 (Version 1.1), October 2002 (Version 1.2) May 3003 

(Version 1.3) and this revision (Version 1.4). These revisions have been based on comments 

generated through implementation and submission of maintenance requests. Most revisions have 

been updates to domains, clarifications and grammatical corrections. 
Cadastral Data Content Standard for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure - May 2008 – Version 1.4

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1.6 Maintenance of Standard

The Federal Geographic Data Committee, Subcommittee on Cadastral Data will manage 

the maintenance of the standard described in this document. The United States Department of 

the Interior - Bureau of Land Management - Geographic Sciences Team leads the Federal 

Geographic Data Committee Subcommittee on Cadastral Data. The Subcommittee expects a 

continuing maintenance process that will result in updates to domains of values as needed to 

meet user needs. 

Any user of the standard may submit requests for change. Requests shall contain:

Title

Date of Submission

Version number and date of the Standard

Page reference

A description of the problem (with an example, if possible)

The suggested change (with an example of its application)

Point of contact (name and address)

Requests shall be made to the FGDC Subcommittee on Cadastral Data. A World Wide Web site 

accessible through the Cadastral Subcommittee Home Page contains a form to assist with 

submitting change requests. http://www.nationalcad.org. 

This version of the standard reflects changes that have been submitted through the maintenance 

process, enhancements that have been identified through implementation, and verification of 

relationships through extensive testing.

1.7 Level of Compliance

The Cadastral Data Content Standard contains definitions of entities and attributes (with 

suggested domains of values) and relationships among attributes in the form of a logical data 

model. This model is a means of expressing the definition and relationship standards for 

cadastral data. The intent of the Standard is to provide a consistent and uniform means of 

communicating cadastral information in support of NSDI. 

The definition of compliance to a logical data model is nearly impossible because the 

measure of compliance has to do with how well a physical deployment matches a specific 

design. In the case of this standard, the data standard should be used in conjunction with business 

processes and decision support needs. For example, in some jurisdictions there are multiple 

monuments at corners while in other locations significant effort has been committed to 

establishing and maintaining a single monument for any corner. In these two cases, the first will 

use the three entities as described in this standard for a corner while the second would be able to 

collapse these three entities into one.
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The difficulty of defining compliance can also be seen in the domains of values. These 

are listed as suggested domains in this standard but clearly every jurisdiction will have their own 

domain of value needs.

The third compliance area might be the relationships among the various entities. Because 

this is a content standard with definitions and “true” or definitional relationships, the physical 

deployment of this standard will require denormalization for the effective operation of 

applications and the efficient management of data elements on a physical database.

Therefore, compliance with this standard is based on whether the definitions and logical 

content of the physical data matches the intent and definitions of the standard. For example, if a 

system contains record boundary information, does that information correspond to definitions of 

record boundary in the standard? This is a semantic test to ascertain that the definitions of 

entities in a physical model reflect the intent and definition of the entities in the standard. This is 

not an indication of a one to one match; it is a definitional and intent check. 

To support implementation, the Cadastral Subcommittee has developed standard 

abbreviations that can be used in all databases and applications. The abbreviations are six letters 

or numbers in length and are unique. The document containing the abbreviations is listed with 

this standard document on the subcommittee’s web page.
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2. Diagram Conventions - Introduction

The Cadastral Data Content Standard in this document is shown as an entity relationship 

diagram. Entity relationship diagrams illustrate the entities, their attributes, and their 

associations or relationships. 

The diagrams are not intended to be implementation as data models. Implementation 

requires modifying the data model to best fit the operating software. This process is called 

denormalization and is the process of combining entities into tables in a database that optimize 

the database operation.

The diagrams describe the definitions or semantics of cadastral information. Entity 

relationship diagrams are a shorthand method for showing the associations or relationships 

among various objects and hence the definitional relationships of the objects or features. The 

diagram conventions for the entity relationship diagram in the Cadastral Data Content Standard 

are described in the following sections.

2.1 Reading the Diagrams

The entity relationship diagram illustrates three components of an object definition: 

Entities, Associations, and Cardinality. All three are important to the semantic definition of the 

object in the standard. 

2.1.1 Entities 

A data entity is any object about which the organization chooses to collect data. 

Attributes are additional information about the entity. Entities and their attributes are defined in 

a data dictionary. 

Data entities are shown in boxes on the entity relationship diagram. In the Cadastral Data 

Content Standard the entity name is underlined and is the first item listed in the box. The entity 

attributes are listed below the entity name. The entities and their attributes are defined in Part 3 

of the Standard.

2.1.2 Associations 

Associations describe how the data entities are related to each other. The associations in 

the data model for this Standard are: one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many.

One-to-one association (1:1) means that, at a point in time, a given value of A has one 

and only one value of B. For example, one person has one social security number. The person 

and their social security number is a one-to-one association. Most one-to-one associations are 

described as a unique attribute of an entity. 
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One-to-many association (1:m) means that, at a point in time, item A could have an 

arbitrary number of items C associated with it. For example, a geodetic control mark may have 

many names or mark identifiers, such as the name stamped on the cap and location identifiers in 

a database. In this case the geodetic mark has a one-to-many association with its names and 

identifiers. 

Many-to-many associations (m:m) occur when, at a point in time, a given value is 

associated with many other values and the converse is also true. For example, one parcel can be 

located in many administrative districts such as fire, police, school, and emergency response. 

Conversely, one administrative district is composed of many parcels. 

Figure 2-1 illustrates the three associations described above. In Figure 2-1 the "crows 

foot" symbol indicates many and the single line indicates one. 

Figure 2-1 - Entities and Associations
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2.1.3 Cardinality

Cardinality in the context of this document means whether the association between the 

two entities is mandatory or optional. For example, a forest must have more than one tree, but a 

tree may be in a forest. Cardinality is the must and may. The cardinality aspects of the data 

model are shown as a circle for optional and a line for mandatory. The association between a 

forest and a tree with the cardinality is shown in Figure 2-2.

Figure 2-2 - Cardinality Example

In Figure 2-2 a line has been added to the many symbol and a circle has been added to the 

single symbol. The associations and their cardinality are read in a clockwise manner, which 

means the associations in Figure 2-2 are read as:

One tree may be within a forest.

One forest must contain many trees

The cardinality and association symbols used in the Standard are shown in Figure 2-3.

Figure 2-3 - Cardinality in the Standard
Cadastral Data Content Standard for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure – May 2008 – Version 1.4

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2.2 Attributes

Attributes are the properties and characteristics of entities. These are listed in the box 

with the entity name. In many entities the first attribute has a name that ends with an ID, such as 

Forest ID. This is an attribute that serves as an identifier for each unique record or entry in the 

entity and is called a primary key. An example of a completed model with the attributes is 

shown in Figure 2-4. To conform to the conventions described by the Geospatial One Stop 

initiative, a primary key assigner has been added to the main features or entities. This attribute 

contains the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and maintains the primary key. 

Combining the assigner designation with the primary key, should achieve a nationally unique 

key.

Figure 2-4 - Completed Data Model Tree and Forest

Another kind of attribute is a foreign key. A foreign key is a primary key from another 

entity that points to a record in the related entity. For example, Corner ID may be a primary key 

for an entity Corner and Boundary ID a primary key for an entity Boundary as shown in Figure 

2-5. The intersecting entity or relationship between Corner and Boundary is shown in Figure 2-5 

as the entity Corner Boundary. Within Corner Boundary are two foreign keys. The first is 

Corner ID that points to an entry in the Corner entity and the other is Boundary ID that points to 

an entry in Boundary. Again, this is shown in Figure 2-5. The entity Corner Boundary describes 

which corners are attached to which boundaries.

Note on foreign keys – The foreign keys are shown on the entity relationship diagram and 

are documented in the descriptions in this document. Foreign keys may not be needed in an 

implementation particularly in a geographic information system where relationships can be 

determined through spatial discovery and in a geographic information system or an object based 

system.
Cadastral Data Content Standard for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure – May 2008 – Version 1.4

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Figure 2-5 - Primary and Foreign Keys
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3. Entities and Attributes - Introduction 

This section describes the definitions for the entities and attributes in the Content Data 

Standard. Each entity has a definition and an accompanying set of attributes. The attributes 

have a definition and a suggested list of domain of values. 

The suggested domain of values does not include codes and minimizes the use of 

abbreviations. Abbreviations are only used for cardinal directions, such as N for North. In a 

physical implementation of this standard an organization may chose to use abbreviations or 

codes. The suggested domain of values provides a checklist for implementation and supports the 

definition of the attributes. In some cases, such as principal meridian, the standard provides the 

complete list of all known principal meridians with their legal name. 

Supplementary informative annexes for domains of values are provided for some of the 

suggested domains in the standard. 

An index for attributes is provided at the end of this section.

3.1 Entity Relationship Diagram

Figure 3-1 is a four-part entity relationship diagram for the entity and attribute 

definitions. The standard diagram has been broken into four parts to provide a more readable 

diagram in this document. Part 2 of the Standard describes how to read and understand the entity 

relationship diagram convention used in Figure 3-1. The diagrams in Figure 3.1 are also 

included in separate image documents on the Subcommittee web page. 

(http://www.nationalcad.org)
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Figure 3-1 - Entity and Relationship Definition Standard Entity Relationship Diagram -

Overview
Cadastral Data Content Standard for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure - May 2008 – Version 1.4

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Figure 3-1 Part 1 - Entity and Relationship Definition Standard Entity Relationship Diagram
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Figure 3-1 Part 2 - Entity and Relationship Definition Standard Entity Relationship Diagram
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Figure 3-1 Part 3 - Entity and Relationship Definition Standard Entity Relationship Diagram
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Figure 3-1 Part 4 - Entity and Relationship Definition Standard Entity Relationship Diagram
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3.2 Entity and Attribute Definitions

The Entity Relationship Diagram in Figure 3-1 illustrates the relationship among the 

attributes and entities in the Cadastral Data Content Standard. The following list is in 

alphabetical order by entity name. It contains definitions for entities and attributes as well as a 

suggested domain values for some attributes. 

In the implementation of this standard it is suggested that null or void entries for 

attributes be avoided, i.e. if an attribute has a value, the value should be entered. There are 

implementations where not specified means that the attribute has a value, but no value has not 

been filled in because it is not known. It is also possible to have a not applicable value for an 

attribute, which means this attribute is not applicable to this instance of the entity. This 

implementation is often used to clarify why an attribute value is null. The Origin of Public Land 

Survey System has two unique attribute values of not applicable and unspecified. These are 

included in this domain list to be compliant with existing information at the United States 

Geological Survey.

The references for definitions are noted. If there is no citation, the Subcommittee on 

Cadastral Data used a variety of agency and non-agency publications to derive a common 

definition. All references used for these definitions are included in the list of references.

Acronyms and initials have been removed as much as possible from all definitions. The 

exceptions are OCS for Outer Continental Shelf in the entity relationship diagram and OPD for 

Official Protraction Diagram. These initials were used since the people using this data are 

familiar with these identifications and the diagram size was more easily handled with the 

initialization.

Primary Keys are listed in most entities. In an implementation the primary key may be a 

sequential assigned non-intelligent key that is assigned by a computer system to track individual 

database records. It is standard database design practice to eliminate the intelligence, or attribute 

values, that are imbedded in a primary key. Another type of key, called a concatenated key, may 

be used in place of a primary key. A concatenated key is a combination of all the attributes 

needed to make a unique identifier for each record in a physical database. There is no attempt in 

this standard to standardize the values for these sequential keys or primary keys. These will need 

to be addressed in the individual implementation. A Primary key assigner has been assigned to 

key entities or features to indicate the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key.
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AGENT

An Agent is an individual, organization, or public agency that holds rights, interests, or 

restrictions in land, holds or files land records, or has established a land description, a 

coordinate value or a monument.

ATTRIBUTES:

Agent ID

The Agent is the primary key, which identifies each record in the Agent entity. 

Agent ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Alias Agent ID

The Alias Agent has additional information about the Agent. Typically this attribute is 

used to point to an alternate name by which the Agent is also known. 

Former Agent ID

The Former Agent points to another record in the Agent entity, and typically points to a 

previous name by which the Agent was known. 

Agent Name

The Agent Name is a text name for the agent that can be used for display, printing or 

interface uses. The Agent Name comes from the Individual, Organization, or Public 

Agency entities and is a concatenation of these values. The Agent Name at this level is 

redundant and does not reflect a standard requirement. It is included to assist with 

physical implementation.

Agent Type

The Agent type indicates where the agent is a public agency, a private organization or an 

individual. 

Suggested Domain of Values: federal, tribal, state, regional, county, local, private, 

regulated, not for profit, international
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ANGLE

The Angle entity describes the angular measure between two record boundaries. 

ATTRIBUTES:

Angle ID

The Angle ID is a primary key, which identifies each record in the Angle entity. 

From Record Boundary ID

The Record Boundary ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Record Boundary 

entity, where information about the Record Boundary can be found.

To Record Boundary ID

The Related Record Boundary ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Record 

Boundary entity where information on the Related Record Boundary can be found. 

Reference Direction

The Reference Direction is the basis of the angle or direction in the Angle attribute. For 

example, an angle may be turned from magnetic north or from a celestial observation. 

Angle Value

An Angle is the difference in direction between two convergent lines (American 

Congress on Surveying and Mapping, 1978, page 7). 

Angle Reliability

The Angle reliability is the accuracy or certainty of an angle measurement
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CIRCULAR CURVE

A Circular Curve is a segment of the circumference of a circle. Circular curves are 

assumed to be concave. Circular curves are a special instance of a curve and are 

included as a separate entity because these are the most commonly occurring curves in 

Cadastral boundaries.

ATTRIBUTES:

Radius 

The Radius is the distance from the center of the curve to any point on the circular curve.

Central Angle

The Central Angle of a Circular Curve is the angle at the center of radius of a circular arc 

included between the radii, passing through the beginning and ending of the arc.

Direction of Curve

The Direction of Curve is defined as the direction the curve tends, as stationing along the 

curve increases.

Suggested Domain Values: Left, Right, North, East, South, West

Degree of Curve

The Degree of Curve arc definition is the central angle subtended by a circular arc of 100 

feet. The Degree of Curve chord definition is the central angle subtended by a chord of 

100 feet.

Long Chord Length

The Long Chord Length is the straight line distance connecting the beginning of the 

curve and the end of the curve.

Length of Curve

Length of Curve is arc distance of the Circular Curve.

Degree of Curve Type

The Type of Degree of Curve is either the arc definition or the chord definition.

Suggested Domain Values: Arc, Chord
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CORNER

A Corner is a legal location. It may mark the extremity of Parcel or a Parcel Legal Area. 

A Corner may have multiple Corner Points, which serve as measures of markers for the 

legal location of the Corner.

Corner ID

The Corner ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the Corner entity. 

Corner ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Corner Label

The Corner Label is a name describing the legal location. For Public Land Survey 

System Corners, these are names for Corners on the base land net. Other labels relate to 

Corners of special surveys or private sector land subdivision surveys.
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CORNER POINT

A Corner Point is a point feature, which marks the ends of Record Boundaries or the 

extremities of a Legal Area. A Corner Point may or may not be monumented and is any 

representation of a Corner. 

ATTRIBUTES:

Corner Point ID

The Corner Point ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the Corner Point 

entity. 

Corner Point ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Corner ID

The Corner ID is a foreign key, which points to a record the Corner entity, where 

information about the Corner can be found. 

Monument Type

The Monument Type describes the material, composition, and other characteristics of the 

physical corner marker, if present. The monument type might be a road or a tree or other 

physical feature. The monument type may also be an indication of the cartographic 

symbol the Corner Point is representing, if the Corner Point is derived from a digitized 

representation.

Suggested Domain Values: Aluminum Cap, Aluminum Marker, Axle, Bolt, Brass 

Cap, Cap-And-Bolt, Concrete Post, Disk, Fence Post, Iron Pipe, Iron Post, 

Marked Stone, Metal Rod, Nail, Pk Nail, Rebar, Roadway, Rock, Rock Cairn, 

Steel Pin, Tree, Water Cap, Wooden Hub, Wooden Stake

Monument Date Set

The Monument Date Set is the date the monument was set by the Agent. 

Corner Point Status

The Corner Point Status describes the Corner Point relationship to other Corner Points at 

the same Corner.

Suggested Domain Values: replaces, junior, senior, multiple, current 

Source ID

The Source ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Source entity, where 

information on the Source can be found. 
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COORDINATE REFERENCE

The Coordinate Reference contains information on the coordinate system, units of 

measure, and format of the coordinate value. If all the coordinate values in an 

implemented system are the same then this coordinate reference information can be 

stored as data set metadata and can follow the form and format of the Federal Geographic 

Data Committee Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-

1998. This entity and the attributes in this entity support the potential for coordinate 

values from multiple coordinate systems.

ATTRIBUTES:

Coordinate Reference ID

The Coordinate Reference ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the 

Coordinate Reference entity. 

Horizontal Datum (X/Y Datum)

The Horizontal Datum is the identification given to the reference system used for 

defining the coordinates of points. This definition comes from the Federal Geographic 

Data Committee Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-

1998.

Suggested Domain Values: North American Datum of 1927, North American 

Datum of 1983

Coordinate System

The Coordinate System is the reference frame or system from which linear or angular 

quantities are measured and assigned to the position that a point occupies. (From Federal 

Geographic Data Committee Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDCSTD-001-1998)

Suggested Domain Values: See Federal Geographic Data Committee Content 

Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998, which includes 

all Universal Traverse Mercator Zones, all State Plane Coordinate Zones and 

many other coordinate systems
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COORDINATE REFERENCE - CONTINUED

Coordinate System Units

The Coordinate System Units are the units of measure for the coordinate values in the 

horizontal.

Suggested Domain Values: International Feet, Survey Feet, Meters, Decimal 

Degrees, Degree-Minute-Second, Degree-Minute-Decimal Minute, Radians

Vertical Datum (Z Datum)

The vertical datum is the identification given to the reference system used for defining 

the elevation of points. This definition comes from the definition for the Altitude Datum 

from the Federal Geographic Data Committee Content Standard for Digital Geospatial 

Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998, which is the identification given to the surface taken as 

the surface of reference from which altitudes are measured.

Suggested Domain Values: National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, 

North American Vertical Datum of 1988

Vertical Units (Z Units)

The Vertical Units are the units of measure for the elevation values

Suggested Domain Values: International Feet, Survey Feet, Meters 
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COORDINATE VALUE

The Coordinate Value is the horizontal, vertical, or three-dimensional location expressed 

as a coordinate. A vertical position can be expressed without an associated horizontal 

value, likewise horizontal values may not have an accompanying vertical value. 

ATTRIBUTES:

Coordinate ID

The Coordinate ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the Coordinate 

Value entity. 

Coordinate ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Corner Point ID

The Corner Point ID is a foreign key, which points to a record in the Corner Point entity, 

where information on the Corner Point can be found. 

X Coordinate

This is the X Coordinate value or easting for a coordinate set. An X coordinate may be 

expressed as unit of degrees

Y Coordinate

This is the Y Coordinate value or northing for a coordinate set. An Y coordinate may be 

expressed as unit of degrees

 

Z Coordinate (Elevation)

This is the Z Coordinate value or elevation, which may occur with or without associated 

X and Y values. 

Coordinate Value Status

The Coordinate Value Status indicates whether the measured coordinate was obtained as 

part of a legal description and is the legal value for the position of the corner point and 

the corner or whether the measured coordinate value is provided as informational.

Suggested Domain Values: Record, Informational, Active, Archived
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COORDINATE VALUE - CONTINUED

Source ID

The Source ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Source entity, where 

information on the Source can be found. 

Coordinate Reference ID

The Coordinate Reference ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Coordinate 

Reference entity, where information on the Coordinate Reference can be found. 

X Accuracy

The accuracy of the X or East Coordinate expressed as the X component of a 95% 

percent error ellipse. Accuracy is the closeness of results of observations, computations 

or estimates to the true values or the values accepted as being true.

Y Accuracy

The accuracy of the Y or North Coordinate expressed as the Y component of a 95% 

percent error ellipse. Accuracy is the closeness of results of observations, computations 

or estimates to the true values or the values accepted as being true.

Z Accuracy

The accuracy of the Z or Elevation expressed as the semi-major axis of the 95% percent 

error ellipse. Accuracy is the closeness of results of observations, computations or 

estimates to the true values or the values accepted as being true.

Reliability

The reliability is a measure of the total accuracy of a coordinate value. The FGDC 

National Standard for Spatial Data Accuracy (NSSDA) describes a methodology for 

defining this reliability.

Accuracy Comments

The Accuracy Comments are any statements or qualifications about the accuracy of a 

coordinate value.
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COORDINATE VALUE - CONTINUED

Coordinate Method

The Coordinate Method is technology that was used to establish the coordinate value. 

This method could apply to the Horizontal, the three dimensional or the vertical only. 

This method applies to all coordinate values (X, Y or Z) reported for the corner point

Suggested Domain Values: Traverse Line of Sight Survey, Doppler, Global 

Positioning System, Inertial Survey, Digitized, Radial Survey Line of Sight, Total 

Station 

Coordinate Procedure

The Coordinate Procedure is the procedure using the methods above to measure the 

coordinate value. This can also be a standard followed with the method or technology to 

measure the coordinate value. 

Suggested Domain Values: A Order, B Order, First Order, Second Order, RTK, 

HARN
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GEOPOLITCAL AREA

The geopolitical area captures the nation, state, county or municipality information 

required for the legal area description. It is expected that the format, content, and naming 

of these entities will follow existing federal standards.

ATTRIBUTES:

Geopolitical ID

The Geopolitical ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the Geopolitical 

entity. 

Geopolitical ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Nation

The Nation is an international body or organization of the Public Agency such as United 

States, Canada, or Native American Tribe. The suggested domain for Nation follows 

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 10-4. 

http://www.nima.mil/gns/html/fips10-4.html

State

State is one of the primary divisions of the United States. The suggested domain follows 

the abbreviation and format coding of Federal Information Processing Standards 

Publication 10-4. http://www.nima.mil/gns/html/fips10-4.html

County

A County is the first division of a State. The definition and suggested domain of this 

attribute is the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 6-4. 

http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip6-4.htm

City/Village/Town

A City/Village/Town is a division of a County. The definition and suggested domain of 

this attribute is the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55-2, which is 

now maintained through the Geographic names Information System (GNIS). 

http://geonames.usgs.gov/

Local Jurisdiction

A Local Jurisdiction is a further division of the City/Village/Town. 

http://geonames.usgs.gov/
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GEOPOLITICAL LEGAL AREA

The Geopolitical Legal Area describes the relationship between the Legal Area 

Description and Geopolitical Areas

ATTRIBUTES:

Geopolitical Legal Area ID

The Geopolitical Legal Area ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the 

Geopolitical Legal Area entity. 

Geopolitical ID

The Geopolitical ID is a foreign key, which points to an occurrence in the Geopolitical 

entity, where information on the Geopolitical Area can be found. 

Legal Area Description ID

The Legal Area Description ID is a foreign key, which points to an occurrence in the 

Legal Area Description entity, where information on the Legal Area Description can be 

found. 
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INDIVIDUAL

A single person, acting on behalf of himself, as distinguished from a group, corporation, 

or partnership.

ATTRIBUTES:

Agent ID

The Agent ID is a foreign key, which points to a record in the Agent entity where 

information on the Agent can be found. 

Given Name

The name of a person assigned at birth, baptism, or adoption excepting the surname. 

Surname

The Family Name inherited, or assigned at birth or adoption, or through a legal name 

change or marriage. 

Other Name

Any other part of the formal name that is not included in the Given Name or the 

Surname. It includes hyphenated portions of surnames and other legal names.
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LEGAL AREA CORNER

The Legal Area Corner describes the relationship between the Corner and the Legal Area. 

 

ATTRIBUTES:

Legal Area Corner ID

The Legal Area Corner ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the Legal 

Area Corner entity. 

Legal Area Description ID

The Legal Area Description ID is a foreign key, which points to an occurrence in the 

Legal Area Description entity, where information on the Legal Area Description can be 

found. 

Corner ID

The Corner ID is a foreign key, which points to an occurrence in the Corner entity, where 

information on the Corner can be found. 

Controlling

Controlling indicates the method by which a Corner controls the subsequent division of a 

Legal Area. 

Suggested Domain Values: Distance, Direction, Distance and Direction

Placement

Placement describes the relative position of a Corner in a Legal Description. 

Suggested Domain Values: C, N, S, E, W, NW, NE, SE, SW, NNE, ENE, ESE, 

SSW, SSE, WSW, WNW, NNW, SC, EC, WC, NC, free text

Note: in the domain C stands for center

Sequence

The Sequence describes the location of the Corner within the Legal Area.

Suggested Domain Values: 000 <= sequence <= 999

Corner Number

Corner number is the serial number assigned to corners on original survey documents.

Suggested Domain Values: 000 <= corner number <= 999, free text
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LEGAL AREA CORNER - CONTINUED

Corner Classification

The Corner Classification describes the specific Corner. The Corner gains its it type by 

association with a polygon for example a section corner versus an angle point in a parcel 

for the same corner. The informative appendix for the Corner Classification suggested 

domain is Appendix 1.

Suggested Domain Values: Angle Point, Auxiliary Meander Corner, Center 

Quarter Section Corner, Intersection Point, Crossing Closing Corner, Location 

Corner, Location Monument, Meander Corner, Mile Corner, Mile Post, Point on 

Line, Quarter-Corner, Section Corner, Special Meander Corner, Subdivision of 

Section Corner, Township Corner, Witness Point, free text

Corner Qualifier

The Corner Qualifier is used to identify additional information about the relative 

placement of the Corner. The informative appendix for the Corner Qualifier domain is 

Appendix 1.

Suggested Domain Values: Closing, Witness, Auxiliary, Amended

Corner Type

The Corner Type is a concatenation of the Corner Classification and the Corner Qualifier. 

 It used to simplify the implementation and provide one list of corner types. 

Suggested Domain Values: Angle Point, Auxiliary Meander Corner, Center 

Quarter Section Corner, Closing Center of Section Corner, Closing Quarter 

Corner, Closing Section Corner, Closing Subdivision of Section Corner, Closing 

Township Corner, Intersection Point, Crossing Closing Corner, Location Corner, 

Location Monument, Lot Corner, Meander Corner, Mile Corner, Mile Post, Point 

on Line, Quarter-Corner, Section Corner, Special Meander Corner, Subdivision of 

Section Corner, Survey Subdivision Corner, Township Corner, Witness Center of 

Section Corner, Witness Quarter Corner, Witness Subdivision of Section Corner, 

Witness Township Corner, Witness Point

Corner Aliases

Formerly Local Corner Name. This is any number of alternative names or aliases for the 

corner as needed to crosswalk corner information among agencies and other contributors. 

 These are text attributes and the numbers of aliases will vary among systems. 

Documentation of the rules, if any, for deriving these corner aliases should be included 

with the metadata.
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LEGAL AREA DESCRIPTION

A Legal Area Description provides the structure for assembling the components of a 

single legal description into one. The components of the legal area description can be 

used to build legal descriptions based on areas. For example, a legal area description 

could be a lot in a subdivision and that lot may be contained in a Public Land Survey 

System Area.

ATTRIBUTES:

Legal Area Description ID

The Legal Area Description ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the 

Legal Description entity. 

Legal Area Description ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Source ID

The Source ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Source entity, where 

information on the Source can be found. 
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LEGAL AREA RECORD BOUNDARY 

The Legal Area Record Boundary is an intersecting entity between the Legal Area 

Description and the Record Boundary entities. It describes the extent of a Legal Area in 

terms of each boundary segment.

ATTRIBUTES:

Legal Area Record Boundary ID

The Legal Area Record Boundary ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in 

the Legal Area Record Boundary entity. 

Legal Area Description ID

The Legal Area Description ID is a foreign key, which points to an occurrence in the 

Legal Area Description entity, where information on the Legal Area can be found. 

Record Boundary ID

The Record Boundary ID is a foreign key, which points to an occurrence in the Boundary 

entity, where information on the Record Boundary can be found. 

Legal Area Record Boundary Status

The Legal Record Boundary Area Status describes the relationship of the Record 

Boundary to the Legal Area.

Suggested Domain Values: Update, Continuation, Replaced
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ORGANIZATION

An Organization is a legal entity created by or under the authority of the laws of a State 

or Nation. These are typically private or not for profit organizations as opposed to 

government agencies.

ATTRIBUTES:

Agent ID

The Agent ID is a foreign key, which points to a record in the Agent entity where 

information on the Agent can be found. 

Organization Name

The identifying title or label for the organization as stated on the Organization's legal 

documents.

Organization Type

The Organization Type identifies the tax status of the Organization.

Suggested Domain Values: Non-Profit, Regulated, Exempt, Profit

Organization State

The Organization State is the State in which the legal organization is organized and 

recognized.

Suggested Domain Values: The suggested domain follows the abbreviation and 

format coding of Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 10-4. 

http://www.nima.mil/gns/html/fips10-4.html

Division/Department

The Department or Division is a further indicator of the precise sub-organization. 
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OTHER CURVE 

Other Curve is any non-straight segment of a parcel or legal area that is also not a circular 

curve.

ATTRIBUTES:

Other Curve Type

The Curve Type indicates the mathematical form of the Other Curve. 

Suggested Domain Values: Conic Parabola, Conic Ellipse, Conic Hyperbola, 

Logarithmic Spiral, Archimedean Spiral, Hyperbolic Spiral, N-Leafed Rose, 

Lemniscate, Cycloid, Four Cusp Hypocycloid, Cardioid, Probability, Catenary, 

Logarithmic, Exponential, Sine, Tangent, Secant

Other Curve Parameters

The parameters are the lists of values that are necessary to describe the other Curve. The 

parameter list includes the definition of the parameter, the parameter value and the 

equation used.
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OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF BLOCK

An Outer Continental Shelf Block is an approved subdivision of the Outer Continental 

Shelf as depicted on Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams or Leasing 

Maps. If an offshore boundary line(s) intersects an Outer Continental Shelf Block, area 

subdivisions are created. These boundary coordinates and area subdivisions are 

portrayed in detail on a Supplemental Official Outer Continental Shelf Block Diagram. 

ATTRIBUTES:

Outer Continental Shelf Description ID

The Legal Area Description ID is a foreign key, which points to a record in the Outer 

Continental Shelf Description entity, where information about the Outer Shelf 

Continental Description can be found.

Outer Continental Shelf Description ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions. The expected assigner for this identifier is the Mineral Management 

Service (MMS) within the Department of Interior because this agency has sole authority 

for the creation and maintenance of this legal description system.

Outer Continental Shelf Block Number

The Outer Continental Shelf Block Number is the identifier for an Outer Continental 

Shelf Block on an Outer Continental Shelf Protraction Diagram or Leasing Map.

BUSINESS RULES:

1. Outer Continental Shelf Blocks numbered less than 6000 are on the North 

American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27) and may be depicted on Outer Continental 

Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams or Leasing Maps."

2. Outer Continental Shelf Blocks numbered greater than 6000 are on the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) and are depicted on Outer Continental Shelf 

Official Protraction Diagrams.
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OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF BLOCK PARCEL

Outer Continental Shelf Blocks can be subdivided into units for leasing, management, or 

resource management purposes. This entity describes those subdivisions.

ATTRIBUTES:

Outer Continental Shelf Block Parcel Designator

The Outer Continental Shelf Block Parcel Designator is one or two letters uniquely 

identifying the subdivisions of an Outer Continental Shelf Block.

Outer Continental Shelf Block Number

The Outer Continental Shelf Block Number is a foreign key which points to a record in 

the Outer Continental Shelf Block entity, where information about the Outer Continental 

Shelf Block can be found.
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OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF DESCRIPTION

The Outer Continental Shelf Description contains attributes for the primary division of 

the Outer Continental Shelf into describable areas. 

BUSINESS RULES:

1. Outer Continental Shelf Descriptions are divided into either Outer Continental 

Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams or Leasing Maps.

ATTRIBUTES:

Outer Continental Shelf Description ID

The Outer Continental Shelf Description ID is the primary key, which identifies each 

record in the Outer Continental Shelf Description ID entity. 

Leasing Map Designator

Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Maps depict marine cadastres based on a coastal State's 

NAD 27 State Plane Coordinate System. The seaward projection of a State Plane 

Coordinate System onto the Outer Continental Shelf uses the Lambert Conformal Conic 

Projection. These diagrams depict approved subdivisions of the Outer Continental Shelf 

in U.S. survey feet in offshore portions of California, Louisiana, and Texas.

The Leasing Maps are designated by alpha-numeric codes. The first two character 

positions are alpha characters that correspond to the two letter abbreviation for the State, 

LA for Louisiana, TX for Texas, and CA for California. Subsequent characters are 

alpha-numeric characters for the Map number.

Leasing Map Name

The Leasing Map Name is the name of the map as it appears on the actual Lease Map. 

Area names for Leasing Maps were originally assigned by the Bureau of Land 

Management.

Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagram 

Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams depict marine cadastres and are 

constructed on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid system. They are 

diagrams showing approved subdivisions of the Outer Continental Shelf. For more 

information see Explanatory Note 1 at the end of this section.
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OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF DESCRIPTION - CONTINUED

Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagram Name

The Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagram Name is the official 

geographic or proper name approved by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to the 

specific portion of the Outer Continental Shelf depicted on the Outer Continental Shelf 

Official Protraction Diagram. Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams 

without names certified by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names remain as “Unnamed”. 

Legal Area Description ID

The Legal Area Description ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Record 

Boundary entity, where information about the Legal Area Description can be found.
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PARCEL

A Parcel is a single cadastral unit, which is the spatial extent of the past, present, and 

future rights and interests in real property.

ATTRIBUTES:

Parcel ID

The Parcel ID is the primary key, which identifies each record or occurrence in the Parcel 

entity. This is normally the system assigned number that manages record relationships 

internal to systems.

Parcel ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Parcel Type

Parcel Type describes the function, purpose, resource or collective purpose for a parcel. 

The Parcel Type applies to the entire parcel. The parcel type is categorization that can be 

useful for display or management. The domains of values are listed as suggested content. 

 The content of this attribute is not standardized.

Domain: Taxable, Right of Way, General Common Element, Water, Ownership

Parcel Name

The Parcel Name is an identifying name or number for a Parcel. It may also be a project 

number or any other label for a parcel such as park name.

Parcel Labels

Formerly Parcel Local Label. Local governments or other organizations may have a 

method or system for identifying and then applying a number for parcels. These numbers 

are often used for local administrative purposes. These attributes, and there may be 

many, refer to parcel identification systems that are sometimes called natural keys or 

other user recognizable identifiers. The form and content and rules for parcel labels 

should be included with the metadata. Parcel ID is a common name for this label in local 

governments
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PARCEL AREA

The Parcel Area describes the quantity and type of two-dimensional space included in the 

Parcel.

ATTRIBUTES:

Parcel ID

The Parcel ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Parcel entity, where 

information on the Parcel can be found. 

Parcel Area Quantity

Parcel Area Quantity is a numerical value for the two dimensional extent of the Parcel. 

Parcel Area Type

The Area Type describes the type of two dimensional surface being quantified.

Suggested Domain Values: Official, Computed, From Deed, Surveyed

Parcel Area Unit 

The Parcel Area Unit is the unit of measure for the two dimensional surface being 

quantified. 

Domain: Acres, Hectares, Square Feet, Square Meters, Square Yards
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PARCEL LEGAL AREA

The Parcel Legal Area is the intersecting of the Legal Area Description and Parcel, and it 

describes the extent of the Parcel as a whole unit as opposed to a series of Record 

Boundaries or Corner Points. 

ATTRIBUTES:

Parcel Legal Area ID

The Parcel Legal Area ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Parcel Legal Area 

entity, where information on the Parcel Legal Area can be found.

Legal Area Description ID

The Legal Area Description ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Legal Area 

Description, where information on the Legal Area Description can be found. 

Parcel ID

The Parcel ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Parcel entity, where 

information on the Parcel can be found. 

Parcel Legal Area Status

The Parcel Legal Area Status describes the reason for multiple Legal Area Descriptions 

for a Parcel. 

Suggested Domain Values: Updated, Exception, Correction, Replaced, Congruent
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PARCEL RECORD BOUNDARY 

The Parcel Record Boundary is the intersection of the Parcel and the Record Boundary 

entities. It describes the extent of a parcel in terms of each boundary segment. 

ATTRIBUTES:

Parcel Record Boundary ID

The Parcel Record Boundary ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Parcel 

Record Boundary entity, where information on the Parcel Record Boundary ID can be 

found.

Parcel ID

The Parcel ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Parcel entity, where 

information on the Parcel can be found. 

Record Boundary ID

The Record Boundary ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Record Boundary 

entity, where information on the Record Boundary can be found. 

Parcel Record Boundary Status

As one Parcel may be matched to or described by many Record Boundaries, the Parcel 

Boundary Status describes the relationships of the Record Boundary to the Parcel.

Suggested Domain Values: Updated, Exception, Correction, Replaced, 

Congruent, Connecting 
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PARCEL RIGHT

The Parcel Right is an intersecting entity that describes the relationships between rights 

and interests and the parcel. One parcel can have many rights and interests and one right 

and interest can found in many parcels.

ATTRIBUTES:

Parcel Right ID

The Parcel Right ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the Parcel Right 

entity. 

Parcel ID

The Parcel ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Parcel entity, where 

information on the Parcel can be found.

Right ID

The Right ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Right and Interest entity, 

where information on the rights and interests can be found. 
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PARCEL TRANSACTION

The Parcel Transaction is an intersecting entity that describes the relationships between a 

parcel and an instrument of transaction. One transaction can involve many parcels and 

one parcel can be involved in many transactions.

ATTRIBUTES:

Parcel Transaction ID

The Parcel Transaction ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Parcel 

Transaction entity, where information on the Parcel Transaction ID can be found.

Transaction Document ID

The Transaction Document ID is a foreign key, which points to a record the Transaction 

Document entity where information on the Transaction Document can be found.

Parcel ID

The Parcel ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Parcel entity, where 

information on the Parcel can be found. 

Indispute

A text field indicating whether a Parcel in a Transaction is contested or in question by 

virtue of being in court.

Suggested Domain Values: Yes, No
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PUBLIC AGENCY

A Public Agency is a public sector organization defined by and part of a governmental 

body or one charted by government body for a public purpose, such as the U.S. Postal 

Service or the Tennessee Valley Authority. 

ATTRIBUTES:

Agent ID

The Agent ID is a foreign key, which points to a record in the Agent entity where 

information on the Agent can be found. 

Nation

The Nation is an international body or organization of the Public Agency such as United 

States, Canada, or Native American Tribe. The suggested domain for Nation follows 

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 10-4. 

http://www.nima.mil/gns/html/fips10-4.html

State

State is one of the primary divisions of the United States. The suggested domain follows 

the abbreviation and format coding of Federal Information Processing Standards 

Publication 10-4. http://www.nima.mil/gns/html/fips10-4.html

County

A County is the first division of a State. The definition and suggested domain of this 

attribute is the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 6-4. 

http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fip6-4.htm

City/Village/Town

A City/Village/Town is a division of a County. The definition and suggested domain of 

this attribute is the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55-2, which is 

now maintained through the Geographic names Information System (GNIS). 

http://geonames.usgs.gov/

Local Jurisdiction

A Local Jurisdiction is a further division of the City/Village/Town. 

http://geonames.usgs.gov/

Public Agency Name

The Public Agency Name is the full name of a Public Agency. For federally funded 

agencies follow FIPS PUB 95-2. http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fips95-2.doc
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PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

Public Land Survey System Descriptions are descriptions for areas of land that follow the 

pattern of Townships and Ranges established by the federal government in 1785 and its 

successors. For more information see Explanatory Note 2 at the end of this section.

ATTRIBUTES:

PLSS Description ID

The PLSS Description ID is a primary key, which identifies each record in the Public 

Land Survey Description entity. 

PLSS Description ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Legal Area Description ID

The Legal Area Description ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Legal Area 

Description, where information on the Legal Area Description can be found. 

Origin of Public Land Survey System

The Origin of Public Land Survey System is a reference for the numbering of townships 

and ranges within a public land survey area. 

Suggested Domain Values: Base Line of the U.S. Military Survey, Black Hills 

Meridian, Boise Meridian, Chickasaw Meridian, Choctaw Meridian, Cimarron 

Meridian, Copper River Meridian, Extended Fourth Principal Meridian, Fairbanks 

Meridian, Fifth Principal Meridian, First Principal Meridian, Fourth Principal 

Meridian, Gila and Salt River Meridian, Great Miami River, Humboldt Meridian, 

Huntsville Meridian, Indian Meridian, Kateel River Meridian, Louisiana 

Meridian, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Michigan Meridian, Mount Diablo 

Meridian, Muskingum River, Navajo Meridian, Ohio River, Principal Meridian, 

Ohio Company Purchase, St. Helena Meridian, St. Stephens Meridian, Salt Lake 

Meridian, San Bernardino Meridian, Second Principal Meridian, Seward 

Meridian, Scioto River, Sixth Principal Meridian, Tallahassee Meridian, Third 

Principal Meridian, Twelve Mile Square Reserve, Uintah Meridian, Umiat 

Meridian, Ute Meridian, Washington Meridian, Willamette Meridian, Wind River 

Meridian 
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Survey Name

Public Land survey areas in Ohio are identified by a name. The named areas do not have 

an origin of Public Land Survey System value.

Suggested Domain Values: Congress Lands North of Old Seven Ranges, 

Congress Lands West of the Miami River, Connecticut Western Reserve, Ohio 

Company Purchase, Old Seven Ranges, Congress Lands East of Scioto River, 

Between the Miamis, Twelve Mile Square Reservation, Two Miles Square 

Reservation, United States Military District, Donation Tract, French Grants 

Secondary Survey Name

Secondary Survey Name further identifies named areas within the Ohio surveys.

Suggested Domain Values: Refugee Lands, Symmes Purchase
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PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM TOWNSHIP

In the Public Land Survey System a Township refers to a unit of land, that are nominally 

six miles on a side, usually containing 36 sections. 

BUSINESS RULE:

1. Public Land Survey System Townships will have a Public Land Survey System 

Origin and a State. 

ATTRIBUTES:

PLSS Township ID

The PLSS Township ID is a primary key, which identifies each record in the Public Land 

Survey System Township entity. 

PLSS Description ID

The PLSS Description ID is a foreign key, which points to a record in the Public Land 

Survey System Description entity, where information on the Public Land Survey System 

Description can be found. 

Township Number

The Township Number indicates the number of rows of townships, north or south from a 

Public Land Survey System Origin. 

Township Direction

The direction of a row of Townships from a Public Land Survey System Origin. 

Suggested Domain Values: North, South, East. West

Township Fraction

Township Fractions are created when there are gaps between surveyed Township 

boundaries or due to excess size in Townships that arose from executing original surveys.

Suggested Domain Values: 1/4 Township, 1/2 Township, 3/4 Township
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Range Number

The Range Number indicates the number of columns of townships, east or west from a 

Public Land Survey System Origin.

Range Direction

The direction of a column of townships from a Public Land Survey System Origin. 

Suggested Domain Values: East, West, North, South

Range Fraction

Range Fractions are created when there are gaps between surveyed Township boundaries 

or due to excess size in Townships that arose from executing original surveys.

Suggested Domain Values: 1/4 Range, 1⁄2 Range, 3/4 Range

Township Duplicate Status

If there are multiple townships in a Public Land Survey System Origin, State and Survey 

Name, the Township Duplicate Status is used to establish uniqueness. When more than 

one Public Land Survey System Township has the same Township and Range numbers 

and directions and fractions, and are in the same State, this attribute is used to distinguish 

among duplicate values.

Suggested Domain Values: first duplicate - This value is applied to the duplicate 

Public Land Survey System Township that is closest to the base line of the Public 

Land Survey System Origin. If both Public Land Survey System Townships are 

equidistance from the base line, than the one closest to the Meridian of the Public 

Land Survey System Origin is assigned the value first duplicate. This was 

formerly known as code a or in the Ohio Symmes Purchase as code f.

second duplicate - This is the attribute value assigned to the Public Land Survey 

System Township that is furthest from the Public Land Survey System origin. 

This was formerly known as code b.
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PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM TOWNSHIP FIRST DIVISION

Public Land Survey System Townships first divisions are normally Public Land Survey 

System Tracts or Public Land Survey System Sections. This entity is the primary or first 

subdivisions of a Public Land Survey System Township.

ATTRIBUTES:

PLSS First Division ID

The PLSS First Division ID is a primary key that identifies each record in the Public 

Land Survey System Township First Division entity. 

PLSS Township ID

The PLSS Township ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Public Land Survey 

System Township entity, where information on the Public Land Survey System Township 

can be found. 

PLSS First Division Type

The First Division Type of a Public Land Survey System Township is the primary or first 

subdivision category. If the first division type is fractional section, then the metadata for 

this data set will need to document how fractional sections are labeled.

Suggested Domain Values: Unsectionalized Area, Section, Lot, Tract, Protraction 

Block note 1, Parcel, Fractional Section, Quarter Township, Water note 2

Note 1: A Protraction Block is a designation for sections of uncertain acreage 

which lie between the coordinate based interior and the prior surveyed boundaries 

of record that generally form the exterior perimeters of the protracted areas. 

(BLM IM 93-353, 9/30/93).

Note 2: Most PLSS areas consider water to be outside the PLSS Township. 

PLSS First Division Designator

The First Division Designator is the letter, number, or letter number combination that 

identifies the First Division.

PLSS First Division Suffix

The First Division Suffix is the indicator for duplicate First Divisions.
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PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM TOWNSHIP SECOND DIVISION

Public Land Survey System Townships second divisions are normally Public Land 

Survey System Aliquot Parts or Public Land Survey System Government Lots. This 

entity is the second subdivision of a Public Land Survey System Township. The Second 

Division may extend to the quarter or quarter-quarter division of a section. Divisions 

below the sixteenth (quarter-quarter) are in the PLSS Third Division.

ATTRIBUTES:

PLSS Second Division ID

The PLSS Second Division ID is a primary key that identifies each record in the Public 

Land Survey System Township Second Division entity. 

PLSS First Division ID

The PLSS First Division ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Public Land 

Survey System First Division entity, where information on the Public Land Survey 

System First Division can be found. 

PLSS Second Division Type

The Second Division Type of a Public Land Survey System Township is the second 

subdivision category. 

Suggested Domain Values: Block, Lot, Other Aliquot Part, Government Lot, 

Protracted Lot, Quarter, Sixteenth, Half Section, Half Quarter, Parcel, Tract Lot

PLSS Second Division Designator

The Second Division Designator is the letter, number, or letter number combination that 

identifies the Second Division.

Suggested Domain Values: N, S, E, W, N2, S2, E2, W2, NE, NW, SE, SW, NE, 

NW, SE, SW, NENE, NENW, NESE, NESW, NWNE, NWNW, NWSE, NWSW, 

SENE, SENW, SESE, SESW, SWNE, SWNW, SWSE, SWSW, N2NE, E2NE, 

W2NE, S2NE, N2NW, E2NW, W2NW, S2NW, N2SE, E2SE, W2SE, S2SE, 

N2SW, E2SW, W2SW, S2SW 

PLSS Second Division Suffix

The Second Division Suffix is the indicator for duplicate Second Divisions.
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PUBLIC LAND SURVEY SYSTEM TOWNSHIP THIRD DIVISION

Public Land Survey System Townships third divisions are typically divisions below the 

quarter-quarter section aliquot part. This entity is the tertiary subdivision of a Public 

Land Survey System Township and is the level below the sixteenth part. Divisions 

beyond third division (fourth, fifth etc) follow the same pattern as this division.

PLSS Third Division ID

The PLSS Third Division ID is a primary key that identifies each record in the Public 

Land Survey System Township Third Division entity. 

PLSS Second Division ID

The PLSS Second Division ID is a foreign key, which points to a record in the Public 

Land Survey System Second Division entity, where information on the Public Land 

Survey System Second Division can be found. 

PLSS Third Division Type

The Third Division Type of a Public Land Survey System Township is the tertiary 

subdivision category. 

Suggested Domain Values: Lot, Fractional Part, Parcel, Aliquot Part 

PLSS Third Division Designator

The Third Division Designator is the letter, number, or letter number combination that 

identifies the Third Division.

PLSS Third Division Suffix

The Third Division Suffix is the indicator for duplicate Third Divisions.
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RECORD BOUNDARY

A Record Boundary is the linear feature that represents the edge of a feature, which may 

be a Parcel or a legal area. The Record Boundary is the information for each boundary 

segment. All record boundary features come from the same source and have the same 

units of measure.

ATTRIBUTES:

Record Boundary ID

The Record Boundary ID is a primary key, which identifies each record in the Record 

Boundary entity. 

Record Boundary ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Record Bounds

Record Bounds describe a boundary location through a call to another legal location, a 

call to a related document, or a call to a commonly or locally known location, such as 

Hogan's North Line or Good Value Creek. The Records Bounds contains the name of the 

line for shoreline and coastal boundaries. It may also be a named feature, a specified 

elevation value, or any other named call or reference. 

Suggested Domain Values: Baseline for Maritime Limits (ambulatory), Baseline 

for Submerged Lands Act (static), Seaward State Boundary (SSB), Revenue 

Sharing Boundary (Section 8(g) of OCSLA), Territorial Sea (TS), Contiguous 

Zone, Continental Shelf Limit, Exclusive Economic Zone, Offshore Lease 

Blocks, International Maritime Boundaries, National Marine Sanctuary 

Boundaries, National Estuarine Research Reserve System Boundaries 

Record Boundary Legal Status

The Record Boundary Legal Status identifies the Record Boundary's status from a legal 

or court perspective. 

Suggested Domain Values: Ambulatory, Tidal, Disputed, Adjudicated, 

Connecting Line, Computed, Duplicate, Archived 
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Record Boundary Comment

Record Boundary Comment contains additional information about the Record Boundary 

that may be in the public record, but does conform to listed attributes for Record 

Boundary. 

Direction Type

This attribute is the "basis of bearing" or "basis of azimuth" for the direction. The basis 

of direction can be based on astronomic observations to the North or South, coordinate 

system grids, magnetic points or an assumed direction such as northerly along a road 

centerline

Suggested Domain Values: Assumed, Astronomic North, Astronomic South, 

Geodetic North, Geodetic South, Grid, Magnetic North, Magnetic South

Direction Unit

The Direction Unit indicates the units for a Direction. 

Suggested Domain Values: Decimal Degrees, Degrees-Minutes-Seconds 

Distance Unit

Distance Unit defines the units of measure and reference plane upon which distance 

measurements are taken. 

Suggested Domain Values: Chains, U.S. Survey Feet, International Feet, Meters, 

Vara, Pole, Arpent, Perch, Rod, Stick, Vara - California, Vara - Texas, Vara –

Louisiana 

Distance Type

Distance Type describes the reference surface for the distance.

Suggested Domain Values: Ground, Sea Level (geodetic), Grid Distance 
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Distance Reliability

The Distance Reliability describes the overall precision and accuracy (uncertainty) of the 

distance measurement components of a Record Boundary

Direction Reliability

The Direction Reliability describes the overall precision and accuracy (uncertainty) of the 

direction measurement components of a Record Boundary

Record Boundary Measurement Method

The Record Boundary Measurement Method is the process or procedure that is used to 

determine the record boundary measurement information. 

Suggested Domain Values: From record document, digitized, computed, adjusted, 

field observation

Source ID

The Source ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Source entity, where 

information on the Source can be found. 

Record Boundary Type

The Record Boundary Type indicates whether the record boundary is a straight line, a 

circular curve or another curve.
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RECORD BOUNDARY CORNER POINT

The Record Boundary Corner Point is an intersecting entity between Record Boundary 

and Corner Point. 

ATTRIBUTES:

Record Boundary Corner Point ID

The Record Boundary Corner Point ID is a primary key, which identifies each record in 

the Record Boundary Corner Point entity.

Record Boundary ID

The Record Boundary ID is a foreign key, which points to a record in the Record 

Boundary entity, where information about the Record Boundary can be found.

Corner Point ID

The Corner Point ID is a foreign key, which points to a record the Corner Point entity, 

where information on Corner Point can be found. 

Record Boundary Corner Point Sequence

The Record Boundary Corner Point Sequence describes the relationship of the Corner 

Point to the Record Boundary. The sequence is the order of the Corner Points along a 

Record Boundary.

Suggested Domain Values: Beginning, Ending, Integer Value (1-999) 

Record Boundary Curve Corner Type

A Record Boundary may be a curve. The Record Boundary Curve Corner Type is used 

to identify the types of Corner Points that may be related to curves. 

Suggested Domain Values: Curve Focus, First Point on Directrix, Second Point 

on Directrix, Center of Curve, Beginning of Curve, Ending of Curve, Vertex 
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RECORD BOUNDARY OFFSET

The Record Boundary Offset describes a point on a line that is related to the record 

boundary but offset from that line by a specified direction and distance. Connecting the 

points described by the offset forms the record boundary along the offset. 

Record Boundary Offset ID

The Record Boundary Offset ID is a primary key, which identifies each record in the 

Record Boundary Offset entity. 

Record Boundary ID

The Record Boundary ID is a foreign key that points to the associated record boundary. 

Offset Direction

The Offset Direction is the angle from the record boundary to the offset point measured 

from the record boundary to the offset point. A ninety-degree angle is a perpendicular 

offset. 

Offset Plane

The Offset Plane describes the planar surface in which the offset direction is measured. 

In many cases this will be a horizontal plane, but this can also be an upward vertical 

plane, a downward vertical plane, an orthometric plane or at a specified angle. The angle 

of the plane is the angle formed by the intersection of the two planes with a horizontal 

plane cutting through the record boundary.

Offset Point

This is the location of the offset along the record boundary and is measured from the 

starting point of the record boundary along the record boundary towards the ending point. 

 This distance can be expressed in a milepost format (13+45 for example) or as distance 

along the line.

Offset Distance

This is the distance along the Offset Direction in the Offset Plane to the offset location.
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RESTRICTION

Restriction captures information related to administrative, judicial, or other limitations or 

permissions for the use and enjoyment of land by the land right holder. These are not 

transferred rights, although succeeding owners may agree to the same restriction on a 

Parcel. 

Restriction ID 

The Restriction ID is a primary key, which identifies each record in the Restriction entity. 

Restriction ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Parcel ID

The Parcel ID is a foreign key, which points to a record in the Parcel entity, where 

information on the Parcel can be found. 

Restriction Type

The Restriction Type indicates the category, source, or location of the Restriction. 

Restriction Description

The Regulation Restriction Description describes the Restriction on the Parcel. 

Source ID

The Source ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Source entity, where 

information on the Source can be found. 
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RIGHT AND INTEREST

This Entity describes the specific rights and interests that are related to a parcel. Rights 

and interests are benefits or enjoyments in real property that can be conveyed, passed, or 

otherwise allocated to another for economic remuneration. Rights and interests can be 

below ground, such as mineral rights, fee simple ownership on the surface, an easement 

for hunting or grazing or an above ground right such as transferable development right 

(TDR). A Right and Interest is separable and can be conveyed, either permanently or 

temporarily such as in a lease and is in the chain of title. The right and interest is 

distinguishable from a restriction, which is a limitation placed by a governing body and is 

not in the chain of title.

ATTRIBUTES:

Right and Interest ID

The Separated Right ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the Right and 

Interest entity. 

Right and Interest ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Right Estate

The Right Estate indicates whether the right is for a subsurface, surface, or above surface 

estate. 

Suggested Domain Values: Subsurface, Surface, Above Surface 
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RIGHT AND INTEREST - CONTINUED

Right and Interest Type

This is the type or category of the right and interest and it usually describes how the right 

and interest is held and an indication of the estate. The items in the suggested domain of 

values are explained below.

Suggested Domain Values: Separated Right, Encumbrance, Tribal Interest

Separated Right 

The separated rights are rights and interests in land ownership that can be 

disconnected from the primary or fee simple surface ownership. For example, 

mineral and oil rights are often separated from the surface ownership. Separated 

rights are represented as overlapping non-continuous polygons. The separated 

rights are modeled similarly to encumbrances. Some of the idiosyncrasies of 

separated rights are:

• There are often future estates and leases associated with minerals. In these 

cases the mineral rights may be separated from the surface for a period of 

time.

• The mineral rights can be divided according to the mineral. For example, 

fossil fuels, oil and gas, sulfite minerals and surface quarry rock are often 

considered as distinct separated rights. 

• The apex rule for minerals that are found as defined veins and are claimed 

under the 1872 mining claims act provides for extralateral rights. This 

means that who ever claims the surface expression of a veined mineral 

deposit has the rights to the mineral deposit even though it may pass under 

the land of adjoiners. 

Tribal Interest 

1990, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA): This 

act assigns ownership and control of Native American cultural items, human 

remains, and associated funerary objects to Native Americans. It also establishes 

requirements for the treatment of Native American human remains and sacred or 

cultural objects found on Federal land. This act further provides for the protection, 

inventory, and repatriation of Native American cultural items, human remains, 

and associated funerary objects. Requires museums that receive public funds to 

consult with Native Americans. Native Americans have the power to decide what 

happens to museum collections of human remains, grave goods, and sacred items. 

When these items are inadvertently discovered, cease activity, make a reasonable 

effort to 
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RIGHT AND INTEREST - CONTINUED

protect the items, and notify the appropriate Indian tribe(s) and/or Native 

Hawaiian organization(s). 

Us Title 25, Chapter 32, Native American Graves Protection And Repatriation 

Each Federal agency or museum which has possession or control over holdings or 

collections of Native American unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, or 

objects of cultural patrimony shall provide a written summary of such objects 

based upon available information held by such agency or museum. The summary 

shall describe the scope of the collection, kinds of objects included, reference to 

geographical location, means and period of acquisition and cultural affiliation, 

where readily ascertainable. 

Encumbrance

Encumbrances are limitations on the rights and use of the land. Easements are a 

common encumbrance but there are many others such as grazing rights, fishing 

rights, development rights, and floodplains. Legally an encumbrance is a right or 

interest in the land of another that may diminish its value but does not prevent its 

sale.

Any right to, or interest in, land which may subsist the fee [ownership] by 

another to the diminution of its value, but consistent with the passing of 

the fee [ownership] by conveyance. A claim, lien, charge, or liability 

attached to and binding real property; as examples a mortgage, judgment 

lien, mechanics' lien, lease, security interest, easement or right of way. If 

the liability relates to a particular asset, the asset is encumbered. (Black, 

1991)

Most encumbrances run with the land (consistent with the passing of the fee by 

conveyance). That is, they are tied to the land and will persist from owner to 

owner. Others exist at the pleasure of the owner, such as leases. Typically leases 

and similar encumbrances have an effective date and expiration date. 

Right Description

This attribute describes more specifically the right or interest that is being defined. 

Suggested Domain of Values: Oil, Gas, Oil and Gas, Coal, (a specific mineral), 

Right of Way, Ingress/Egress, Grazing, Hunting, Transferable Development Right 

or any other individually articulated right.
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RIGHT TRANSACTION

The Right Transaction is an intersecting entity that describes the relationship between 

right and interest and an instrument of transaction. One transaction can involve many 

rights and interests and one right and interest can be involved in many transactions.

ATTRIBUTES:

Right Transaction ID

The Right Transaction ID is the primary key, which identifies each record in the Right 

Transaction entity. 

Transaction Document ID

The Transaction Document ID is a foreign key, which points to a record the Transaction 

Document entity where information on the Transaction Document can be found.

Right ID

The Right ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Right and Interest entity, 

where information on the rights and interests can be found. 
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SOURCE

The Source is the feature level information about the originating information for the 

record. This should be the authoritative source for the data. For federal land records 

information on legislative or executive authorizations may be added to Source 

information.

ATTRIBUTES:

Source ID

The Source ID is a primary key, which identifies each record in the Source entity. The 

Source ID is unique for each record in the Source entity within the jurisdiction or 

authority of the Source Agent ID

Source ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Source Agent

The agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns, manages and maintains the source 

information such as register of deeds, recorder, or surveying office. For federally funded 

agencies follow FIPS PUB 95-2. http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/fips95-2.doc

Source Type

Source Type describes a family of documents, files, images, or other formats that 

generally conform to the same specifications or having some common unifying 

characteristic. The suggested domain for Source Type is in Appendix 4.

Source Date

The Source Date is the date of the source document.

Source Comments

The Source Comments are any additional information about the Source information that 

clarifies the use of the Source information.

Originating Agent

The Originating Agent describes another agent, which may not be the same as the agent 

that has the source document. For example the name of a surveyor on a plat may be the 

originating agent and the source agent might be a County Records of Deeds where the 

plat is filed and the source can be accessed.
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STRAIGHT LINE

A Straight Line is a line connecting two points with no curves or changes in bearing or 

direction.

ATTRIBUTES:

Direction Value

The Direction Value is the quantity of a direction of a boundary. Direction is the angle 

between a line and an arbitrary chosen reference line. When the reference line is north or 

south and the angle is designated east or west, the direction is called the bearing. When 

the reference line is north or south and the angle is measured clockwise, the direction is 

called azimuth. 

Distance Value

Distance Value is the quantity for the distance of a boundary. Distance is the linear 

measure along a line. 

Direction Quadrant

Directions can be measured as either bearings or azimuth. Bearing is an acute angle 

reference to either north or south. An azimuth is referenced to either north or south and is 

a full circle measure in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. 

Suggested Domain Values: Azimuth, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Northwest 
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SURVEY SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

A Survey System Description is a named or numbered area of land that can be identified 

by a type and a designator. The survey system is generally a simultaneous conveyance 

that defines an area of land within which there is a consistent method of land description.

ATTRIBUTES:

Survey System Description ID

The Survey System Description ID is a primary key that identifies each record in the 

Survey System Description entity. 

Survey System Description ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Legal Area Description ID

The Legal Area Description ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Legal Area 

Description, where information on the Legal Area Description can be found. 

Survey System Origin

The Survey System Origin is the numbering or measurement starting point or baseline for 

a Survey System Description.

Survey System Type 

Survey System Type indicates the category or major class of the description. The 

informative appendix for the Survey System Type is in Appendix 3.

Suggested Domain Values: Assessor Plat, Cemetery, Condominium, Farm Lot, 

French Long Lot, Grant of Land, Homestead Entry, Indian Allotment, Land 

Grant, Mineral Survey, Plat of Survey, Sequence Conveyance, Small Holding 

Claim, Small Tracts Act, Subdivision, Survey, Texas Land Grant, Townsite, 

United States Survey 

Survey System Designator

The Survey System Designator is an identifying name or number for a specific type of 

Survey System area. 
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SURVEY SYSTEM FIRST DIVISION

The First Division is the primary division of the Survey System.

Survey System First Division ID

The Survey System First Division ID is a primary key that identifies each record in the 

Survey System First Division entity. 

Survey System Description ID

The Survey System Description ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Survey 

System Description, where information on the Survey System Description can be found. 

First Division Type

The First Division Type describes the classification of the First Survey System Division. 

Suggested Domain Values: Block, Lot, Tract, Right of Way, Unit, Fractional Part, 

Claim, Parcel, Plot, Survey, General Common Element, Outlot 

First Division Designator

The Survey System First Division Designator is an alpha, numeric, or alpha-numeric 

designator used to identify the First Division of the Survey System. 

First Division Description

The Survey System First Division Description is a legal description text that describes the 

first division such as the north half of a block or the westerly 500 feet of an outlot.
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SURVEY SYSTEM SECOND DIVISION

The Second Survey Division is the subdivision of the First Division.

Survey System Second Division ID

The Survey System Second Division ID is a primary key that identifies each record in the 

Survey System Second Division entity. 

Survey System First Division ID

The Survey System First Division ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Survey 

System First Division, where information on the Survey System First Division can be 

found. 

Second Division Type

The Second Division Type describes the classification of the Survey System Second 

Division. 

Suggested Domain Values: Fractional Part, Outlot, Lot, Tract, Parcel 

Second Division Designator

The Survey System Second Division Designator is an alpha, numeric, or alpha-numeric 

designator used to identify the Second Division of the Survey System. 

Second Division Description

The Survey System Second Division Description is a legal description text that describes 

the second division such as the south half of a lot.
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SURVEY SYSTEM THIRD DIVISION

The Third Division is the subdivision of the Second Division. Divisions beyond third 

division (fourth, fifth etc) follow the same pattern as this division.

Survey System Third Division ID

The Survey System Third Division ID is a primary key that identifies each record in the 

Survey System Third Division entity. 

Survey System Second Division ID

The Survey System Second Division ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the 

Survey System Second Division, where information on the Survey System Second 

Division can be found. 

Third Division Type

The Third Division Type describes classification of the third division. 

Suggested Domain Values: Fractional Part, Lot, Tract, Parcel 

Third Division Designator

The Survey System Third Division Designator is an alpha, numeric, or alpha-numeric 

designator used to identify the Third Division of the Survey System. 

Third Division Description

The Survey System Third Division Description is a legal description text that describes 

the third division such as the northern 600 feet of a Parcel.
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TRANSACTION AGENT

The Transaction Agent is any participant or party identified in a land record document or 

instrument.

ATTRIBUTES:

Transaction Agent ID

The Transaction Agent ID is a primary key that identifies each record in the Transaction 

Agent entity. 

Agent ID

The Agent ID is a foreign key, which points to a record in the Agent entity, where 

information on the Agent can be found. 

Transaction Document ID

The Transaction Document ID is a foreign key, which points to a record the Transaction 

Document entity where information on the Transaction Document can be found. 

Right Percentage (Ownership)

(Formerly the Ownership Percentage) The Right Percentage expresses the proportion of 

the Transferred Rights that are attached to the listed Agent. This could also be the 

Ownership percentage.

Role

The Role is the capacity or function of the Agent in the Parcel Transaction. 

Suggested Domain Values: Grantor, Grantee, Leaser, Lessee, Trustee, Mortgager, 

Mortgagee, Owner of Record, Recipient, Lender, Lendee 
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TRANSACTION DOCUMENT

The Transaction Document is the record of the transfer of rights in land. Transactions 

documents are often recorded in instruments, but it is not a requirement in the most parts 

of the United States that transactions be written. Both parties in the transfer of rights 

must be legal parties who are capable of both delivering and receiving the rights being 

passed. 

ATTRIBUTES:

Transaction Document ID

The Transaction Document ID is a primary key that identifies each record in the 

Transaction Document entity. 

Transaction Document ID Assigner

This is a designation for the agency, organization or jurisdiction that assigns and 

maintains the primary key. If possible, this designation should follow known naming 

standards, such as the Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) codes for 

jurisdictions.

Effective Date

The Effective Date is the date the Transaction Document becomes effective such as the 

date of approval. 

Expiration Date

This is the date the Transaction Document expires. 

Recorded Date

The Recorded Date is the calendar date shown on the Transaction Document at the time 

of recording or the filing date for documents that are filed. This is primarily important for 

states with race-notice or race requirements for land title document recording. 

Recorded Time

The Recorded Time is the clock time interval shown on the Transaction Document. This 

is primarily important for states with race-notice or race requirements for land title 

document recording. 
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TRANSACTION DOCUMENT - CONTINUED

Ownership Type

The Ownership Type describes the characteristics by which the rights are held as 

described in the Transaction Document. Appendix 2 contains the informative appendix 

for the domain for Ownership Type.

Suggested Domain Values: Fee Simple Ownership, General Tenancy, Joint 

Tenancy, Life Estate, Tenancy in Common, Tenancy by the Entirety, Tenancy in 

Partnership, Tenancy from Period to Period, Tenant at Will, Timeshare 

Ownership, Owner after Life Estate, Undivided Interest, With Remainder 

Term and Condition 

Term and Condition contains the descriptions of any limitations or attachments to a 

Transaction Document such as a restrictive covenant or other limitation or stipulation.

Source ID

The Source ID is a foreign key that points to a record in the Source entity, where 

information on the Source can be found. 
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3.3 Bibliography and References

American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, 1978, Definitions of Surveying and Associated 

Terms, Bethesda, Maryland, 210 pages.

Black, H.C., 1979, Black's Law Dictionary, Fifth Edition, West Publishing Company, St. Paul, 

Minnesota, 1511 pages.

Brinker, R.C., and Minnick, R., 1987, The Surveying Handbook, Van Nostrand Reinhold 

Company, New York, New York, 1270 pages.

Brown, Curtis, (1969), Boundary Control and Legal Principles, second edition, John Wiley and 

Sons, New York, New York, 371 pages.

Bureau of Land Management Advanced Cadastral Survey, 1986, Special Survey Section -

Presented by Steven Johnson, Forest Service Cadastral Surveyor.

Bureau of Land Management, 1973, Manual of Surveying Instructions, Department of Interior, 

U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 333 pages.

Bureau of Land Management, 1980, Glossary of Bureau of Land Management Surveying and 

Mapping Terms, Department of Interior, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 

109 pages.

Bureau of Land Management, 1991, Methods and Procedures, Volume 1, Denver Service Center, 

Version 2.1, June, pages 1-27. Contact Denver Office of GCDB 303-236-0188 for more 

information.

Cazier, L., 1979, Surveys and Surveyors of the Public Domain, Bureau of Land Management, 

U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 228 pages.

Digest of Public Land Laws, June, 1968.

Federal Geographic Data Committee, (1994), Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata, 

Reston, Virginia.

Federal Geographic Data Committee, Technical Advisory Group, 1993-94, Meeting Discussions.
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Federal Information Processing Standards Publication, 1987, Codes for the Identification of the 

States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of the United States and Associated 

Areas, FIPSPUB 5-2, May 28, U.S. Department of Commerce, Technology Administration, 

National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 

D.C., 5 pages.

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication, 1990, Counties And Equivalent Entities 

Of the United States, Its Predecessors, and Associated Areas, FIPSPUB 6-4, August 31, U.S. 

Department of Commerce, Technology Administration, National Institute of Standards and 

Technology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 39 pages.

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication, 1986, Representation of Geographic Point 

Locations for Information Interchange, FIPSPUB 70-1, November 14, U.S. Department of 

Commerce, Technology Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. 

Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 17 pages.

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication, 1994, Guideline: Codes For Named 

Populated Places, Primary County Divisions, And Other Locational Entities Of The United 

States And Outlying Areas, FIPSPUB 55-DC3, November 14, U.S. Department of Commerce, 

Technology Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Government 

Printing Office, Washington D.C.

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication, 1993, Code For The Identification of 

Federal and Federally Assisted Organizations, FIPSPUB 95-1, January 4, U.S. Department of 

Commerce, Technology Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. 

Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.

Federal Information Processing Standards Publication, 1994, Spatial Data Transfer Standards, 

FIPSPUB 173-1, June 10, U.S. Department of Commerce, Technology Administration, National 

Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 49 

pages.

Gibson and Meyer, 1980, Route Surveying, Harper and Row Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 548 

pages.

National Park Service, 1977, Index of Affiliated Areas, June 30.

Public Law 90-542; 16 USC 1271 et seq.

Snyder, J., (1987), Map Projections - A Working Manual, USGS Professional Paper 1395, U.S. 

Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 383 pages.
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TIGER Line Census Files, 1992, Technical Documentation, page 4-2 and 1-24.

United States Bureau of Land Management Data Element Dictionary Report 2002, Land Records 

ALMRS: LLD, STATUS, CASE; Data Element 2683.

Wattles, G.H., 1979, Writing Legal Descriptions, Gurdon H Wattles Publications, P.O. Box 

5702, Orange, CA 92667, pages 4.2-4.40.

Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary, 1984.

White, C.A., 1988, A History of the Public Land Surveying System, U.S. Government Printing 

Office, Washington D.C., 774 pages.
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3.4 Explanatory Notes

Explanatory Note 1: Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Maps and Official Protraction Diagrams 

The Bureau of Land Management developed five unique NAD 27-based Outer 

Continental Shelf cadastres when the offshore program was administered by that Agency. 

 The first three of these cadastres used to support oil, gas, sulphur, and salt leasing were 

Leasing Maps (the other two cadastres were Official Protraction Diagrams): 

Cadastre 1 - Leasing Maps based on the Louisiana State Plane Coordinate System in a 

portion of the Central Gulf of Mexico. 

Cadastre 2 - Leasing Maps based on the Texas State Plane Coordinate System in a 

portion of the Western Gulf of Mexico. 

Cadastre 3 - Leasing Maps based on the California State Plane Coordinate System in the 

southern portion of the State adjoining the Channel Islands. 

The Bureau of Land Management believed that since these three States had previously

developed Leasing Maps defined by their unique State Plane Coordinate Systems, 

maintaining that system offshore in Federal waters would: (1) reduce confusion since 

some State leases were transferred to the Federal Government; (2) facilitate the resolution

of legal issues associated with a common boundary; and (3) maintain the status quo for 

existing litigation. The State Plane Coordinate Systems had a major drawback, however, 

in they were designed for use onshore or nearshore, and not offshore on the Outer 

Continental Shelf. Thus, as the offshore program evolved and moved further from the 

shoreline, the limitations of State Plane Coordinate Systems became more apparent. For 

example, offshore of Louisiana the Bureau of Land Management had to use negative 

coordinates as they proceeded seaward. Further, the obligatory use of different State 

Plane Coordinate Systems for each coastal State compounded boundary computational 

problems. 

To resolve these problems, the Bureau of Land Management developed two NAD 27 

Official Protraction Diagram formats as their new offshore cadastre foundations. First, 

although both were adaptations of the military's metric-based UTM grid system, in the 

Gulf of Mexico, English linear measurements (feet) and areal measurements (acres) were 

used, and some zone boundaries were moved. In the Atlantic, the Pacific, and offshore of 

Alaska, they retained metric measurements (meters) and areal measurements (hectares) 

for the Official Protraction Diagrams. Currently, NAD 27 Leasing Maps are only used 

offshore of Texas and Louisiana. 
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The Official Protraction Diagram Designator is based on the United Nations International 

Map of the World alphanumeric numbering system. This worldwide system consists of 

main divisions subdivided into minor divisions. Each minor division is an Official 

Protraction Diagram. 

A main division is four degrees of latitude by six degrees of longitude. Main divisions are 

identified by a two-letter designation, followed by a Universal Transfer Transverse 

Mercator Zone Number. The first letter indicates north or south of the Equator and the 

second letter indicates the distance from the equator. (As of the date of this document, all 

Official Protraction Diagrams published by the Minerals Management Service are north 

of the Equator.) 

The main division contains twelve minor divisions of one degree of latitude by two 

degrees of longitude south of the 48-degree latitude. The two digit numbers 01 through 

12 are the minor division identifiers and they must always be associated with a major 

division identifier such as NH18-12. 

North of the 48th Latitude a main division contains eight minor divisions of one degree 

of latitude by three degrees of longitude. The two digit numbers 01 through 08 are the 

minor division identifiers and they must always be associated with a major division 

identifier such as NR05-03. 

Explanatory Note 2: Public Land Survey System

Public Land Survey System Descriptions were originally begun in 1785 on public domain 

lands and the rules for its use were defined by the authority of the U.S. Government. 

Public Land Survey System Descriptions have since been extended, following similar 

rules, into non-public domain areas. Both the original government defined rectangular 

division of land and the subsequent extensions into non-public domain areas are included 

in Public Land Survey System Legal Area Descriptions.

The Public Land Survey System Origins and Survey Names are modeled here to reflect 

the survey systems as they exist in the records and on the ground. This modeling does 

not interfere with the Bureau of Land Management's PLSS Origin modeling.
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Appendix 1 - Informative Appendix, Corner Classification Domain
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Domain Description

ALIQUOT PART CORNER - A corner that establishes the limits of a division of a PLSS 

Section below the quarter division, such as a sixteenth corner or a government lot corner.

ANGLE POINT - A point of survey where the alinement or boundary deflects from a straight 

line. Any break in bearing on a survey can be considered an angle point. A corner set by a 

private survey to establish the limits of a certified survey lot, a land subdivision lot, or other 

parcel survey is generally an angle point.

AUXILIARY MEANDER CORNER - A corner established at a suitable point on the meander 

line of a lake lying entirely within a quarter-section or on the meander line of an island falling 

entirely within a section and which is found to be too small to subdivide. A line is run 

connecting the auxiliary meander corner to a regular corner on the section boundary (BLM 1973, 

paragraphs 121 and 122). Also established where lines other than regular subdivision of section 

lines intersect a meander line (BLM 1973, sample plat).

CENTER QUARTER SECTION CORNER - A special case of a quarter-corner. "To 

subdivide a section into quarter sections, run straight lines from established quarter-section 

corners to the opposite quarter-section corners. The point of intersection of the lines thus run 

will be the corner common to several quarter sections, or the legal center of section." (BLM 

1973, paragraph 3-87). The above definition is sometimes termed the "federal center quartersection corner" and applies to BLM cadastral surveys. Under state jurisdiction alternate methods 

of section subdivision may exist and a non-federal method center quarter-section corner 

determined. In some cases, such as completion surveys, it is possible for one section to have 

more than one center quarter-section corner. 

INTERSECTION POINT - The point of intersection to mark the intersection of one or more 

independently surveyed lines.

CROSSING CLOSING CORNER - Crossing Closing Corner is a term used to describe a 

corner set where a township or section line intersects (crosses) the line of a surveyed mineral 

claim, forest homestead claim, small holding claim or the like. "A closing corner monument is 

not set at intersection with the line of a surveyed mineral claim, forest homestead claim, small 

holding claim or the like, unless required to provide an interval of monumentation of one half 

mile or less. In instances crossing closing corners may be needed for operational or litigation 

purposes, in which event they should be provided for in the special instructions." (BLM 1973, 

paragraph 3-71).
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LOCATION CORNER - A term applied to a position determined and marked by the locator 

(claimant) of a mineral right to distinctly and clearly define the boundaries of a mining claim on 

the ground. This is not the same as a Location Monument.

LOCATION MONUMENT - "When a mineral survey is situated in a district where there are 

no corners of the public survey and no other monuments within 2 miles, a location monument is 

established." (BLM 1973, paragraph 10-32.) "A location monument is most frequently used as a 

reference for one or more mineral surveys. It may also be used in any situation where no corner 

of an existing survey is available to provide a satisfactory connection for an isolated special 

survey. The monument is generally established in a conspicuous position with good visibility 

from every direction. The corner of a special survey may be designated as a location monument 

if it meets this qualification." (BLM 1973, paragraph 4-18). This definition includes U.S. 

Mineral Monuments and U.S. Location Monuments.

MEANDER CORNER - A meander corner is established at every point where a Township line, 

section line, Land Grant, Homestead Entry Survey, Donation Land Claim of other survey 

intersects the bank of a navigable stream or other meanderable body of water. (BLM, 1973, 

paragraph 3-117.)

MILE CORNER OR MILE POST - "The mile corner of a State, Reservation or other grant 

boundary does not mark a point of a subdivision; it is a station along the line, however, long 

usage has given acceptance to the term." (BLM 1973, paragraph 5-4). The mile post includes 

Half Mile post corner categories.

POINT ON LINE - A stake or object a surveyor has placed on a line for convenience, such as 

for a backsight. Points on line are set in prominent places to facilitate identification of lines. 

Modern BLM cadastral surveys may refer to points on line as Witness Points. Points on Line 

may also be Line Trees.

QUARTER-CORNER - A corner at the extremity of a boundary of a PLSS quarter-section, not 

including the section corner. Written as 1/4 not one fourth.

SECTION CORNER - A corner at the extremity of a PLSS section boundary. 

SPECIAL MEANDER CORNER - "A corner established at: 1) the intersection of a surveyed 

subdivision of section line and a meander line of a body of water or an island; 2) the intersection 

of a computed center line of a section and a meander line of an island over 50 acres in area which 

is located entirely within a section." (BLM 1973, paragraphs 121 and 122).
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SUBDIVISION OF SECTION CORNER - The BLM 1973 Manual distinguishes between one 

sixteenth section subdivision corners and minor subdivision corners, which are 1/16 and smaller 

subdivision corners. This difference is recognized, but for the purposes of definition a 

subdivision corner is any corner which defines a one sixteenth or smaller division of a section 

and is not a section, quarter-section, or center quarter-section corner. In some cases, subdivision 

corners may be corners of government lots, however, all corners of government lots may or may 

not be section subdivision corners.

TOWNSHIP CORNER - A corner at the extremity of a PLSS township boundary. Normally a 

PLSS township has four township corners. This does not include section, quarter-section or 

section subdivision corners which are on a PLSS township boundary.

WITNESS POINT - "A witness point is a monumented station on a line of the survey that is 

used to perpetuate an important location more or less remote from and without special relation to 

any regular corner." (BLM 1973, paragraph 4-17).

Domain Qualifiers Description

CLOSING - "Closing corners are intended to be established where a closing line intersects a 

boundary already fixed in position. While the closing corner thereafter controls the direction of 

the closing line, a failure to place it at the true intersection does not alter the position of the line 

closed upon..." (BLM 1973, paragraph 3-73). 

WITNESS - "A witness point is a monumented station on a line of the survey that is used to 

perpetuate an important location more or less remote from and without special relation to any 

regular corner." (BLM 1973, paragraph 4-17).

AMENDED - There are two primary applications of amended monuments stated in the BLM 

Manual of Instruction. In general a monument whose position no longer marks the true position 

for the corner. The monument is marked A.M. "If it is known that a mineral survey, homestead 

entry, small holding claim, right of way, reservoir, or other survey has been connected with a 

corner of an exterior subject to rectification, the fact is stated in the special instruction. In such a 

case the marks A.M. (signifying amended monument) are added to the original corner 

monument and the old corner is connected by course and distance to the new." (BLM 1973, 

paragraph 3-36.) "A recovered closing corner not actually located on the line that was closed 

upon will determine the direction of the closing line, but not its legal terminus. The correct 

position is at the true point of intersection of the two lines. The new monument in those cases 

where it is required will always be placed at the true point of intersection. An off-line monument 

in those cases where a new monument is required will be marked A.M. (for amended 
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monument) and will be connected by course and distance." (BLM 1973, paragraphs 5-41 and 

8-16(6).) 

AUXILIARY - A corner established at a suitable point on the meander line of a lake lying 

entirely within a quarter-section or on the meander line of an island falling entirely within a 

section and which is found to be too small to subdivide. A line is run connecting the auxiliary 

meander corner to a regular corner on the section boundary (BLM 1973, paragraphs 121 and 

122). Also established where lines other than regular subdivision of section lines intersect a 

meander line (BLM 1973, sample plat).
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Appendix 2 - Informative Annex, Ownership Type Domain
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Domain Description

FEE SIMPLE OWNERSHIP - Absolute. A fee simple absolute is an estate limited absolutely 

to a man or woman and his or her heirs and assigns forever without limitation or condition.

GENERAL TENANCY - A tenancy which is not fixed and made certain in point of duration by 

the agreement of the parties.

JOINT TENANCY - An estate in fee simple, fee tail, for life, for years, or at will arising by the 

purchase or grant to two or more persons. Joint tenants have one and the same interest, accruing 

by one and the same time, and held by one and the same undivided possession. The primary 

incident of joint tenancy is survivorship, by which the entire tenancy on the decease of any joint 

tenant remains to the survivors, and at length to the last survivor.

LIFE ESTATE - An estate whose duration is limited to the life of the party holding it or the life 

of some other person. A legal arrangement whereby the beneficiary is entitled to estate for his or 

her life. Upon the death of the life tenant the property will go to the holder of the remainder 

interest or to the grantor by reversion.

TENANCY IN COMMON - A form of ownership hereby each tenant or right holder holds an 

undivided interest in property. Unlike a joint tenancy or a tenancy by the entirety, the interest of 

a tenant in common does not terminate upon his or her death. The percentage of Tenancy in 

Common interests pass on in the estate.

TENANCY BY THE ENTIRETY - A tenancy which is created between husband and wife and 

by which together they hold title to the whole with right of survivorship so that upon death of 

either, the other takes whole to the exclusion of the deceased heirs.

TENANCY IN PARTNERSHIP - Real Estate held by partnership and governed under the 

Uniform Partnership Act.

TENANCY FROM PERIOD-TO-PERIOD - A periodic tenancy which runs from month to 

month, year-to-year or other specified period of time. A Lease is an example of Tenancy from 

Period-to-Period.

TENANT AT WILL - One who holds the possession of rights by permission of the right grantor 

but without fixed term.

TIMESHARE OWNERSHIP - Timeshare ownership is a condominium ownership that extends 

for a specified time period as well for a specified space. This is a special case of a tenancy in 

common.
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OWNER AFTER LIFE ESTATE - The tenant or right holder who holds the remainder or 

reversion rights to a life estate.

UNDIVIDED INTEREST - An undivided right or title, or title to an undivided portion of an 

estate, is that owned by two or more tenants in common or by joint tenants before partition. Held 

by the same title by two or more persons, whether their rights are equal as to value or quantity or 

unequal.

WITH REMAINDER - The remnant of an estate in land, depending upon a particular prior 

estate created at the same time and by the same instrument, and limited to arise immediately on 

the determination of that estate, and not in abridgement of it. A future interest created in some 

person other than grantor or transferor.
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Appendix 3 - Informative Appendix, Survey System Domain
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Domain Description

ASSESSOR PLAT - An Assessor Plat is a survey and description of one or more areas of land 

owned by two or more persons in severalty that is ordered to be done by a governing body with 

property taxation authority for the purpose of making sufficient and accurate determination of 

assessment, taxation, or tax title. The rules for Assessor Plats are defined by State law.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State and County be specified.

CEMETERY - A Cemetery divides the land into lots and rights-of-way. State law controls the 

rules for Cemetery Plats, which describe the extent of lots and rights-of-way.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State and County be specified.

CONDOMINIUM - A Condominium Plat is a map and description of rights to land or space 

that are defined by State law and contain allocated interests, common elements, and independent 

use units. State law defines the laws governing the creation, survey, and definition of 

condominiums. 

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State and County be specified.

FARM LOT - A Farm Lot is an elongated lot that occurs outside the Public Land Survey 

System on lands that were occupied prior to survey. These lots are generally elongated and 

generally run perpendicular to a body of water, such as a river. 

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State and County be specified.

2. Farm Lots are identified by a number.

FRENCH LONG LOT - A French Long Lot is an elongated lot that occurs outside the Public 

Land Survey System on lands that were occupied prior to survey and established by the French 

explorers and traders. These lots are generally elongated and generally run perpendicular to a 

body of water, such as a river. 

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State and County be specified.

2. French Long Lots are identified by a number.
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GRANT OF LAND - Grants of Land are areas of land to which title has been confirmed or 

conferred to any person or organization by the U.S. for a particular reason or purpose. 

HOMESTEAD ENTRY - A Homestead Entry is an entry under the U.S. land laws for the 

purpose of acquiring title to a portion of the public domain under the Homestead Laws. A 

Homestead Entry Survey is a metes and bounds survey entered under the Act of June 11, 1906 as 

amended that describes the Homestead Entry. 

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State be specified.

2. Homestead Entry Surveys are identified by a number.

INDIAN ALLOTMENT - An Indian Allotment is an allocation of a parcel of public lands or 

Indian Reservation lands to a Native American for his or her individual use. Indian Allotments 

are identified by either a name or a number.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State be specified.

LAND GRANT - A Land Grant is an areas of land to which title was conferred by a predecessor 

government and confirmed by the U.S. Government after the territory in which it is situated was 

acquired by the U.S. 

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State be specified.

MINERAL SURVEY - A Mineral Survey is a survey of one or more lode claims, placer claims, 

or mill sites with all their notes and plats. This type of survey is executed by a U.S. Mineral 

Surveyor for the purposes of marking the legal boundaries of mining claims on the public 

domain. Mineral Surveys are identified by number. Mineral surveys may be subdivided into 

lodes, placers or mill sites.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State be specified.

PLAT OF SURVEY - A Plat of Survey is a document prepared by a registered land survey for 

the purposes of clarifying property boundaries, generating a legal description, or establishing the 

location of improvements or topographical characteristics.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State be specified.
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SEQUENCE CONVEYANCE - Sequence conveyances are those written deeds in which junior 

and senior rights exist between adjoining parcels. In general sequential conveyances come into 

being because of a lapse of time between successive conveyance instruments. Another way 

these arise is from the sequential partition of large land holdings into separate parts. (Brown, 

1969)

SMALL HOLDING CLAIM - A Small Holding Claim is an entry in which the entryman and 

his or her predecessors of interest maintained continuous, adverse, actual, bona fide possession 

of public lands for at least 20 years prior to BLM Cadastral Survey of the lands involved and is 

covered by Acts of March 3, 1891 and June 15, 1922 as amended. Small Holding Claims are 

identified by number.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State be specified.

SMALL TRACTS ACT - A Small Tracts Act Survey is a parcel of land surveyed under the 

authority of the Small Tracts Act, Public Law 97-465, January 12, 1983. It applies to parcels 

within the National Forest System which may be sold, exchanged, or interchanged. The acreage 

of the parcels may be: (1) 40 acres or less when interspersed with adjacent lands not in federal 

ownership, (2) 10 acres or less when encroached upon by color of title improvements, or (3) 

Rights of way, reserved or acquired, which are no longer needed by the federal government and 

are surrounded by lands not owned by the federal government.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State and PLSS Township be specified.

SUBDIVISION - A Subdivision is a unit of land defined by a survey which is governed by State 

subdivision law or local ordinance. A subdivision plat is a simultaneous conveyance where all 

divisions of land within the subdivision plat have equal standing with each other.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State and County be specified.

SURVEY - A Survey is a measurement of the land recorded on a survey, map, that describes 

areas of land and is completed by a State certified Registered Land Surveyor and filed according 

to State laws.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State and County be specified.

TEXAS LAND GRANT - A Texas Land Grant is grant of land made to a citizen of the nation 

of Texas prior to Texas Statehood. It is governed by the laws of the State of Texas.
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Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State be specified as TX.

TOWNSITE - A Townsite is an area which has been segregated for urban development, often 

subdivided into blocks which are further subdivided into lots. One type of townsite is a survey 

of street and lot boundaries executed to segregate from public lands an area of land qualifying 

under the townsite laws. Another type of Townsite may be a city subdivision.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State be specified.

UNITED STATES SURVEY - A United States Survey is a metes and bounds survey executed 

to comply with one of various regulations for entry of public lands in Alaska. These surveys are 

identified by a number or a letter-number designation.

Business Rule:

1. This domain value requires that State be specified.
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Appendix 4 - Informative Appendix, Source Type Domain
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Domain Description

ABRIDGEMENT - A summary of another and larger work, wherein the principal ideas of the 

larger work are summarily contained.

ABRIDGEMENT OF FINAL JUDGEMENT - An abridgement is a condensation or 

reduction. An abridgement to final judgement is a reduction of a final judgement.

ABSTRACT - A summary that comprises or concentrates in itself the essential qualities of a 

larger thing or of several things. A lesser quantity containing the virtue and force of a greater 

quantity; an abridgement.

ABSTRACT OF TITLE - A condensed history of the title to land, consisting of a synopsis or 

summary of the material or operative portion of all the conveyances, of whatever kind or nature, 

which in any manner affect said land, or any estate or interest therein, together with a statement 

of all liens, charges, or liabilities to which the same may be subject, and of which it is in any way 

material for purchasers to be apprised. An epitome of the record evidence of title, including 

maps, plats, and other aids.

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH - An image taken by an airborne unit. These may be captured on 

film or disk and may be one of a series of photographs taken for stereoplotting and mapping or 

may be a stand alone image.

AFFIDAVIT - A written or printed declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily, and 

confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the party making it, taken before a person having 

authority to administer such oath or affirmation.

AGREEMENT - The writing or instrument evidencing the intention between two or more 

parties with respect to the effect upon their relative rights and duties of certain past or future 

facts or performances. The consent of two or more parties concurring respecting the 

transmission of some property, right, or benefits, with the view of contracting a mutual 

obligation. Examples of agreements include:

Condominium Agreement - An agreement regarding individual ownership units, 

generally in a multi-family structure, based on a legal description of the airspace the unit 

actually occupies, plus an undivided interest in the ownership of the common elements.
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Holding Tank Agreement - The property owner agrees to adhere to a maintenance 

schedule for waste water holding tank in order to obtain a permit form the county to 

allow its construction or continued use.

Non-Point Agreement - An agreement between a landowner and an agency that certain 

conservation installations that were partially funded by the state will be maintained. 

Security Agreement - An agreement which creates or provides for a security interest 

between the debtor and a secured party.

Trust Agreement - An agreement between two or more parties with respect to the effect 

upon their relative rights and duties pertaining to the legal entity created by a grantor for 

the benefit of designated beneficiaries.

Septic System Agreement - The property owner agrees to maintain a private septic 

system in order to obtain a permit from the county to allow its construction.

Well Agreement - Two or more property owners agree to maintain a private well serving 

all the properties, but the well is located on only one of the properties.

ANNEXATION - The act of attaching, adding, joining, or uniting one thing to another; 

generally spoken of the connection of a smaller or subordinate thing with a larger or principal 

thing. Term is usually applied with respect to land or fixtures as: the acquisition of territory or 

land by a nation, state or municipality; the legal incorporation of a town or city into another town 

or city.

AMENDED PROTRACTION DIAGRAM - An existing protraction diagram which has been 

amended under the standards of BLM IM-WO-93-353.

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION - The basic instrument filed with the appropriate 

governmental agency on the incorporation of a business. These are sometimes called the 

certificate of incorporation.

ASSESSMENT - A document stating a valuation or a determination as to the value of property. 

It is often used in connection with assessing property taxes or levying of property taxes.

ASSIGNMENT - A transfer or making over to another of the whole of any property, real or 

personal, in possession or action, or of any estate or right therein. The transfer by a party of all 

of its rights to some kind of property, usually intangible property such as rights in a lease, 

mortgage, agreement of sale or a partnership. Tangible property is more often transferred by 

possession and by instruments conveying title such as a deed. Two examples are described 

below.
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Assignment of Land Contract - An assignment is a transfer or making over to another 

of the whole of any property, real or personal, in possession or in action, or of any estate 

or right therein. An Assignment of Land Contract transfers an existing Land Contract to 

another party.

Assignment of Rent - An assignment is a transfer or making over to another of the whole 

of any property, real or personal, in possession or in action, or of any estate or right 

therein. An Assignment of Rent transfers the rental payments from one party to another.

Assignment of Mortgage - An assignment is a transfer or making over to another of the 

whole of any property, real or personal, in possession or in action, or of any estate or 

right therein. An Assignment of Mortgage transfers the mortgage payments from one 

party to another.

AWARD OF DAMAGES - A written decision to monetarily compensate a party who has 

suffered loss due to the action or inaction of another, as determined by a deciding authority.

BOUNDARIES - Every separation, natural or artificial, which marks the confines or line of 

division of two contiguous properties.

BURIAL SITE - Documents that locate human burial mounds and plots not included in a 

cemetery plat. 

BYLAWS - A document enumerating the regulations, ordinances, rules or laws adopted by an 

association or corporation or the like for its internal governance. Bylaws define the rights and 

obligations of various officers, persons or groups within the corporate structure and provide rules 

for routine matters such as calling meetings and the like.

CERTIFICATE - An obligation of the government entitling owner to secure designated 

quantity of land by following the requirements of law. It contains a description of the land as it 

appears on the register and the name and address of the proprietor and is prima facia evidence of 

the truth of the matters therein set forth.

CERTIFIED SURVEY - A Certified Survey is a property Survey done according to the 

standards of Administrative Code and recorded at the Register of Deeds.

CONTRACT - An agreement between two or more persons that creates an obligation to do or 

not to do a particular thing. The essential components of a contract are: competent parties, a 

subject matter, legal consideration, mutuality of agreement, and mutuality of obligation. There 

are many classifications of contracts depending on the elements in them that brought to 

prominence.
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COVENANTS & RESTRICTIONS - A contract or provision in a deed between grantor and 

grantee which restricts or limits grantee's use and occupancy of land; generally, purpose behind 

restrictions and covenants is to maintain or enhance value of lands adjacent to one another by 

controlling nature and use of surrounding lands.

DECLARATION - A document by the owner of property which is recorded in order to establish 

a legal order upon the property, such as a condominium (by a declaration of condominium or 

master deed), a system of cross-easements (by a declaration of easements) or a homeowners 

association (by declaration of covenants, restrictions and easements).

DEED - A conveyance of realty; a writing signed by grantor, whereby title to realty is 

transferred from one to another. A written instrument, signed, and delivered, by which one 

person conveys land, tenements, or hereditaments to another. Examples of deeds include:

Administrator's Deed - A deed signed by a person appointed by the court to administer 

the assets and liabilities of a decedent, as grantor.

Condominium Deed - A deed by which one person conveys to another absolute 

individual ownership units, generally in a multi-family structure, based on a legal 

description of the airspace the unit actually occupies, plus an undivided interest in the 

ownership of the common elements, which are owned jointly with other condominium 

unit owners.

Executor's Deed - A deed signed by a person appointed by a testator to administer the 

disposition of property of a decedent, as grantor.

Guardian's Deed - A deed signed by a person lawfully invested with the power, and 

charged with the duty, of taking care of the person and managing the property and rights 

of another person who, for defect of age, understanding, or self-control, is considered 

incapable of administering his own affairs.

Personal Representative's Deed - A deed signed by a person who manages affairs of 

another because of incapacity or death such as an executor or an administrator.

Quitclaim Deed - A deed signed by grantor, whereby title to realty is transferred from 

one to another operating by way or release; that is, intended to pass any title, interest, or 

claim which the grantor may have in the premises, but not professing that such title is 

valid, nor containing any warranty or covenants for title. The federal government 

conveys land to others with quitclaim deed. Examples of quit claim deeds include:
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Government Land Patent - A deed issued by the federal government for the 

conveyance of some portion of the public domain. Federal patents are a type of 

quit claim deed.

Marshall's Deed - A document giving ownership rights in property to a buyer at a 

marshal’s sale (i.e. a sale held by a marshal to pay a court judgment against the 

owner of the property). Deed given at marshal’s sale in foreclosure of a 

mortgage. The giving of said deed begins a statutory redemption period. In some 

states or locales referred to as a "sheriff's deed."

Reversionary Right Quitclaim Deed - A quitclaim deed providing that a future 

interest under which a grantor retains a present right in the property being 

conveyed.

Sheriff's Deed - A document giving ownership rights in property to a buyer at a 

sheriff's sale (i.e. a sale held by a sheriff to pay a court judgment against the 

owner of the property). Deed given at sheriff's sale in foreclosure of a mortgage. 

The giving of said deed begins a statutory redemption period.

Receiver's Deed - A deed signed by a person who has been appointed by a court for the 

purpose of preserving property of a debtor pending an action against such debtor.

Tax Deed - The deed given upon a sale of real property made for non-payment of taxes. 

The deed whereby the officer of the law undertakes to convey the title of the property to 

the purchaser at the tax sale. A proof of ownership of land given to the purchaser by the 

government after the land has been taken from another person by the government and 

sold for failure to pay taxes.

Timber Deed - A deed conveying the right to cut and remove timber on the demised 

premises.

Trustee's Deed - A deed that establishes a trust and is generally an instrument that 

conveys legal title to property to a trustee and states the authority and conditions that bind 

the trustee in dealing with the property held in trust.

Warranty Deed - A deed signed by grantor, whereby grantor warrants good, clear title. 

A deed which explicitly contains covenants concerning the quality of title it conveys. In 

some states, statutes impute warranties or covenants from the use of specific words, such 

as grant. The usual covenants of title are warranties of seisin, quiet enjoyment, right to 

convey, freedom from encumbrances and defense of title as to all claims.
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DISTRICT - One of the territorial areas into which an entire state or country, county, 

municipality or other political subdivision is divided, for judicial, political, electoral, or 

administrative purposes.

EASEMENT - A document describing the non-possessing interest held by one person in the 

land of another whereby the first person is accorded partial use of such land for a specific 

purpose. An example is described below.

Driveway Easement - A document describing the right of ingress and egress to a single 

residential or commercial property. It is usually an easement across public land, such as 

a Department of Transportation right of way.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE - A notice of performance, conduct, or regulation that is issued by 

the executive branch for the purposes of implementing public policy as established by the 

executive branch.

EXECUTIVE ORDER - An order or regulation issued by the President or some other 

administrative authority under his direction for the purpose of interpreting, implementing, or 

giving administrative effect to a provision of the Constitution or some law or treaty. To have 

effect such orders must be published in the Federal Register.

EXECUTIVE OTHER - Any other executive branch or its agencies that produces a document 

that affects rights and interest in land or the spatial extent of those rights and interests.

IBLA - The Interior Board of Land Appeals ( IBLA) exercises jurisdiction over cases involving 

appeals from decisions rendered by departmental officials relating to all survey, minerals, and 

lands cases across all public domain lands and disposition of mineral resources in certain 

acquired lands and in the submerged lands of Outer Continental Shelf.

INTERIM CONVEYANCE - An Interim Conveyance is a document issued by the United 

States to the party entitled to the lands which conveys to and vests in the recipient the exact same 

right, title and interest in and to lands as though a US Patent were issued, subject to valid existing 

rights and such conditions and reservations authorized by law as are imposed, pending survey. 

ANILCA Section 1410.

JUDGMENT - The official and authentic decision of a court of justice upon the respective 

rights and claims of parties to an action or suit therein litigated and submitted to its 

determination. Examples of judgments include:

Divorce Judgment - The decision of the court resolving the dispute and determining the 

rights and obligations of the parties to the legal separation of man and wife.
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Final Judgment - The decision of the court resolving a dispute and determining the 

rights and obligations of the parties which leaves nothing open to further dispute and 

which sets at rest cause of action between parties.

Revised Final Judgment - A review and re-examination of an existing final judgment.

JUDICIAL ORDER - An order that involves the exercise of judicial discretion and affects final 

result and litigation. This document type includes condemnations and decrees of judgement.

JUDICIAL SALE - - A sale conducted under a judgement, order, or supervision of a court as in 

sale under a petition for partition of real estate.

LAND CONTRACT - A contract for the purchase and sale of land upon execution of which 

title is transferred. Term commonly refers to an installment contract for the sale of land whereby 

purchaser (vendee) receives the deed from the owner (vendor) upon payment of final installment. 

 The vendor/seller finances the sale for the buyer and retains legal title to the property (deed) as 

security for payment of contract price. May also be called "contract for deed," "installment land 

contract," or "land sale contract."

LAND PATENT – A muniment (documentary evidence of title) of title issues by a government 

or state for the conveyance of some portion of the public domain.

LEASE - Any agreement which gives rise to relationship of landlord and tenant or lessor and 

lessee. It is a contract for exclusive possession of lands or tenements for determinant period. 

Leases are often classified according to determinant period.

LEGISLATION FEDERAL - The result of the act of passing laws by the Congress. 

LEGISLATION LOCAL - The act of giving or enacting laws by a local body. The enactment 

of laws by a democratic body in a local jurisdiction.

LEGISLATION STATE - The result of passing and signing into law laws by a state. The 

enactment of laws by a democratic body in a state.

LIEN - A claim, encumbrance, or charge on property for payment of some debt, obligation or 

duty. Qualified right of property which a creditor has in or over specific property of his debtor, 

as security for the debt or charge or for performance of some act. Right or claim against some 

interest in property created by law as an incident of contract. Right to enforce charge upon 

property of another for payment or satisfaction of debt or claim. Right to retain property for 

payment of debt or demand. Security for a debt, duty or other obligation. A change against or 

interest in property to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation. Examples of 

liens include:
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Construction Lien - A lien on property for payment of some debt, obligation or duty that 

arises by law and attaches to real estate to secure payment of a party who improved the 

property through the rendering of labor or other services or the furnishing of materials or 

other supplies. Another name for this lien is mechanics' lien.

Federal Tax Lien - A lien on property for payment of some debt, obligation or duty 

owed in regards to the repayment of a Federal Tax obligation.

LIS PENDENS - A notice of the pendency of an action involving real estate recorded in the 

registry of deeds. It is a notice that there is a lien or other title limiting action pending against 

the real estate.

MONUMENT TIE SHEET - A diagram describing the placement and accessories of a corner, 

usually a corner of the Public Land Survey System. The form, content, and filing of these sheets 

is often governed by state law or local ordinance.

MORTGAGE - A document describing a loan or interest held by a party against the real estate 

of another.

MORTGAGE RELEASE - A document indicating that a mortgage has been satisfied.

OPTION - A contract made for consideration to keep an offer open for prescribed period; a 

right, which acts as a continuing offer, given for consideration, to purchase or lease property at 

an agreed upon price and terms, within a specified time. An option is an agreement which given 

the optionee the power to accept an offer for a limited time. An option to purchase or sell is not 

a contract to purchase or sell, as optionee has the right to accept or to reject the offer, in 

accordance with its terms, and is not bound.

ORDER - A document containing the direction of a court or judge made or entered in writing, 

and not included in a judgment, which determines some point or directs some step in the 

proceedings. An Example of an order includes:

Judicial Order - The direction of a judge in determining some point or directing some 

step in a proceeding.

ORDINANCE - A rule established by authority; a permanent rule of action; a law or statute. In 

its most common meaning, the term is used to designate the enactments of the legislative body of 

a municipal corporation. It designates local law of a municipal corporation, duly enacted by the 

proper authorities, prescribing general, uniform and permanent rules of conduct relating to the 

corporate affairs of the municipality. An ordinance is the equivalent of the municipal statute, 

passed by the city council, or equivalent body and governing matters not already covered by 

federal or state law. Ordinances commonly govern zoning, building, safety, etc. matters of 

municipality.
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OTHER MAP - - Any other map of survey that contains information about real property rights, 

transfer, or monumentation.

PARTIAL RELEASE - A writing or an oral statement manifesting an intention to discharge 

another from a portion of an existing or asserted duty; a clause in blanket mortgage directing 

mortgagee to release specified parcels from lien upon payment of certain sum.

PATENT – see Land Patent

PLAT - A map of a specific land area such as a town, section, or subdivision showing the 

location and boundaries of individual parcels of land subdivided into lots, with streets, alleys, 

easements, etc., usually drawn to a scale. Examples of plats include:

Condominium Plat - A map of a single real property parcel in which individual 

ownership units (based on a legal description of the airspace the unit actually occupies 

and showing the location and boundaries of individual units including easements, etc.), as 

well as common areas of the building and ground jointly owned by the individual owners 

as common elements.

Plat of Survey - A document generated by a land surveyor for the purposes of fixing the 

boundaries of property. Once a plat of survey is approved or stamped legal descriptions 

are defined by referring to the given map and its accompanying notes.

PROTRACTION DIAGRAM - "A diagram representing the plan for the extension of the 

rectangular system of surveys over unsurveyed public lands, based upon the computed values for 

the corner positions, is termed a protraction diagram." (BLM, 1973, paragraph 2-14).

PUBLIC LAW NOTICE - Public law is the branch of law concerned with the state in its 

political or sovereign capacity, including constitutional and administrative law, and with the 

definition, regulation, and enforcement of rights in cases where the state is regarded as the 

subject of the right or object of duty. Notices of public law that come from the executive branch 

are considered executive public law notices. This includes the agencies of the executive branch 

which are represented by the cabinet secretaries. These notices do not have the effect of law.

SATELLITE IMAGE - Digital data captured by an orbiting body over a known sets of 

wavelengths.

SATISFACTION - The discharge of an obligation by paying a party which is due to him (as on 

a mortgage, lien, note, or contract), or what is awarded to him by the judgment of a court or 

otherwise.
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SPECIAL ASSESSMENT - A valuation in the nature of a tax levied upon property according 

to benefits conferred on the property, intended to offset cost of local improvements such as 

sewer, water and streets, which is selectively imposed on beneficiaries. It differs from a general 

tax in that it is levied for a specific purpose and in an amount proportioned to the direct benefit 

of the property assessed.

STIPULATION - A material condition, requirement, or article in an agreement.

SURVEY NOTES - The information contained in field notes from field observations.

TERMINATION - An ending, usually before the end of the anticipated term of the lease or 

contract, which termination may be by mutual agreement or may be by exercise of one party of 

one of his remedies due to the default of the other party. Under U.C.C., "termination" means 

legally ending a contract without its being broken by either side.

TREATY - International treaties or agreements are arrangements of a contractual character 

between different countries or organizations of states (foreign) creating legal rights and 

obligations between the parties. In the United States the advice and consent of the Senate is 

required for an international agreement to be a treaty.

TRUST - A legal entity created by a grantor for the benefit of designated beneficiaries under the 

laws of the state and the valid trust instrument.

U.C.C. - Uniform Commercial Code. One of the Uniform Laws drafted by the National 

Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and the American Law Institute governing 

commercial transactions (including sales and leasing of goods, transfer of funds, commercial 

paper, bank deposits and collections, letters of credit, bulk transfers, warehouse receipts, bills of 

lading, investment securities, and secured transactions). The U.C.C. has been adopted in whole 

or substantially by all states. An example of a U.C.C. document includes:

U.C.C. Financing Statement - Under the Uniform Commercial Code, a financing 

statement is used under Article 9 to reflect a public record that there is a security interest 

or claim to the goods in question to secure a debt. The financing statement is filed by the 

security holder with the Secretary of State, or similar public body, and as such becomes 

public record. When the document is filed with the appropriate government agency, all 

potential lenders and third parties are put on constructive notice of the security interest.

VARIANCE - A document evidencing permission to depart from the literal requirements of a 

zoning ordinance. 

WAIVER - A document wherein the intentional or voluntary relinquishment of a known right is 

made, or such conduct as warrants an inference of the relinquishment of such right, or when one 

dispenses with the performance of something he is entitled to exact or when one in possession of 
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any right, whether conferred by law or by contract, with full knowledge of the material facts, 

does or forbears to do something the doing of which or the failure of forbearance to do which is 

inconsistent with the right, or his intention to rely upon it..
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Appendix 5 - Informative Appendix, References for Marine Cadastral Boundaries
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Black, H.C., 1979, Black's Law Dictionary, Fifth Edition, West Publishing Company, St. Paul, 

Minnesota, 1511 pages.

Brinker, R.C., and Minnick, R., 1987, The Surveying Handbook, Van Nostrand Reinhold 

Company, New York, New York, 1270 pages.

Bureau of Land Management, 1973, Manual of Surveying Instructions, Department of Interior, 

U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 333 pages.

Bureau of Land Management, 1980, Glossary of Bureau of Land Management Surveying and 

Mapping Terms, Department of Interior, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 

109 pages.

Reed, Michael W., 2000, Shore and Sea Boundaries, Volume Three, Department of Commerce, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Glossary of Terms Used, Appendix A pages 

383-392.

Shalowitz, Aaron L., 1962, Shore and Sea Boundaries, Volume 1, Department of Commerce, 

Coast and Geodetic Survey, Glossary of Terms Used, Appendix A, pages 279-322.

Shalowitz, Aaron L., 1964, Shore and Sea Boundaries, Volume 2, Department of Commerce, 

Coast and Geodetic Survey, Glossary of Terms Used, Appendix A, pages 545-619.

The Law of the Sea, 1993, Definition of the Continental Shelf, United Nations, New York, 

Appendix I, pages 41-45.

The Law of the Sea, 1993, Definition of the Continental Shelf, United Nations, New York, 

Appendix I, pages 41-45.