Certified Residential Appraiser Practice Exam

Which of the following methods of land description is referred to as the US government survey system?

1. Lot and Block System

2. Rectangular Survey

3. Metes and Bounds

4. Public Land Survey

The correct answer is: Rectangular Survey

The method referred to as the US government survey system is the Rectangular Survey. This system, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), was established to provide a standardized method for surveying and describing land in the United States, particularly in areas that were not part of the original thirteen colonies. The Rectangular Survey divides land into a series of rectangular parcels using a grid system based on principal meridians (north-south lines) and base lines (east-west lines). From these intersections, townships and sections are formed, allowing for precise location and identification of land parcels. This method is particularly useful in vast areas of land that were once surveyed for public distribution and sale and allows for easier navigation and referencing of property boundaries. The other methods, such as the Lot and Block System and Metes and Bounds, are different ways to describe land. The Lot and Block System is generally used in urban areas to identify properties through a plat of subdivisions, while Metes and Bounds uses physical landmarks and directions for defining property boundaries, which may not align with the standardized grid system. The term "Public Land Survey" often refers to the same system, but it is the Rectangular Survey that specifically designates the structured approach employed to survey