What Is a Section in Real Estate? Your Definitive Guide

A section in real estate, at its core, is a unit of land measurement established by the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). Think of it as a fundamental building block within a larger grid. Specifically, a section is defined as one square mile, or 640 acres. This standardized system, dating back to the late 18th century, was designed to facilitate the efficient and equitable distribution and ownership of public lands, particularly in the western and midwestern United States. Understanding sections is crucial for anyone involved in real estate transactions, land surveying, or resource management. It’s the bedrock upon which property boundaries are often defined.

Decoding the PLSS: Where Sections Fit In

The PLSS is a rectangular survey system, and understanding its components is key to grasping the significance of a section. Here’s how it all connects:

• Principal Meridian: A north-south line used as the primary reference for surveying a large area.
• Base Line: An east-west line intersecting the Principal Meridian, providing another key reference point.
• Township: A six-mile by six-mile square containing 36 sections. Townships are numbered north or south from the Base Line.
• Range: A six-mile wide column of townships running north and south. Ranges are numbered east or west from the Principal Meridian.
• Section: The one-square-mile unit within a township, numbered 1 through 36.

How Sections Are Numbered

Within a township, sections are numbered in a serpentine pattern, starting with section 1 in the northeast corner, proceeding west to section 6, then dropping down to section 7 and proceeding east to section 12, and so on, ending with section 36 in the southeast corner. This seemingly arbitrary numbering system actually makes it easier to locate and describe land parcels.

Dividing Sections: Quarter Sections and More

A section can be further divided into smaller units. The most common division is the quarter section, which, as the name suggests, is one-fourth of a section, or 160 acres. A quarter section can be described as the “Northeast Quarter” (NE ¼), “Northwest Quarter” (NW ¼), “Southeast Quarter” (SE ¼), or “Southwest Quarter” (SW ¼) of the section. These quarter sections can be further divided into quarter-quarter sections (40 acres), and so on. This hierarchical subdivision allows for precise land descriptions.

Why Are Sections Important in Real Estate?

The importance of sections in real estate cannot be overstated. Here are a few critical reasons why:

• Legal Descriptions: Sections form the basis for legal descriptions of property in many states. A legal description must be precise and unambiguous, and the PLSS provides the framework for achieving this.
• Property Boundary Definition: Surveyors use section lines and corner monuments to establish and verify property boundaries. Knowing the section in which a property is located is often the starting point for any land survey.
• Title Insurance: Title companies rely on accurate legal descriptions, including section information, to ensure that the title to a property is clear and marketable.
• Resource Management: Government agencies and private landowners use section data for managing natural resources, such as timber, minerals, and water.
• Rural Addressing: In rural areas, section information can be used to generate address numbers and help emergency services locate properties.

Navigating the Challenges: Imperfections and Irregularities

While the PLSS is designed to be a precise and uniform system, in reality, there are often imperfections and irregularities. These can arise from:

• Surveying Errors: Early surveyors sometimes made mistakes in their measurements, leading to discrepancies in section sizes and shapes.
• Natural Obstacles: Terrain features such as rivers, mountains, and lakes can interfere with the regular grid pattern.
• Converging Meridians: Because the Earth is a sphere, north-south lines (meridians) converge as they approach the poles. This convergence is accounted for in the PLSS through correction lines, which can create fractional sections.
• Mineral Rights: Section lines are often used to define ownership boundaries for subsurface mineral rights, which can complicate surface ownership patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions that clarify many aspects of sections in real estate.

FAQ 1: How can I find out what section my property is in?

• Answer: Consult your property deed, title insurance policy, or a recent survey plat. These documents should contain the legal description of your property, including the section, township, and range. You can also check with your county’s land records office or assessor’s office.

FAQ 2: What is a government lot?

• Answer: A government lot is an irregular-shaped parcel of land, typically less than a full section, that was created due to natural features or surveying errors. These lots are often numbered sequentially within a section.

FAQ 3: What is a metes and bounds description, and how does it relate to sections?

• Answer: A metes and bounds description is a method of describing property boundaries using distances (metes) and directions (bounds) from a known starting point. While metes and bounds descriptions can exist independently, they often originate from or are tied to the PLSS grid. A metes and bounds description may start at a section corner and then define the property’s boundaries from there.

FAQ 4: What is the difference between an aliquot part and a legal description?

• Answer: An aliquot part is a standard subdivision of a section, such as a quarter section or a quarter-quarter section. A legal description is a complete and unambiguous description of a property’s boundaries, which may include aliquot parts, metes and bounds, or reference to a recorded subdivision plat.

FAQ 5: Are sections used in all states?

• Answer: No. The PLSS, and therefore sections, are primarily used in the 30 states created from public lands acquired by the U.S. government, mainly in the Midwest, West, and South. The original 13 colonies and some other states use different land surveying systems, such as metes and bounds.

FAQ 6: How does the size of a section vary?

• Answer: While a section is ideally one square mile (640 acres), the actual size can vary due to surveying errors, natural features, and the convergence of meridians. Sections adjacent to correction lines are often smaller or larger than 640 acres.

FAQ 7: What are section corners, and why are they important?

• Answer: Section corners are the points that mark the boundaries of a section. They are typically marked by monuments, such as iron pipes, stones, or concrete posts. Section corners are crucial for accurately determining property boundaries and for conducting land surveys.

FAQ 8: What is a correction line?

• Answer: A correction line is a surveying line that runs parallel to the Base Line at intervals of 24 miles. It is used to compensate for the convergence of meridians, ensuring that townships remain approximately six miles wide. Correction lines can result in fractional sections along their edges.

FAQ 9: How do I interpret a legal description that includes section information?

• Answer: Legal descriptions can be complex, but understanding the basic elements of the PLSS is essential. Look for terms like “Section,” “Township,” “Range,” and “Quarter Section.” A typical legal description might read: “The NE ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 10, Township 3 North, Range 2 East, Willamette Meridian.” This describes the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 10 in a specific township and range relative to the Willamette Meridian (a Principal Meridian in Oregon and Washington).

FAQ 10: What is a subdivision plat, and how does it relate to sections?

• Answer: A subdivision plat is a map that shows the division of a larger parcel of land into smaller lots. Subdivisions are often created within a section or a portion of a section. The plat will reference the section, township, and range in which the subdivision is located.

FAQ 11: Can I rely on online maps to determine the exact boundaries of a section?

• Answer: While online maps can be helpful for general orientation, they should not be relied upon for determining precise property boundaries. Always consult with a licensed surveyor for accurate boundary information.

FAQ 12: What is the role of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the PLSS?

• Answer: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for maintaining the official records of the PLSS and for managing public lands in many states. The BLM provides access to survey plats, field notes, and other information related to the PLSS.

Understanding the concept of a section in real estate is fundamental to navigating the complexities of land ownership and property transactions, especially in states utilizing the PLSS. From deciphering legal descriptions to resolving boundary disputes, a solid grasp of sections provides a significant advantage.