Plat (land map used in subdivision and property records)

Typical contents and characteristics

A plat normally includes scaled boundaries, lot dimensions, bearings and distances, parcel numbers, the location of public rights-of-way, easements, utility corridors and sometimes topographic features. It is usually prepared or certified by a licensed surveyor and may show monuments or markers placed on the ground. Plats are drawn to an indicated scale and often include notes, a legend and a north arrow.

Legal and administrative role

Filing a plat with the appropriate local office (for example, a county recorder or land registry) converts a drawn plan into an official record that affects land titles and permitted uses. Plats can dedicate land for public use (such as streets or parks), create or modify easements, and form the basis for zoning approvals, building permits and tax parceling. Many jurisdictions require local government approval before a plat is accepted for recordation.

Common types of plats

• Subdivision plat: divides a larger tract into multiple lots for sale or development.
• Record plat: the final, filed version that becomes the property record.
• Condominium or air-space plat: depicts separate ownership of units within a building.
• Resubdivision or correction plat: alters or corrects an existing recorded plat.

History, practice and notable distinctions

Platting developed as a practical response to settlement, urban growth and the need for clear, repeatable property descriptions. Across countries the formality and legal effect of plats vary: some systems rely on cadastral maps tied to titles, while others use plats primarily for planning and municipal records. A distinct advantage of a recorded plat is simplified referencing of lots and blocks in deeds, municipal codes and tax rolls, which reduces ambiguity compared with lengthy metes-and-bounds descriptions.

Uses and examples

Developers use plats to lay out streets and lots for a new neighborhood; municipalities use them to approve public dedications and ensure access; surveyors rely on them to locate boundaries; title examiners use them to trace ownership and easements. When a street is dedicated on a plat, it often becomes a public right-of-way; when an easement is shown, it governs access and utility placement. For more technical guidance and local rules, consult the applicable land-record office or a licensed surveyor.

See also local regulations and surveying standards for jurisdiction-specific requirements.