Which land description system uses a starting point and distances and directions to define boundaries?

• A. Rectangular survey
• B. Metes and bounds
• C. Public land survey
• D. Lot and block

Answer: (B)

Metes and bounds describes a parcel by starting at a defined point, called the point of beginning, and then detailing the boundary with distances and compass directions along lines and sometimes referencing natural or man-made monuments. The description continues, tracing the edges until it circles back to the starting point, which closes the boundary. This approach is flexible and well suited to irregularly shaped parcels, and it’s a traditional method you’ll see in older deeds.

The other systems rely on a grid or plat instead of a starting point with measured lines. The rectangular survey and the public land survey organize land into a grid of townships, ranges, and sections based on principal meridians and baselines, describing parcels by coordinates rather than a path from a single starting point. Lot and block references describe parcels within a recorded subdivision plat, using lot numbers and blocks rather than metes and bounds.