Iowa Code Title IX. Local Government [Chs. 331-420] § 355.1. Definitions

1. “Corner” means a point at which two or more lines meet.

2. “Division” means dividing a tract or parcel of land into two parcels of land by conveyance or for tax purposes. The conveyance of an easement, other than a public highway easement, shall not be considered a division for the purpose of this chapter.

3. “Government lot” means a tract, within a section, which is normally described by a lot number as represented and identified on the township plat of the United States public land survey system.

4. “Land surveying” means surveying of land pursuant to chapter 542B.

5. “Lot” means a tract of land, generally a subdivision of a city or town block, represented and identified as a lot on a recorded plat.

6. “Meander line” means a traverse approximately along the margin of a body of water. A meander line provides data for computing areas and approximately locates the margin of the body of water. A meander line does not ordinarily determine or fix boundaries.

7. “Monument” means a physical structure which marks the location of a corner or other survey point.

8. “Offset line” means a supplementary traverse close to and approximately parallel with an irregular boundary line. An offset line provides data for computing areas and locates salient points on the irregular boundary line by measured distances referenced to the offset line.

9. “Plat of survey” means a graphical representation of a survey of one or more parcels of land, including a complete and accurate description of each parcel within the plat, prepared by a licensed professional land surveyor.

10. “Public improvement project” means a project relating to the construction of the principal structures, works, component parts, and accessories of any of the following:

11. “Retracement plat of survey” means a graphical representation of a survey of one or more parcels or tracts of land prepared by a licensed professional land surveyor and described by an existing recorded property description used for the transfer of land.

12. “Subdivision” means a tract of land divided into three or more lots.

13. “Subdivision plat” means a graphical representation of the subdivision of land, prepared by a licensed professional land surveyor, having a number or letter designation for each lot within the plat and a succinct name or title that is unique for the county where the land is located.

14. “Surveyor” means a licensed professional land surveyor who engages in the practice of land surveying pursuant to chapter 542B.