What is a quarter section?
A quarter section is one quarter of a survey section, about 160 acres. It is the basic unit of ownership in both the Canadian DLS and the US PLSS.
Quarters and the grid
A section is about one square mile (640 acres). Splitting it into four gives the NE, NW, SE and SW quarters of roughly 160 acres each, which can split again into quarter-quarters of about 40 acres.
Frequently asked questions
Can I map a legal land description from text?
Yes, if the description includes the fields required by its survey system. Missing meridians, counties, townships or survey names can make a description ambiguous.
Which systems can the decoder identify?
The decoder identifies Canadian DLS, NTS, Ontario lots and concessions, US PLSS, and Manitoba river/parish lots and Texas GLO descriptions. DLS, NTS, Ontario and PLSS decode to a map today; Manitoba river/parish lots and Texas GLO are recognised now, with full decoding and mapping coming soon.
Last reviewed June 2026. General information about survey systems — not legal, title, or survey advice.
Sources: US BLM — Cadastral Survey (PLSS), Natural Resources Canada — About Canada Lands surveys.