MN Land Surveyor key terms

A boundary line established by the conduct of adjoining owners rather than by deed or plat, such as long acquiescence, practical location, or estoppel. Minnesota courts may enforce such lines to settle otherwise uncertain boundaries.

Acceptance of a boundary line by adjoining owners over a substantial period without objection. Courts treat prolonged mutual recognition as evidence the line is correct, especially where the true location is uncertain or disputed.

A doctrine fixing an uncertain boundary by the owners' agreement, followed by possession consistent with that agreement. It requires uncertainty of the true line and acts or declarations showing mutual assent.

A settlement where adjoining owners, whose true boundary is uncertain or disputed, agree on a line and thereafter hold to it. The agreement binds them and later takers with notice, even if the line later proves inaccurate.

Acquisition of title by open, hostile, actual, exclusive, and continuous possession for the statutory period. Minnesota's period is generally 15 years, with payment of property taxes required in many circumstances.

Joining successive periods of possession by different owners to satisfy the adverse possession statute. Requires privity between possessors, typically a transfer of the possessory interest rather than mere abandonment.

A written instrument that appears to convey title but is defective in some way, such as a faulty description or flawed execution. Possession under color of title can extend constructive possession to the whole described tract.

A physical object on the ground marking a corner or line, including original government corners, bearing trees, iron pipes, or set stones. Monuments generally control over courses and distances in a description.

A corner established by the original General Land Office survey. Its position is fixed by the physical evidence and record, and it controls reestablishment even if later measurements disagree.

Recording and preserving evidence of a corner's position before it is disturbed, often by ties, photographs, and certificate. Good practice protects the original evidence so later retracement can rely on it.

Restoring a lost or obliterated corner from the best available evidence, following the priority of record, original monuments, and proportionate methods. The goal is to reproduce the original position, not to create a new one.

A method of restoring a lost corner by dividing the record distance between found controlling corners in proportion to the original measurements. Used only when better evidence, such as an original monument, is unavailable.

A monument placed near a true corner, with the corner itself marked by reference to it. The witness monument preserves evidence when the corner location cannot be occupied or is likely to be disturbed.

A traverse along a water body used to compute area, not a boundary of the upland. The water's edge or ordinary high water level generally bounds the parcel, and the meander line does not limit the conveyance.

The elevation where the water normally stands, marked by a distinct change in vegetation or soil. In Minnesota it is a key reference for public waters, riparian boundaries, and state regulatory jurisdiction.

Rights of owners whose land borders a water body, including access, reasonable use, and in some cases ownership to the thread of a non-navigable stream. These rights attach to the upland and pass with conveyance.

Rights associated with land bordering a lake or sea, distinguished from riparian rights along streams. They include access to the water and reasonable use, subject to state regulation of public waters.

Division of a PLSS section into half-sections, quarter-sections, and smaller aliquot parts by successive halving. Each part is described by its position, such as the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter.

A fractional part of a section created by successive halving, such as a quarter-quarter section of about 40 acres. Aliquot descriptions are presumed equal in area unless monuments or special instructions show otherwise.

A fractional lot in a section, usually numbered, created where regular subdivision is impractical, such as along water or reservation boundaries. Its boundaries are taken from the official plat rather than aliquot division.

A corner established where a surveyed line closes on an existing boundary, such as a standard parallel or reservation line. It may be offset from the true line and is recorded with its distance from the intersecting line.

An east-west correction line in the PLSS, run every four townships to absorb accumulated convergence error. Township lines north of it are corrected to the standard parallel rather than to the base line.

A PLSS unit nominally six miles square, containing 36 sections, identified by its position north or south of a base line and east or west of a principal meridian.

The descriptive elements of a boundary, ranked in priority as natural monuments, artificial monuments, courses, distances, and area. When calls conflict, the higher-ranking call generally controls the lower.

The direction of a boundary line, expressed as a bearing or azimuth. Courses yield to monuments and are corrected when a description's directions conflict with established physical evidence.

A direction expressed relative to north or south, with an angle east or west, such as N 45 E. Bearings may be true, magnetic, or assumed, and the basis must be stated to interpret a survey.

A direction measured clockwise from a reference meridian, usually north, through 360 degrees. Azimuths simplify computation but require the same statement of basis as bearings.

A series of connected courses whose lengths and directions are measured to determine coordinates. A closed traverse returns to its start or a known point, allowing adjustment of misclosure.

The difference between computed and known positions at the end of a traverse. It is expressed as a linear distance and a ratio, and it must be within acceptable tolerance before adjustment.

Distribution of traverse misclosure among measurements according to a chosen rule, such as compass or transit. The purpose is to produce a consistent set of coordinates, not to alter original evidence.

A framework assigning positions by numbers, such as Minnesota's county-based systems or the State Plane Coordinate System. Coordinates are a measurement tool and do not by themselves establish boundary location.

The state's statutory coordinate reference, based on NAD83, organized by county zones. Coordinates may be used in deeds and surveys when the datum, zone, and epoch are clearly stated.

A reference model defining latitude, longitude, and elevation, such as NAD83 for horizontal positions and NAVD88 for elevations. Changing datum shifts coordinates, so the datum must accompany any coordinate value.

Global Navigation Satellite System positioning, including GPS, used with real-time networks or static methods. Accuracy depends on correction services, observation time, and proper reduction to the datum.

A nonpossessory right to use another's land for a specific purpose, such as access or utilities. It may be appurtenant or in gross, and its location and width must be ascertainable.

A right to use another's land acquired by open, continuous, adverse use for the statutory period. Unlike adverse possession, it grants use only, not title, and Minnesota's period is generally 15 years.

A strip of land or an easement used for passage, such as a road or railroad. Its width and centerline must be established from the granting document, plat, or recorded order.

Any interest or claim that burdens title, including easements, liens, covenants, and restrictions. A survey should disclose visible and recorded encumbrances affecting the parcel.

A recorded map of a subdivision showing lots, blocks, streets, and dedications. Once approved and recorded, it controls the layout of the subdivided land and creates the described parcels.

A recorded drawing of a survey showing boundaries, monuments, and related data, required in Minnesota for many land surveys. It documents the surveyor's findings without itself subdividing land.

A written statement sufficient to identify a parcel, using monuments, courses, aliquot parts, lot numbers, or coordinates. It must be definite enough that a surveyor can locate the parcel on the ground.