Public Land Survey System (PLSS) Tutorial
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 Figure 1: PLSS in Wisconsin |
When the land was first surveyed in Wisconsin, it was divided into a grid as shown in Figure 1. Each grid cell represents approximately 36 square miles (the measurements were not always precise due to the instruments the surveyors were using, among other limitations). This grid system is known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). An example of a legal description using the PLSS is given below.
N 1/2 SE 1/4 SW 1/4, S24, T32N, R18E
The descriptions are generally read from front to back. For example, the description above would be read "The north 1/2 of the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 24, township 32 north, range 18 east."
However, the easiest way to interpret descriptions is from back to front (or, right to left). To determine where the property is, we will break the description down into each of its elements, starting from the back and working our way to the front. We'll be starting with the most general labels and then move into the smallest, most specific labels.
RSS