§ 355.8 — Plats for subdivisions

Iowa § 355.8

• Jurisdiction: Iowa
• Title IX: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• Ch. 355: STANDARDS FOR LAND SURVEYING

Text

Subdivision plats shall conform to the following provisions where applicable:
1. The original plat drawing shall remain the property of the surveyor.
2. The size of each plat sheet shall not be less than eight and one-half inches by eleven
inches.
3. If more than one sheet is used, each sheet shall display both the number of the sheet
and the total number of sheets included in the plat, and clearly labeled match lines indicating
where the other sheets adjoin. An index shall be provided to show the relationship between
the sheets.
4. The scale of the plat drawing shall be clearly stated and graphically illustrated by a bar
scale on every plat sheet.
5. Each subdivision plat shall be designated, by name or as otherwise prescribed, in bold
letters inside the margin at the top of each plat sheet.
6. An arrow indicating the northern direction shall be shown on each plat sheet.
7. The plat shall show that the subdivision is tied to a physically monumented land
line which is identified by two United States public land survey system corners, or by two
physically monumented corners of a recorded subdivision.
8. a. The plat shall show the lengths and bearings of the boundaries of the tracts
surveyed. The course of each boundary line shown on the plat may be indicated by a direct
bearing reference or by an angle between the boundary line and an intersecting line having
a shown bearing, except when the boundary line has an irregular or constantly changing
course, as along a body of water, or when a description of the boundary line is better
achieved by measurements shown at points or intervals along a meander line or an offset
line having a shown course. The bearing shall be referenced to a United States public land
survey system land line, or recorded subdivision line. If the boundary lines show bearings,
lengths, or locations which vary from those recorded in deeds, abutting plats, or other
instruments of record, the following note shall be placed along the lines:
Recorded as (show recorded bearing, length, or location).
b. Bearings and angles shown shall be given to at least the nearest minute of arc.
9. The plat shall show and identify all monuments necessary for the location of the tracts
and shall indicate whether the monuments were found or placed.
10. If United States public land survey system corners control the land description, the
corners shall be clearly identified on the plat including a description of the monumentation
and shall indicate whether the monuments were found or placed.

11. Control monuments shall be adequately described and clearly identified on the plat
and noted as found or placed. If additional monuments are to be placed subsequent to
the recording of a subdivision as provided in section 355.6, the location of the additional
monuments shall be shown on the plat.
12. Surveydatashallbeshowntopositivelydescribetheboundsofeverylot, block, street,
easement, or other areas shown on the plat, and the boundaries of the surveyed lands.
13. Distances shall be shown in feet to at least the nearest one-tenth of a foot in
accordance with the definition of the U.S. survey foot. Distance measurements shall refer
to the horizontal plane.
14. Curvedatashallbestatedintermsofradius,centralangle,andlengthofcurve. Unless
otherwise specified by local ordinance, curve data for streets of uniform width need only be
shown with reference to the center line and lots fronting on such curves need only show the
chord bearing and distance of the part of the curve included in the lot boundary. Otherwise,
the curve data shall be shown for the line affected.
15. The unadjusted error of closure shall not be greater than one in ten thousand for
subdivision boundaries and shall not be greater than one in five thousand for an individual
lot.
16. If part of the surveyed land is bounded by an irregular line, that part shall be enclosed
by a meander line or an offset line showing complete data with distances along all lines
extending beyond the enclosure to the irregular boundary, and shown with as much certainty
as can be determined or as “more or less”, if variable. In all cases, the true boundary shall be
clearly indicated on the plat.
17. Interior excepted parcels shall be clearly indicated and labeled as follows:
Not a part of this survey (or subdivision).
18. Adjoining properties shall be identified, and if the adjoining properties are a part
of a recorded subdivision, the name of that subdivision shall be shown. If the survey is a
subdivision of a portion of a previously recorded subdivision plat, sufficient ties shall be
shown to controlling lines appearing on such plat to permit a comparison to be made.
19. The purpose of any easement shown on the plat shall be clearly stated.
20. The purpose of areas dedicated to the public shall be clearly indicated on the plat.
21. The plat shall be accompanied by a description of the land included in the subdivision
and shall contain a statement by the surveyor that the work was done and the plat was
prepared by the surveyor or under the surveyor’s direct personal supervision and shall be
signed and dated by the surveyor and bear the surveyor’s Iowa license number and legible
seal.