Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 354.2 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026

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As used by this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

1. “Acquisition plat” means the graphical representation of the division of land or rights in land, created as the result of a conveyance or condemnation for right-of-way purposes by an agency of the government or other persons having the power of eminent domain.

2. “Aliquot part” means a fractional part of a section within the United States public land survey system. Only the fractional parts one-half, one-quarter, one-half of one-quarter, or one-quarter of one-quarter shall be considered an aliquot part of a section.\n\nTue Dec 09 22:14:20 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 354 (30, 0) §354.2, PLATTING — DIVISION AND SUBDIVISION OF LAND 2\n\n 3. “Auditor’s plat” means a subdivision plat required by either the auditor or the assessor, prepared by a surveyor under the direction of the auditor.

4. “Book”, “list”, “record”, or “schedule” kept by a county auditor, assessor, treasurer, recorder, sheriff, or other county officer means the county system as defined in section 445.1.

5. “Conveyance” means an instrument filed with a recorder as evidence of the transfer of title to land, including any form of deed or contract.

6. “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.

7. “Forty-acre aliquot part” means one-quarter of one-quarter of a section.

8. “Governing body” means a city council or the board of supervisors, within whose jurisdiction the land is located, which has adopted ordinances regulating the division of land.

9. “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.

10. “Lot” means a tract of land represented and identified by number or letter designation on an official plat.

11. “Metes and bounds description” means a description of land that uses distances and angles, uses distances and bearings, or describes the boundaries of the parcel by reference to physical features of the land.

12. “Official plat” means either an auditor’s plat or a subdivision plat that meets the requirements of this chapter and has been filed for record in the offices of the recorder, auditor, and assessor.

13. “Parcel” means a part of a tract of land.

14. “Permanent real estate index number” means a unique number or combination of numbers assigned to a parcel of land pursuant to section 441.29.

15. “Plat of survey” means the 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.

16. “Proprietor” means a person who has a recorded interest in land, including a person selling or buying land pursuant to a contract, but excluding persons holding a mortgage, easement, or lien interest.

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

18. “Subdivision plat” means the 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.

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

20. “Tract” means an aliquot part of a section, a lot within an official plat, or a government lot. 90 Acts, ch 1236, §16 C91, §409A.2 C93, §354.2 2000 Acts, ch 1148, §1; 2002 Acts, ch 1119, §200, 201; 2012 Acts, ch 1009, §1 Referred to in §354.4A, 542B.2 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases, 2003–2019 · leading case: City of Cedar Rapids v. James Props., Inc., 701 N.W.2d 673 (Iowa 2005).

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City of Cedar Rapids v. James Props., Inc., 701 N.W.2d 673 (Iowa 2005). · cites it 7× “” Iowa Code § 354.2 (17) (emphasis added). A person creates a subdivision by filing a subdivision plat.”

Baker v. Bd. of Adj., City of Johnston, 671 N.W.2d 405 (Iowa 2003). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code §§ 354.2 (7), .8; see also Oakes Constr.”

Middle River Farms, LLC v. Ladonna Antrim & Teresa Antrim (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “” Iowa Code §§ 354.2 (6); 355.1(2). The term “subdivision” is defined as “a tract of land divided into three or more lots.”

Marc Steffes, Mercedes Steffes, Lance Freed, & Jill Freed v. Terrace Park Dock & Prop. Owners Ass'n, Terrace Park Dock & Prop. Owners Ass'n Officers, Terrace Park Dock & Prop. Owners Ass'n Members, & Colonel F. Krage (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 3× “” Iowa Code § 354.2 (10). “Parcel” is defined as “a part of a tract of land.”

Daniel H. Finnegan & Julie A. Finnegan v. Lee Dickson & Carl Borrett (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 5× “The surveyor, Mohn, testified forty acres is the smallest legal subdivision created by the government subdivision system. The parties agree the proposed access road is not adjacent to a forty line, and thus, the issue arises as to whether it is adjacent to a division or…”

— Iowa Code § 354.2(13) — 1 case

Marc Steffes, Mercedes Steffes, Lance Freed, & Jill Freed v. Terrace Park Dock & Prop. Owners Ass'n, Terrace Park Dock & Prop. Owners Ass'n Officers, Terrace Park Dock & Prop. Owners Ass'n Members, & Colonel F. Krage (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). “” Iowa Code § 354.2 (10). “Parcel” is defined as “a part of a tract of land.”

— Iowa Code § 354.2(15) — 1 case

City of Cedar Rapids v. James Props., Inc., 701 N.W.2d 673 (Iowa 2005). “” Iowa Code § 354.2 (17) (emphasis added). A person creates a subdivision by filing a subdivision plat.”

— Iowa Code § 354.2(17) — 2 cases

City of Cedar Rapids v. James Props., Inc., 701 N.W.2d 673 (Iowa 2005). “” Iowa Code § 354.2 (17) (emphasis added). A person creates a subdivision by filing a subdivision plat.”

Daniel H. Finnegan & Julie A. Finnegan v. Lee Dickson & Carl Borrett (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). “The surveyor, Mohn, testified forty acres is the smallest legal subdivision created by the government subdivision system. The parties agree the proposed access road is not adjacent to a forty line, and thus, the issue arises as to whether it is adjacent to a division or…”

— Iowa Code § 354.2(18) — 1 case

City of Cedar Rapids v. James Props., Inc., 701 N.W.2d 673 (Iowa 2005). “” Iowa Code § 354.2 (17) (emphasis added). A person creates a subdivision by filing a subdivision plat.”

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