Final answer:
Three legal land description methods used in Florida are metes and bounds, platting, lot and block, and township and range; each with its distinct process for delineating property boundaries.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Florida, three primary methods can be used for legal land descriptions: metes and bounds, platting, lot and block, and township and range. These systems provide a way to accurately describe and identify a piece of property, which is crucial when determining ownership and for real estate transactions. The metes and bounds system is an ancient method of land description that references physical features of the geography. Trees, streams, and rocks serve as markers for outlines of land. This system was brought to America by English settlers, leading to a vast and irregular pattern of land plots that resembled a jigsaw puzzle. As a result, metes and bounds can be complicated due to the potential movement of natural marker elements over time.
Platting, including the lot and block system, involves dividing land into named blocks and numbered lots as represented on a recorded map or plat. This system is typically used within subdivisions and urban areas, providing an organized approach to land division and property ownership. The township and range system, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), was developed to parcel out land in rectangular plots. The basic unit is the township, which is a square area six miles on each side, subsequently divided into 36 sections of one square mile or 640 acres each.