Final answer:
The metes and bounds system is the survey method used for defining condominium ownership boundaries, involving the use of natural landmarks to delineate property lines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The survey method used for expressing condominium ownership boundaries is the metes and bounds system. This cadastral system was introduced by English settlers during the colonial period, and it involves the use of natural landmarks and measurements to determine and describe the boundaries of land parcels.
The metes and bounds system can result in very irregular land shapes, as demonstrated in historical property maps resembling a jigsaw puzzle. This method contrasts with systems like the rectangular survey system proposed by Thomas Jefferson, aimed at creating a middle class of yeoman farmers with equally sized, well-ordered land plots.
Despite the original utility of the metes and bounds system, its reliance on movable objects like trees, rocks, and streams often complicated the precise determination of property lines.
Modern condominium developments require clear and accurate descriptions of boundaries, and the metes and bounds descriptions continue to play a central role in defining these, especially in areas that were originally surveyed using this method and have continued that tradition for legal and historical consistency.