<P> In the United States, a plat (/ plæt / or / plɑːt /) (plan or cadastral map) is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land . United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Surveys to show the distance and bearing between section corners, sometimes including topographic or vegetation information . City, town or village plats show subdivisions into blocks with streets and alleys . Further refinement often splits blocks into individual lots, usually for the purpose of selling the described lots; this has become known as subdivision . </P> <P> After the filing of a plat, legal descriptions can refer to block and lot - numbers rather than portions of sections . In order for plats to become legally valid, a local governing body, such as a public works department, urban planning commission, or zoning board must normally review and approve them . </P>

What does it mean to platt a property
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