Which legal description method is primarily used in urban areas for subdividing land?

The lot and block method is primarily utilized in urban areas for subdividing land because it provides a clear and organized way to identify and locate individual parcels within a larger development or subdivision. This system uses a recorded plat map that divides land into lots that are numbered, and it often includes blocks that group lots together.

In urban settings, where developments are more complex and dense, the lot and block method allows for easy reference in property transactions, zoning, and development planning. It relies on the plat map filed with the local government, ensuring that all details about the subdivision are officially documented and accessible for verification.

The other methods, such as metes and bounds, are more commonly used in rural areas or for irregularly shaped plots. The rectangular survey system (also known as the Public Land Survey System) is primarily used in the western United States and deals with larger tracts of land rather than smaller urban subdivisions. The governmental survey typically pertains to extensive areas and does not provide the specificity required for urban lot identification. Thus, for urban planning and real estate purposes, the lot and block method is the most effective and widely used.