Parcel data is recorded in the form of a plat.

A plat is a map of a land area, usually on the scale of a neighborhood or county township, and a plot is a piece of land used for a single purpose (such as a park or a home). Essentially, a plat map records the collection of plots that make up a neighborhood.

A plat map, also known as a “plat,” shows you how a tract of land is divided into lots in your county. It is drawn to scale and records the land’s size, boundary locations, nearby streets, flood zones, and any easements or rights of way.

A plat map is required if a piece of land is to be subdivided into lots for building homes or if the land is to be made into a public-access location, like a park. This map is also typically included in the paperwork you get when you buy a home.

They are used in real estate transactions as part of the title search and insurance. Title records are searched to make sure the seller has the right to convey the property described and the buyer is buying exactly what they think they are buying.