Idaho § 50-1304 - Essentials of plats

Full text of Idaho Idaho Statutes § 50-1304 — Essentials of plats, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 50-1304. Essentials of plats

(1) All plats offered for record in any county shall be on stable base drafting film with a minimum base thickness of 0.003 inches. The image thereon shall be by a photographic process or a process by which a copy is produced using an ink jet or digital scanning and reproduction machine with black opaque drafting film ink or fused toner that will ensure archival permanence. The copy and image thereon shall be waterproof, tear resistant, flexible, and capable of withstanding repeated handling, as well as providing archival permanence. If ink or toner is used, the surface shall be coated with a suitable substance, if required by the county where the plat is to be recorded, to assure permanent legibility. Plats shall be eighteen (18) inches by twenty-seven (27) inches, with a three-and-one-half (3 1/2) inch margin at the left end for binding and a one-half (1/2) inch margin on all other edges. No part of the drawing or certificates shall encroach upon the margins. Signatures shall be in reproducible black ink. The sheet or sheets that contain the drawing or diagram representing the survey of the subdivision shall be drawn at a scale suitable to ensure the clarity of all lines, bearings and dimensions. In the event that any subdivision is of such magnitude that the drawing or diagram cannot be placed on a single sheet, serially numbered sheets shall be prepared and match lines shall be indicated on the drawing or diagram with appropriate references to other sheets. The required dedications, acknowledgments and certifications shall appear on any of the serially numbered sheets.

(2) The plat shall show:

(a) The streets and alleys, with widths and courses clearly shown;

(b) Each street named;

(c) All lots numbered consecutively in each block, and each block lettered or numbered, provided however, in a platted cemetery, each block, section, district or division and each burial lot shall be designated by number or letter or name;

(d) Each and all lengths of the boundaries of each lot shall be shown, provided however, in a platted cemetery, that lengths of the boundaries of each burial lot may be shown by appropriate legend;

(e) The exterior boundaries shown by distance and bearing;

(f) Descriptions of survey monuments;

(g) The point of beginning with ties to at least two (2) monuments from the following list:

(i) Public land survey corners;

(ii) Center of section, quarter section corners, or sixteenth section corners, any of which were not monumented in an original survey of the United States, provided such corners have a corner record meeting the current requirements of chapter 16, title 55 , Idaho Code; or

(iii) Monuments recognized by the county surveyor.

Additionally, if required by the city or county governing bodies, the plat shall provide coordinates based on the Idaho coordinate system.

(h) The easements;

(i) Basis of bearings, bearing and length of lines, graphic scale of plat, and north arrow;

(j) Subdivision name;

(k) Narrative as described in section 55-1906 , Idaho Code; and

(l) Any existing interstate natural gas transmission pipeline or interstate petroleum products pipeline, as recognized by the pipeline and hazardous materials safety administration, with a center point one thousand (1,000) feet or less from the planned subdivision, provided that the pipeline company operating the interstate natural gas transmission pipeline or interstate petroleum products pipeline is in compliance with section 62-1104 , Idaho Code.

(3) When coordinates in the Idaho coordinate system are shown on a plat, the plat must show the national spatial reference system monuments and their coordinates used as the basis of the survey; the zone; the datum and adjustment; and the combined adjustment factor and the convergence angle and the location where they were computed.

(4) Plats that are re-subdivisions of subdivisions of record need not meet the requirements set forth in subsection (2)(g) of this section.

[50-1304, added 1967, ch. 429, sec. 222, p. 1249; am. 1978, ch. 106, sec. 1, p. 218; am. 1990, ch. 170, sec. 2, p. 368; am. 1997, ch. 190, sec. 4, p. 520; am. 2010, ch. 256, sec. 2, p. 650; am. 2015, ch. 48, sec. 1, p. 101; am. 2019, ch. 58, sec. 1, p. 147; am. 2022, ch. 43, sec. 3, p. 115; am. 2023, ch. 140, sec. 1, p. 384.]

Source: official Idaho text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Idaho § 50-1304

What does Idaho Statutes § 50-1304 cover?

Section 50-1304 ("Essentials of plats") is part of the Idaho Statutes, the codified statutory law of Idaho. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Idaho § 50-1304?

A common citation format is "Idaho Statutes § 50-1304" (Idaho). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Idaho law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Idaho official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Idaho attorney.

How does Idaho § 50-1304 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Idaho can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Idaho.