DLS🇨🇦 Canada
DLS land descriptions in Alberta
Alberta is surveyed under the Dominion Land Survey. Descriptions reference the 4th, 5th, and 6th meridians, reading from the quarter outward.
What to know about Alberta
- The 4th Meridian forms the Alberta–Saskatchewan boundary; ranges count west from it across the province.
- A description like NE-12-34-5-W4 is the NE quarter of section 12, township 34, range 5, west of the 4th meridian.
Example descriptions
Each opens a decoded parcel with a map, coordinates and a plain-English breakdown.
Learn the terms
Last reviewed June 2026. General information about survey systems — not legal, title, or survey advice.
Sources: Natural Resources Canada — About Canada Lands surveys, NRCan — Manual of Instructions for the Survey of Dominion Lands.