What is a legal subdivision (LSD)?
A legal subdivision, or LSD, is a 40-acre division of a DLS section. It is common in Canadian oil-and-gas land descriptions.
LSDs inside a DLS section
Each DLS section can be split into 16 legal subdivisions. LSD numbers give a finer location than a quarter section while staying inside the township, range and meridian grid.
A complete LSD description still needs the section, township, range and meridian so the decoder can place it in the right township.
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.