Legal Land Description API for Developers
Convert PLSS township, range, and section to GPS coordinates with simple HTTP requests. Batch processing, autocomplete suggestions, and map tile overlays. Supports 30+ states and all 37 principal meridians.
// npm install townshipamerica
import { TownshipClient } from 'townshipamerica'
const client = new TownshipClient({ apiKey: 'your_api_key' })
const result = await client.search('14S 15E 6th Meridian')
console.log(result.latitude, result.longitude)Quick Start
Start converting legal land descriptions to GPS coordinates in under 5 minutes.
Create an Account
Sign up at townshipamerica.com/app and navigate to your account settings.
Get Your API Key
Generate an API key from your dashboard. Keep it secure — it's your access token.
Official SDKs Available
Install the official client for your language — full types, batch endpoints, and error handling included.
Make Your First Request
Use your API key to convert a legal land description:
curl "https://developer.townshipamerica.com/search/legal-location?location=14S 15E 6th Meridian" \
-H "X-API-Key: your_api_key"Code Examples
curl "https://developer.townshipamerica.com/search/legal-location?location=14S+15E+6th+Meridian" \
-H "X-API-Key: 1234567890abcdefghij"// npm install townshipamerica
import { TownshipClient } from 'townshipamerica'
const client = new TownshipClient({ apiKey: '1234567890abcdefghij' })
const result = await client.search('14S 15E 6th Meridian')
console.log(result.latitude, result.longitude)# pip install townshipamerica
from townshipamerica import TownshipAmerica
client = TownshipAmerica(api_key="your_api_key")
result = client.search("14S 15E 6th Meridian")
print(result.features[0].properties)Try It Now
Live Demo/search/legal-location?location=NENE%2025%205N%2030E%20Mount%20Diablo%20MeridianAuthentication
All API requests require authentication using your API key.
Include your API key in the request header:
X-API-Key: your_api_keyBase URL:https://developer.townshipamerica.com
Convert Legal Description to Coordinates
Convert legal descriptions to coordinates and vice versa.
Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| location | string | Required | PLSS legal land description 14S 15E 6th Meridian |
Example Response
{
"type": "FeatureCollection",
"features": [{
"type": "Feature",
"geometry": { "type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [...] },
"properties": {
"shape": "grid",
"search_term": "14S 15E 6th Meridian",
"legal_location": "14S 15E 6th Meridian",
"unit": "Township",
"survey_system": "PLSS",
"county": "...", "state": "..."
}
}]
}Convert Coordinates to Legal Description
Get the legal land description for any GPS coordinate.
Smart Suggestions
Real-time suggestions as users type legal descriptions.
Batch Processing
Process up to 100 locations in a single request.
Map Tiles API
PLSS grid overlay tiles for your mapping applications.
Tile URL Pattern
https://maps.townshipamerica.com/{layer}/{z}/{x}/{y}.mvt?api_key=... Available Layers
| State | Grid Layers | Label Layers |
|---|---|---|
| All PLSS States | twpfirst-divisionsecond-division | twp_labelfirst_division_labelsecond_division_label |
Error Codes
| Code | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | Bad Request | Invalid legal land description |
| 401 | Unauthorized | Missing or invalid API key |
| 429 | Too Many Requests | Rate limit exceeded |
| 500 | Server Error | Internal error — try again |
Rate Limits
Rate limits vary by plan tier.
Build
Scale
Enterprise
OpenAPI Specification
Download our OpenAPI 3.0 specification for code generation, testing, and documentation.
API Pricing
Simple, predictable pricing.
Build
For development & testing
- 1,000 requests/mo
- $0.02/request
- 1/sec
- Unlimited API keys
Scale
For production apps
- 10,000 requests/mo
- $0.01/request
- 5/sec
- Unlimited API keys
Enterprise
For high-volume needs
- 100,000 requests/mo
- $0.005/request
- 25/sec
- Unlimited API keys
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free PLSS API?
Yes. Township America offers a free tier with a limited number of requests per month — enough to build and test your integration before committing to a paid plan. See all plans.
How accurate is the PLSS geocoding?
Professional-grade accuracy sourced directly from BLM survey data. Results include a confidence score so your application can handle edge cases appropriately.
Can I batch convert PLSS descriptions via API?
Yes. The batch endpoint accepts arrays of up to 100 legal descriptions per request, returning coordinates for all of them in a single response. Batch conversion guide.
What response formats are supported?
All endpoints return JSON with GPS coordinates, confidence scores, parsed description components, and optionally GeoJSON geometry for boundary polygons.
Ready to convert legal land descriptions programmatically?
Get your API key and start converting township, range, and section to GPS coordinates in minutes.
Get API Key