LSD Converter

Convert LSD (Legal Subdivision) to latitude and longitude instantly. Free tool for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and BC Peace River.

What is an LSD (Legal Subdivision)?

An LSD (Legal Subdivision) is the smallest unit of land in the Dominion Land Survey (DLS) system used in Western Canada. Each Section (1 square mile) is divided into 16 LSDs, numbered 1-16.

LSD Quick Facts

  • Size: Approximately 40 acres per LSD
  • Per Section: 16 LSDs per Section
  • Per Quarter: 4 LSDs per Quarter Section
  • Coverage: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, BC Peace River

LSD Format Explained

An LSD is written as: LSD-Section-Township-Range-Meridian

Component Value Range Description
LSD 1-16 Legal Subdivision number within section
Section 1-36 Section number within township
Township 1-126 Row number (north-south)
Range 1-34 Column number (east-west)
Meridian W1-W6, E1-E2 Reference meridian line

Example:7-25-24-1-W5 = LSD 7, Section 25, Township 24, Range 1, West of the 5th Meridian (Calgary area)

DLS Visual Layout

Understanding how Sections, Quarter Sections, and LSDs relate to each other in the Dominion Land Survey system:

Sections in a Township (1-36)

31
32
33
34
35
36
30
29
28
27
26
25
19
20
21
22
23
24
18
17
16
15
14
13
7
8
9
10
11
12
6
5
4
3
2
1

Section 25 (highlighted)

Quarter Section Layout

NW
NE
SW
SE

SW-25-24-1-W5 (highlighted)

LSD Layout (1-16)

13
14
15
16
12
11
10
9
5
6
7
8
4
3
2
1

7-25-24-1-W5 (highlighted)

LSD Converter FAQ

How do I convert LSD to lat/long?
Enter the LSD in the format 7-25-24-1-W5 into Township Canada's search tool. The converter will instantly return the GPS coordinates for the center of that LSD.
Is the LSD converter free?
Yes! Township Canada offers 10 free LSD conversions per month. For unlimited conversions, check our pricing plans.
Can I convert multiple LSDs at once?
Yes! Use our batch conversion tool to convert thousands of LSDs to coordinates at once.
What's the difference between LSD and Quarter Section?
A Quarter Section is 160 acres (1/4 of a section), while an LSD is 40 acres (1/16 of a section). Each Quarter Section contains 4 LSDs.
How accurate is the LSD converter?
Township Canada's converter provides coordinates accurate to the center of the specified LSD. Corner coordinates (NW, NE, SW, SE) are included when you download your results. For programmatic access to polygon boundaries, check our API.
Can I get corner coordinates (NW, NE, SW, SE) for LSDs?
Yes! While the search results display center coordinates, all four corner coordinates (NW, NE, SW, SE) are included when you download your results. Export formats like CSV, Shapefile, KML, GeoJSON, and DXF all contain the complete boundary coordinates for each LSD.

Ready to Convert LSD to GPS?

Start converting Legal Subdivisions to latitude/longitude for free.

Try free converter