Legal Definitions - foot acre

The term foot acre is not a recognized or standard legal or surveying unit of measurement. If encountered, it most likely refers to an acre, which is a widely used and standardized unit of land area.

An acre is a common unit for measuring the size of a parcel of land. Historically, it was defined as the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in one day. Today, it is precisely defined as an area equivalent to 4,840 square yards or 43,560 square feet. To help visualize its size, an acre is roughly the size of an American football field, excluding the end zones.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of an acre:

• Example 1: Real Estate Development

  A property developer purchases a large tract of land, which is surveyed and recorded as 25 acres, to build a new housing subdivision. This measurement dictates how many homes can be built, the size of individual lots, and the space available for common areas like parks or roads within the development.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates how an acre is used in real estate and urban planning to quantify the total area of a development project, providing a precise basis for design and construction.

• Example 2: Conservation Easement

  A landowner places a conservation easement on 100 acres of their property to protect a wetland habitat. This legal agreement restricts future development on that specific 100-acre portion, ensuring its preservation for environmental purposes.

  Explanation: Here, the acre serves as the unit to define the exact scope of land subject to a legal agreement, such as a conservation easement, clearly delineating the protected area.

• Example 3: Crop Insurance Claim

  After a severe drought, a farmer files a crop insurance claim, reporting that 80 acres of their wheat crop were lost. The insurance company uses this acreage figure, along with historical yield data, to calculate the farmer's compensation for the damaged portion of their farm.

  Explanation: This illustrates the practical application of an acre in agricultural business, where it is used to quantify losses for insurance purposes, directly impacting financial claims and assessments.