Iowa Code
Chapter 355 - STANDARDS FOR LAND SURVEYING
Section 355.9 - Descriptions.

355.9 Descriptions.
A description defining land boundaries written for conveyance or other purposes shall be complete, providing definite and unequivocal identification of the property lines or boundaries. The description shall be sufficient to enable the description to be platted and retraced. The description shall commence at or relate to a physically monumented corner or boundary line of record.
1. If the land is located in a recorded subdivision, the description shall contain the number or other description of the lot, block, or other part of the subdivision, or shall describe the land by reference to a known corner of the lot, block, or other part.
2. If the land is not located in a recorded subdivision, the description shall identify the section, township, range, and county, and shall describe the land by reference to government lot, by quarter-quarter section, by quarter section, or by metes and bounds commencing with a corner marked and established in the United States public land survey system.
90 Acts, ch 1236, §9
C91, §114A.9
C93, §355.9