It would vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but generally you can't just carve up a lot willy-nilly. In order to transfer ownership of a lot, a deed must b

It would vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but generally you can't just carve up a lot willy-nilly. In order to transfer ownership of a lot, a deed must be recorded with the relevant government agency (city, county, etc.). These agencies generally have plat books recording the location and coordinates of lots so that this transfer can take place without having to send a surveyor out each time there's a transfer, and there are rules and procedures regarding how lots are recorded, modified, and updated.