Subdivision

Certificate of Compliance

A certificate of compliance or conditional certificate of compliance is used to establish a legal record officially recognizing that a parcel was legally created, in compliance with the rules and regulations that were applicable at the time of its creation and current case law. Determinations for certificates of compliance are made by Department of Planning & Building staff.

Lot Line Adjustment

A discretionary application that alters the property lines between four or fewer existing adjoining parcels, taking land from one parcel and adding it to an adjacent parcel without increasing the number of parcels. A lot line adjustment is acted on by either the Hearing Officer or the Subdivision Review Board.

Parcel Map

The process of dividing real property into four or fewer lots for the purposes of sale, lease or financing (including condominiums). State law requires approval and recordation of a map showing the division before sale, lease or financing of a new parcel can legally occur. Parcel maps are acted on by the Subdivision Review Board.

A land division occurs when a parcel of land is divided into two or more parcels, each of which can be sold and owned independently of the others. The Department of Planning & Building processes land division applications for subdivision entitlements according to the provisions of the state Subdivision Map Act and the County Real Property Division Ordinance.

 

Tract Map

The process of dividing real property into more than four lots for the purposes of sale, lease or financing (including condominiums). State law requires approval and recordation of a map showing the division before sale, lease or financing of a new parcel can legally occur. Tract maps are acted on by the Planning Commission.

A land division occurs when a parcel of land is divided into two or more parcels, each of which can be sold and owned independently of the others. The Department of Planning & Building processes land division applications for subdivision entitlements according to the provisions of the state Subdivision Map Act and the County Real Property Division Ordinance.

Urban Lot Split (SB-9)

An urban lot split is the subdivision of an existing legal parcel into two new parcels in eligible areas as allowed by the County Code.

To apply for urban lot split, complete the process outlined below.

Updated Regulations
On June 3, 2025, the Board of Supervisors adopted updated regulations relating to urban lot splits (County Code Section 21.02.041), which take effect July 3, 2025.
Updated regulations include:
 
  • Urban Lot Split Pre-Screening Checklist. An urban lot split application is required to include a checklist certifying the proposed project complies with regulations that may impact the lot split design and the number of allowed dwelling units.
  • Site layout plan. An urban lot split application is required to include a site layout plan for the proposed buildout of the resulting parcels, including existing or anticipated single-family dwellings, urban dwellings, and/or accessory dwellings.
  • Number of dwelling units. Parcels resulting from urban lot splits are allowed a maximum of 2 dwelling units, including single-family dwellings, urban dwellings, and accessory dwellings.
  • Eligible areas. Eligible areas include urban areas and urban clusters as designated by either the 2010 or 2020 census data or areas within a County Urban Reserve Line, not including exclusion areas defined in State Law.
  • Owner occupancy. The property owner shall sign an affidavit stating they intend to occupy one of the primary dwellings on one of the resulting parcels as their principal residence (1) for a minimum of three years from the final parcel map recordation date for the urban lot split or (2) for a minimum of three years from the date the first dwelling unit permit is finaled if there are no existing residences at the time of final parcel map recordation, unless the owner is a community land trust or qualified non-profit corporation.

Last updated: June 20, 2025

 

Voluntary Merger

A Voluntary Merger is a process that results in the combination of two or more contiguous parcels which are held in common ownership into a single parcel.