Article III — Maps Required

The necessity for preliminary, tentative or vesting tentative, final, tentative parcel and parcel maps shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 1780 § 3, 4-8-2003)

A tentative or vesting tentative and final subdivision map shall be required for all divisions of land when determined by the Director of Planning and Inspection that such land may be divided into five or more parcels, five or more condominiums as defined in Section 1351(f) of the California Civil Code, a community apartment project containing five or more parcels, or for the conversion of a dwelling to a stock cooperative containing five or more dwelling units, except where:

• (a) The land before division contains less than five acres, each parcel created by the division abuts upon a maintained public street or highway and no dedications or improvements are required by the legislative body; or

• (b) Each parcel created by the division has a gross area of twenty (20) acres or more and has an approved access to a maintained public street or highway; or

• (c) The land consists of a parcel or parcels of land having approved access to a public street or highway which comprises part of a tract of land zoned for industrial or commercial development, and which has the approval of the governing body as to street alignments and widths; or

• (d) Each parcel created by the division has a gross area of not less than forty (40) acres or is not less than a quarter (1/4) of a quarter (1/4) section.

A parcel map shall be required for these subdivisions described in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this section.

(Ord. 1780 § 3, 4-8-2003)

A tentative parcel map and parcel map shall be required for all divisions of land into four or fewer parcels, except that such maps shall not be required for:

• (a) Subdivisions of a portion of the operating right-of-way of a railroad corporation, defined by Section 230 of the Public Utilities Code, which are created by short-term leases terminable by either party on not more than thirty (30) days notice in writing.

• (b) Land conveyed to or from a governmental agency, public entity or public utility, or for land conveyed to a subsidiary of a public utility for conveyance to the public utility for rights-of-way, unless a showing is made in individual cases, upon substantial evidence, that public policy necessitates a parcel map. The foregoing exemption shall only apply if, prior to the conveyance, the owner of the subject land complies with this section. The owner shall submit an application

for exemption in the form and with such information as is required by the City Engineer. Upon receipt of a complete application by the City Engineer, the City Engineer shall either determine that the exemption applies, determine that the exemption applies subject to conditions or determine that public policy necessitates a parcel map. In making this determination, the City Engineer shall consider any written materials submitted by the applicant or any interested party. The City Engineer shall notify the applicant of the determination in writing. If the City Engineer determines that a parcel map is necessary, the applicant shall not subdivide the subject land without obtaining City approval of a parcel map pursuant to this chapter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tentative map and parcel map for a division of land into four or fewer parcels shall not be required for the dedication of land to a governmental agency, public entity or public utility which is required by the City as a condition of approval of a development project.

• (c) Lot line adjustments, provided:

  • (1) No additional parcels or building sites have been created;

  • (2) The adjustment does not create the potential to further divide any of the parcels into more parcels than would have been otherwise possible;

  • (3) There are no resulting violations of any City ordinance;

(4) Adjustment involves four or fewer adjoining parcels. (Ord. 1780 § 3, 4-8-2003)

All persons submitting maps as required by this chapter shall pay all fees and/or deposits as provided by any City resolution or ordinance establishing fees and charges. (Ord. 1780 § 3, 4-8-2003)