Earlier editions: 2026-09
Chowchilla Municipal Code Ch. 17.24 Final Maps
Chowchilla Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Chowchilla
Cite as: Chowchilla Municipal Code Chapter 17.24 · Text as of 2026-10-04
17.24.010 - Filing—Time limit.¶
A. Unless the tentative map has expired, the subdivider may cause the subdivision or any part thereof to be accurately surveyed and a final map to be prepared and filed. The final map shall conform to the tentative map, as approved, and shall comply with all provisions of this title.
B. The final map shall be submitted with the city clerk not less than sixty days prior to the date by which the map must be recorded in order to permit the actions by the city engineer, the council, and the county recorder as required by this title and the Subdivision Map Act.
C. See Section 17.24.140 for failure to record a final map within the specified time limits.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.020 - Filing—Procedure.¶
A. A final map may be filed if the approved tentative map has not expired. The city engineer shall determine that a timely filing has been made when he/she finds that the final map and all required supporting documentation has been submitted to the city.
B. The filing shall be with the city engineer.
C. The following documents shall be filed:
The original final map and seven copies shall be filed.
Evidence of title, acceptable to the county recorder, shall be secured from a title company indicating that, as shown by the public records, the parties whose signatures appear on the map and consent to the recordation of the map are all the parties having a record title interest in the land being subdivided and whose signatures are required by the Subdivision Map Act.
Memorandum for the city engineer containing the following data shall accompany the map:
a. The total area of the tract submitted;
b. The total area in roads and the total lineal length of roads;
c. The total area in lots;
d. The total number of lots;
e. The area in parks, school sites, or other lands offered for dedication or reserved for future public or quasi-public uses;
f. The proposed use of the lots;
g. Total areas for each of the proposed uses;
Two copies of the protective covenants, if any, that are to be recorded shall accompany the map.
Improvement plans shall be submitted showing all the improvements required in this title, and all others proposed to be installed by the subdivider, in, on, over or under any road, way, right-of-way, easement, or parcel of land dedicated by the map.
All notes, sheets and drawings showing traverse closure and the computation of all distances, angles and courses shown on the final map and ties to existing and proposed monuments, and adjacent subdivisions shall accompany the map, when required by the city engineer.
All fees as specified in this title shall be paid.
A statement from the county tax collector shall be secured showing that there are no liens against the subdivision or any part thereof for unpaid taxes or special assessments collected as taxes, except taxes or special assessments not yet payable.
A statement shall be secured from the county auditor-controller giving his estimate of the amount of taxes and assessments which are a lien, but which are not payable.
All necessary agreements or contracts, bonds, and deposits as required by this title shall accompany the final map.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.030 - Preliminary soil report and geologic reports.¶
A. A preliminary soil report shall be prepared by a civil engineer who is registered by the state, based upon test borings or excavations unless waived as provided in this title. The borings or excavations shall be taken at specific locations determined by the city engineer or at random locations if no specific locations are established. Not less than one test shall be made for every forty lots or ten acres, whichever represents the lesser area, and in no case shall there be less than two borings for each subdivision. The city engineer may require additional tests when he determines the soil conditions within the subdivision are so varied that additional tests will be needed. If the city engineer has knowledge of the soil qualities of the subdivision, he may waive some or all of the borings. The borings shall be at least ten feet in depth. The depth of borings shall be adjusted to represent soil profiles after any proposed lot grading and shall take into consideration the soil composition after excavations, fills and embankments have been completed. The preliminary soil report shall contain the following information:
The maximum amount of excavation and fill to be expected;
The location of foundations in relation to excavations and fills;
The expansive qualities of the soils encountered where foundations are to be placed thereon and shall state the percentage of swell of a soil section taken from a representative undisturbed core sample under a load of six hundred twenty-five [pounds] per square foot, laterally restrained, saturated and allowed to swell. If footings are to be placed in fills, the expansive tests shall be performed under a load of six hundred twenty-five pounds per square foot, laterally restrained and compacted to ninety percent of maximum density with the moisture content below the shrinkage limit. The percentage of expansion shall be recorded after twenty-four hours. If the swell of the sample exceeds three percent, it shall be presumed that the soil involved is critically expansive and a soil investigation as required in subsection B of this section will be required;
Recommended bearing values for the soils;
Whether other soil problems exist which, if not corrected, could lead to structural defects;
Copies of the test boring analysis. Water well drilling logs shall not be substituted.
R-values for pavement design.
B. If the preliminary soil report indicates the presence of critically expansive soils, or other soils or fills would be of such depth that foundations will not rest on original ground, a soil investigation shall be prepared for each lot in the subdivision by a civil engineer who is registered by the state. The soil investigation report shall include the following:
The physical properties of subsurface formations;
The composition of subsurface soil and rock and groundwater conditions;
The stability of anticipated cut or fill slopes;
The general type of site grading;
Recommendations on corrective actions which are likely to prevent structural damage to each dwelling to be constructed. These recommendations may include the requirement that the corrective work must be under the supervision of a registered civil engineer.
The soil investigation shall be reviewed by the city engineer who shall approve the investigation if he determines that the recommended action is likely to prevent structural damage to each dwelling to be constructed.
C. Waiver of Soil Report. The city engineer may waive the preliminary soil report if he has knowledge of the soil qualities within the subdivision.
D. Approval Where Soils Problem Exists. The council may approve the subdivision or portion thereof where soils problems exist if it determines that the recommended action is likely to prevent structural damage to each structure to be constructed, and as a condition to the issuance of any building permit, may require that the approved recommended action be incorporated in the construction of each structure.
E. Notice of Soil or Geologic Report. When a soil report, a geologic report, or soil and geologic report have been prepared specifically for the subdivision, such fact shall be noted on the final map, together with the date of such report or reports, the name of the engineer making the soil report and geologist making the geologic report and a statement indicating that the reports are on file for public inspection with the city clerk.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.040 - Review by city engineer.¶
A. Upon receipt of the final map, the city clerk shall refer five copies of the map, accompanied by the memorandum for the city engineer and one copy of the protective covenants, to the city engineer for review and report.
B. The city engineer shall refer all easements for public utilities, including anchorage easements, to the proper public utility for review and recommendation.
C. The city engineer shall check and determine the correctness of surveying data, plans, profiles and specifications of improvements, certificates of dedication, acceptances of dedication and acknowledgements, and such other matters as require checking to insure compliance with this title.
D. If the final map and all accompanying materials are in the correct form prescribed by this title, and the matters shown thereon are sufficient, their correctness shall be certified on the map by the city engineer by his signature within twenty days of receipt.
E. The city engineer shall thereupon transmit the map together with the other materials to the city clerk for presentation to the council.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.050 - City council—Decision.¶
A. Approval of Map.
The council shall consider the map to determine if it is in conformity with all the requirements of this title and the Subdivision Map Act applicable at the time of approval or conditional approval of the tentative map and any rulings made thereunder, or if it does not so conform, disapprove the map.
Approval by the council shall at that time include, but shall not be limited to, the acceptance or rejection of any or all offers of dedication and shall, as a condition precedent to the acceptance of any roads or easements, require that the subdivider agree to improve the roads and easements. If at the time the final map is approved any streets, paths, alleys, or storm drainage easements are rejected, the offer of dedication shall remain open, and the council may by resolution at any later date, and without further action by the subdivider, rescind its action and accept and open the streets, paths, alleys, or storm drainage easements for public use, which acceptance shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder.
Upon approval of the map by the council by resolution, the city clerk shall deliver the map duly certified to the county recorder for recordation.
B. Disapproval of Map.
If the council determines either that the map is not in conformity with the requirements of this title or the approved tentative map, or that the proposed improvements do not meet city improvement standards, the council shall by resolution disapprove such final map, specifying its reason or reasons therefor; and the city clerk shall, in writing, advise the subdivider of such disapproval and said reason or reasons.
The subdivider may file a new final map with the city clerk, altered to conform to all the requirements of this title.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.060 - Preparation by licensed personnel.¶
The final map shall be prepared by or under the direction of a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor. All data, profiles and other engineering drawings submitted with the final map shall be prepared and signed by a registered civil engineer.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.070 - Preparation—Specifications.¶
A. The final map shall be legibly drawn, printed, or reproduced by a process guaranteeing a permanent record in black on tracing cloth or polyester base film, including affidavits, certificates and acknowledgements, except that such affidavits, certificates and acknowledgements may be legibly stamped or printed upon the map with opaque black ink. Signatures shall be in opaque black ink. If ink is used on polyester base film, the ink surface shall be coated with a suitable substance to assure permanent legibility.
B. The size of each sheet of the map shall be eighteen by twenty-six inches. A line shall be drawn around each sheet leaving an entirely blank margin of one inch.
C. The scale of the map shall be no greater than one inch equals one hundred feet; except that subdivisions with lots of two and one-half acres or greater may use a scale of one inch equals two hundred feet. The city engineer may require a smaller scale if complexity of detail so warrants.
D. When the final map consists of more than two sheets, a key map drawn to scale shall be placed on sheet number one indicating the relationship among all sheets.
E. The particular number of each sheet and the total number of sheets comprising the map shall be stated on each of the sheets and its relation to each adjoining sheet shall be clearly shown.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.080 - Title.¶
The title of each final map shall consist of a tract number conspicuously placed at the top of the sheet followed by the words "consisting of … sheets" (showing the number thereof) followed by the words "In the City of Chowchilla."
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.090 - Property description.¶
A. Below the title shall appear a description of all the property being subdivided, by reference to such map or maps of the property shown thereon as previously recorded or filed in the county recorder's office or previously filed with the county recorder pursuant to a final judgment in any action in partition, or previously filed in the office of the county recorder under authority of Chapter 3, Part 2 of Division 4 of the Business and Professions Code, or by reference to the plat of any United States Survey.
B. Each reference, in such description, to any tract or subdivision shall be spelled out and worded identically with the original records and must show a complete reference to the book and page of records of the county recorder. The description shall also include reference to any abandonment with the date, book, and page of records of the county recorder.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.100 - Subdivision boundary.¶
A. The boundary line of a subdivision shall be indicated on the final map by approximately one-sixteenth-inch wide border outside such boundary line and shall not obliterate any line, figure, or other data appearing on the map.
B. All lines shown on the map which do not constitute a part of the subdivision itself shall be clearly distinguishable from those lines which are a part of the subdivision.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.110 - Certificates and acknowledgments.¶
A. Certificates and acknowledgments as are required by this title and the Subdivision Map Act shall appear on the title sheet of the final map, unless their omission is permitted in the manner provided by the Subdivision Map Act.
B. When a soil report has been prepared, this fact shall be noted on the final map as specified in Section 66434(f) of the Subdivision Map Act.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.120 - Designation of lots and parcels.¶
A lot shall be shown in its entirety on one sheet:
A. Designation. The final map shall particularly define, delineate and designate all lots intended to be reserved for private purposes, all parcels offered for dedication for any purpose, and any private roads, with all dimensions, boundaries and courses clearly shown and defined in every case. Parcels offered for dedication other than for roads, alleys, pedestrian walkways, water lots, or easements shall be designated by number.
B. Lot Numbers. The lots shall be numbered consecutively beginning with the numeral "1," and shall continue without omission or duplication throughout the entire tract, except that the city engineer may require that lot numbering for adjoining tracts having similar names begin with the number following the number of the last lot of the previously recorded adjoining subdivision.
C. Area Designation. Each lot containing an area of one acre or more shall have designated thereon the net acreage of such lot shown not less accurately than to the nearest one-hundredth of an acre.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.130 - Bearings, length of lines and curve data.¶
A. The bearing and length of each lot line, block and boundary line shall be shown on the final map; provided, that when bearings or lengths of lot lines in any series of lots are the same, such bearings or lengths may be omitted from each interior parallel lot line of such series. Each required bearing and length shall be shown in full and no ditto mark or other designation of repetition shall be used.
B. The length, radius, total central angle of each curve, and the central angle and length of each segment within each lot shall be shown thereon.
C. The distances and bearings on the side lines of lots which are cut by easements shall be so arrowed or shown as to indicate clearly the actual length of each lot line.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.140 - Highways, roads and public use areas.¶
A. For each highway and road, the following shall be shown:
Width of existing right-of-way;
Width of portion to be dedicated, if any;
Centerline with right-of-way width on each side;
Centerline data, as follows:
a. Distance between centerlines of streets and points of tangency;
b. Length of each tangent;
c. Radius;
d. Central angle;
e. Length of each curve.
B. For each alley and pedestrian walkway, the following shall be shown:
Total right-of-way width;
Bearings and distances as needed.
C. For each water lot and other parcel offered for public or private use, the following shall be shown:
The intended use;
Dimensions of parcel, with bearings and distances as needed.
D. Non-Access Line. Non-access lines shall be shown on the final map. The certificate shall indicate therein where direct access rights are being relinquished.
E. Road Names. Each road shown on the final map shall have a name. The road name shall be subject to approval by the council. Where a road within the subdivision coincides with an alignment for which the council has previously designated a street name, the same street name shall be shown on the final map. Each road which is to be dedicated, which is a continuation of, or approximately the continuation of any existing dedicated road or way, shall be given the same name as such existing road. The words "avenue," "boulevard," "place," or other designation of any such road or way shall be spelled out in full on the final map, and have a proper indication of north, south, east, or west as a prefix thereto.
F. Dedication. If a highway, road, alley, pedestrian walkway, water lot, or other parcel intended for public use is being dedicated by a final map, it shall be properly designated on the map and set out in the owner's certificate of dedication on the map.
G. Private Roads. The same data shall be shown for private roads to define their boundaries as is required for public roads. Sufficient mathematical data shall show clearly the portion of each lot within such road. Private roads shall be designated by name, shall have inserted within the limits thereof the words "Not a Public Road," and shall be shown on the map by heavy dashed lines.
H. Private Roads—Dedication. If a road is approved by the council as a private road, it shall be dedicated for the private use of the lot owners which it is intended to serve. Where the approved private road shall be intended to serve a lot or lots, each consisting of less than twenty acres, that road shall be irrevocably offered for dedication for public use, and shall be rejected at the time of the approval of the final map.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.150 - Easements.¶
A. Location, Width and Ties. The final map shall show the width, the sidelines or centerlines, and sufficient ties to definitely locate each easement to which the lots in the subdivision are subject. If the location of such easement cannot be definitely determined, a statement shall be placed on the map acknowledging the existence of such easement.
B. Designation, Notes, and Figures. Each easement shown for any canal, ditch, storm drain, sewer, or utility shall be designated by a fine dashed line and clearly labeled and identified with all notes and figures pertaining thereto subordinate in form and appearance to those relating to the subdivision itself. If the easement is of record, the record reference shall be shown.
C. Dedication. If an easement is being dedicated by a final map, it shall be properly set out in the owner's certificate of dedication on the map.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.160 - County or city boundary lines.¶
Each county or city boundary line crossing or adjoining the subdivision shall be shown upon the final map and such line shall be clearly designated and tied in. No lot shall be divided by a county, city, school, or special district boundary line.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.170 - Survey monuments.¶
The final map shall show the location and type of all monuments placed in accordance with Section 17.24.230.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.180 - Land subject to inundation.¶
A. Flood Water. If any portion of the land within the subdivision shown on any final map is subject to inundation or flood hazard by stormwater, such fact and portion shall be clearly shown by a prominent note on each sheet of such final map.
B. Overflow or Ponding. If any portion of such land is or will be subject to periodic sheet overflow, or ponding of local or foreign stormwater, the city engineer, after consulting with the design engineers, shall so inform the state real estate commissioner.
C. Natural Watercourse. The location of any watercourse, channel, stream, or creek which functions as a drainageway shall be shown on the final map. In the event the watercourse, channel, stream or creek is to be relocated, only the new location need be shown on the final map.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.190 - Adjacent subdivisions.¶
The final map shall show the tract number, record information, and name, if any, of abutting subdivisions.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.200 - Subdivision recorded in multiple units.¶
The recordation of the final map and the construction of subdivision improvements may be performed in two or more units; provided, that each unit must have a separate tract number and further provided, that the subdivider, at the time the tentative map was filed with the secretary of the planning commission, indicated on the subdivider's statement that is required pursuant to Section 17.20.070 his or her intention to file multiple final maps. No bonds, deposits, payments, or other security need be furnished for the deferred unit or units until the final map for the deferred unit or units is submitted to the council for approval. Final maps for all units shall be filed with the council within the time limits set forth in this title for the filing of a final map.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.210 - Passage of title.¶
Title to dedicated property shall pass upon its acceptance by the council and recordation of the final map. The responsibility for maintenance of improvements shall not pass to the city until the improvements have been accepted by the council pursuant to Section 941 of the Streets and Highway Code of the state.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.220 - Offers of dedication—Rejection.¶
If at the time the final map is approved, any streets, paths, alleys, right-of-way for local transit facilities such as bus turnouts, benches, shelters, landing pads and similar items, which directly benefit the residents of a subdivision, or storm drainage easements are rejected, the offer of dedication shall remain open and the council may by resolution at any later date, and without further action by the subdivider, rescind its action and accept and open the streets, paths, alleys, right-of-way for local transit facilities such as bus turnouts, benches, shelters, landing pads and similar items, which directly benefit the residents of a subdivision, or storm drainage easements for public use, which acceptance shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.230 - Offers of dedication—Termination and abandonment.¶
A. Offers of dedication that are covered by Section 17.24.210 may be terminated and abandoned in the same manner as prescribed for the abandonment or vacation of streets by Part 3 (commencing with Section 8300) of Division 9 or, by Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 940) of Division 2, of the Streets and Highways Code, whichever is applicable.
B. Except as provided in Sections 66499.16, 66499.17 and 66499.18 of the Subdivision Map Act, if a resubdivision or reversion to acreage of the tract is subsequently filed for approval, any offer of dedication previously rejected shall be deemed to be terminated upon the approval of the map by the council.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
17.24.240 - Survey procedures.¶
A. Accuracy. The procedure and practice of all survey work done on any subdivision, in the preparation of a final map, shall conform to the accepted standards of the engineering profession. The accuracy of all boundary surveys done in connection with any subdivision shall have a precision of one in ten thousand.
B. Existing Centerlines. In the event the city engineer, the state highway engineer, or the county director of public works has established the centerline of any street or alley in or adjoining a subdivision, the final map shall show such centerline together with reference to a field book or map showing such centerline and the monuments which determine its position. If determined by ties, that fact shall be stated upon the final map.
C. Existing Monuments. Each final map shall fully and clearly show and identify such monuments or other evidence determining the boundaries of the subdivision as were found on the ground, together with sufficient corners of adjoining subdivisions, by lot and block number, tract name and place of record, or by section, township, and range, or other proper designation as may be necessary to locate precisely the limits of the subdivision and to permit the survey to be retraced.
D. New Monuments.
The location, size and depth of all monuments placed in making the survey shall be shown and, if any were reset by ties, that fact shall be shown. All monuments on the exterior boundary of the subdivision, except those within construction zones, shall be placed prior to the approval of the final map. All interior monuments shall be set after the completion of the subdivision improvements, and security shall be presented by the subdivider as provided for in Section 66496 of the Subdivision Map Act.
Notice of setting final monuments shall be given and payment to the engineer or surveyor for setting of final monuments shall be made as provided by Section 66497 of the Subdivision Map Act.
Monuments shall be placed and shall be of the type specified by the city's improvement standards.
The city engineer may allow the use of off-set monuments, properly tied to reference monuments, when necessary due to terrain, waterways, or other monuments other than those specified in subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection.
E. Monuments—Replacement. Before street improvements are accepted, all existing monuments disturbed by the placement of any improvements shall be reset.
F. Bench Marks. Bench marks shall be set at locations required by the city engineer. The datum for the area within the city shall be based upon datum established by the city engineer.
G. Standard Plaque—Numbering and Location Information. Identification of monuments and bench marks shall be through the use of a standard plaque. Descriptions of all monuments and bench marks shall be furnished to the city engineer for inclusion in his records.
H. California Coordinate System. All surveys required by this title or necessary to the subdivision of land, shall conform to the California Coordinate System when required by the city engineer. When required, each final map shall show the California coordinate of every monument, and all California coordinates shall be used and shown on all traverse closure sheets, and other notes and ties which are required by Section 17.24 .020.
I. Mathematical Accuracy. The blocks and lots of each final map or approved map of record shall have a mathematical accuracy of closure to one in ten thousand.
(Ord. No. 492-18, § 2(Att. A), 12-11-2018)
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