La Quinta Municipal Code Ch. 13.32 Lot Line Adjustments

This chapter establishes procedures for adjusting the boundary lines between two (2) or more existing parcels.

(Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 539 § 6, 2016; Ord. 272 § 1, 1995)

Lot line adjustment may be utilized to reconfigure the size or shape of one (1) lot provided that:

A. All property line segments adjusted are boundary lines of the subject lot (though the extensions of the adjusted segments may affect several lots);

B. No greater number of lots than originally existed will result from the lot line adjustment; and

C. The applicant and/or owner of the property has not received approval of a lot line adjustment affecting any of the lots to be altered, or lots abutting any of the lots to be altered, for a period of six (6) months immediately preceding the date of the current application, unless the property is zoned neighborhood commercial, community commercial, regional commercial, office commercial, commercial park, village commercial or major community facilities in which case there shall be no time restriction between lot line adjustments.

(Ord. 577 § 1, 2019; Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 539 § 6, 2016; Ord. 444 § 1, 2007; Ord. 326 § 3, 1998; Ord. 272 § 1, 1995)

Requests for a lot line adjustment shall be filed with the city engineer or his/her designee on an approved city application form.

(Ord. 584 § 2, 2020; Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 272 § 1, 1995)

Applications for lot line adjustments shall include the following materials:

A. Grant deeds and/or title reports for all properties affected;

B. An acceptable legal description of each existing and new lot/parcel to be created. Legal descriptions shall be prepared by a registered land surveyor or registered civil engineer;

C. Four (4) copies of a plat map displaying the new lot or parcel configurations and one (1) reproducible reduction, eight and one-half (8½) inches by eleven (11) inches in size;

D. City processing fees including the cost of map, plat and/or legal description checking as established by resolution or ordinance of the city council;

E. The location of all structures on the affected properties.

(Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 295 § 1, 1997; Ord. 272 § 1, 1995)

A. Once an application has been accepted for filing, the city engineer or his/her designee shall distribute the lot line adjustment request for review and comment to the public works department and other appropriate departments or agencies.

B. Within thirty (30) days of acceptance of a complete application, the city engineer or his/her designee shall either approve the lot line adjustment, approve with conditions, or deny the lot line adjustment.

C. The applicant shall record new grant deeds which reflect the approved lot line adjustment and shall provide the city with certified copies of the recorded deeds.

D. Upon approval or conditional approval of the lot line adjustment and receipt by the city of certified copies of the recorded deeds reflecting the new configuration, the city engineer or his/her designee shall issue either a certificate of compliance or a conditional certificate of compliance as required, indicating the city's acceptance and approval of the request.

(Ord. 584 § 2, 2020; Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 272 § 1, 1995)

Lot line adjustments between two (2) existing parcels, one (1) within a residential district and the other within a golf course district that results in a larger residential district parcel is permitted without approval of a zone change when the proposed increase in the residential district parcel size resulting from the lot line adjustment is less than twenty percent (20%). The residential district regulations governing the existing residential parcel are applied to the added parcel area resulting from the approved lot line adjustment between two (2) parcels.

(Ord. 562 § 1, 2017)

The following conditions shall be met as a condition of approval of a lot line adjustment:

A. The adjustment complies with Section 13.32.020;

B. The resulting lot(s) conform with city zoning and building codes; and

C. The adjustment does not cause existing uses of the property to be out of compliance with any provisions of this code.

(Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 326 § 4, 1998; Ord. 295 § 1, 1997; Ord. 272 § 1, 1995)

The city engineer or his/her designee may not impose conditions or exactions on the approval of a lot line adjustment, except:

A. To conform with zoning and building codes;

B. To require the prepayment of real property taxes prior to the approval of the lot line adjustment;

C. To facilitate the relocation of existing utilities, infrastructure or easements.

(Ord. 584 § 2, 2020; Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 272 § 1, 1995)

A. A record of survey shall not be required for a lot line adjustment unless required by Section 8762 of the Business and Professions Code, state of California.

B. No tentative map, parcel map or final map shall be required as a condition to the approval of a lot line adjustment.

(Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 272 § 1, 1995)13.32.080

A completed request for a lot line adjustment shall include payment of a processing fee as established by city council resolution.

(Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 272 § 1, 1995)

All appeals shall be processed as provided by Chapter 13.12, Tentative Subdivision Maps.

(Ord. 562 § 1, 2017; Ord. 272 § 1, 1995)