Article I — Definitions and General Provisions

As used in this title:

"Advisory agency" means the Planning Commission of the City; except that, in the case of a lot line adjustment, it means the Deputy City Manager/Community Development and City Engineer, who shall have the authority to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove such lot line adjustment.

"Alley" means a public way, primarily for vehicular use, which affords a secondary means of access to abutting properties.

"Board of Supervisors" means the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles.

"City Engineer" means the City Engineer of the City.

"County Engineer" means the County Engineer of the County of Los Angeles.

"County Recorder" means the County Recorder of the County of Los Angeles.

"County Surveyor" means the County Surveyor of the County of Los Angeles.

"Cul-de-sac street" means a minor street, with only one outlet, and which provides for an adequate turning area for vehicular traffic at its terminus.

"Governing body" means the City Council of the City.

"Owner" means any individual, firm, association, syndicated copartnership or corporation having sufficient proprietary interest in the land sought to be subdivided to commence and maintain proceedings to subdivide the same under this title.

"Planning Commission" means the Planning Commission of the City.

"Planning Division" means the Planning Division of the Community Development Department of the City.

"Private street" means a street not dedicated or to be dedicated and not open or to be open for public use.

"Roadway" means that portion of a street right-of-way intended to accommodate the movement of vehicles.

"Service road" means a street adjacent to a freeway, or major or secondary highway, and separated therefrom by a dividing strip, which provides the primary means of vehicular and pedestrian access to abutting properties.

"Street" or "street right-of-way" means the total area dedicated, or to be dedicated for public street use and includes all roadway, parkway and sidewalk areas.

"Subdivider" means the individual, firm, association, syndicate, copartnership or corporation commencing proceedings under this title to effect a subdivision of land hereunder for him or herself, or for itself, or for another.

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City of Norwalk, CA

SUBDIVISIONS

§ 16.01.010

§ 16.01.050

"Subdivision" means the division, by any subdivider, of any unit or units of improved or unimproved land, or any portion thereof, shown on the latest equalized County Assessment Roll as a unit or as contiguous units, for the purpose of sale, lease or financing, whether immediate or future, except for leases of agricultural land for agricultural purposes. Property shall be considered as contiguous units even if it is separated by roads, streets, utility easements or railroad rights-of-way. Subdivision includes a condominium project, as defined in Section4125 of the Civil Code, a community apartment project, as defined in Section 11004 of the Business and Professions Code, or the conversion of five or more existing dwelling units to a stock cooperative, as defined in Section 11003.2 of the Business and Professions Code.

"Subdivision engineer" means the registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor employed by the owner or by the subdivider to prepare the necessary maps and plans for the subdivision.

Subdivision Map Act Definitions. Except as otherwise provided in this title, all terms used in this title which are defined in the Subdivision Map Act are used as so defined.

(Prior code § 26-1.1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

This title is adopted pursuant to the authority of the Subdivision Map Act (Title 7, Division 2, California Government Code) and may be cited as the Subdivision Ordinance of the City of Norwalk. The provisions of the Subdivision Map Act are incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein. In the event of any actual conflict, the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act are incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein. In the event of any actual conflict, the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act shall prevail. (Prior code § 26-1.2; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

It is the purpose of this title to regulate and control the division of land in the City, to supplement the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act and specifically to provide for review of data relating to subdivisions, the form and content of tract maps and parcel maps, and the procedures to be followed in securing the approval of the City regarding such maps. To accomplish this purpose, the regulations outlined in this title are determined to be necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety and general welfare.

Any references herein to the Subdivision Map Act, or a specific section thereof, shall refer to the Subdivision Map Act as most currently amended. (Prior code § 26-1.3; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

No land shall be divided and developed for any purpose which is not in conformance with the general plan, any specific plan, or any zoning code regulation of the City. (Prior code § 26-1.4; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Tentative, parcel and final maps shall be prepared when required by and in conformance with the provisions of this title and/or the Subdivision Map Act.

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City of Norwalk, CA § 16.01.050

NORWALK CODE

§ 16.01.070

(Prior code § 26-1.5; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

A tentative and final tract map shall be submitted for all subdivisions where a tentative and final tract map are required pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act. Nothing shall preclude the department from requiring a tract map wherever a parcel map is required by this title or by the Subdivision Map Act.

(Prior code § 26-1.6; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

A tentative and final parcel map shall be required for all subdivisions for which a tract map is not required by Section 16.01.060, except, where:

• A. The requirement for a parcel map is waived by the City pursuant to this title; or

• B. A lot line adjustment or lot merger between two or more adjacent parcels is proposed; or

• C. Any property is divided solely for the purpose of transfer to or acquisition by the State of California for freeway purposes, provided that (1) the portion of the property retained by the owner has been certified as a legal building site pursuant to Section 17.48.100, and (2) maps showing the right-of-way lines of the proposed freeway have been on file with the City for not less than six months prior to such division or for not less than such shorter period as the City Engineer shall have approved in writing; and provided, further, that the portion of the property transferred to or acquired by a public agency for public use shall not be or constitute a building site for any purposes whatsoever, unless thereafter approved as such in a proceeding under this title or other appropriate proceeding.

• (Prior code § 26-1.7; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

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City of Norwalk, CA

SUBDIVISIONS

§ 16.01.080

§ 16.01.120

Article II Enforcement

It is unlawful for any person, including a principal, agent or otherwise, to sell, lease, finance or transfer title to any portion of any subdivision, lot or parcel of land in the City for which a parcel, tentative or final map or certificate of compliance is required pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act or this title, unless a parcel, tentative or final map or certificate of compliance in full compliance with the Subdivision Map Act and this title has been filed with the County Recorder. This section shall not apply to any parcel or parcels of a subdivision offered for sale, lien or lease, contracted for sale, lien or lease, or sold, mortgaged, liened or leased in compliance with or exempt from any law regulating the design and improvement of subdivisions, in effect at the time the subdivision was established.

(Prior code § 26-10.1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

No agency or City department shall issue any permit or grant any approval necessary to develop any real property which has been divided or which has resulted from a division in violation of the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act or the provisions of this title. (Prior code § 26-10.2; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Notices of violation shall be given pursuant to California Government Code Section 66499.36. Such notices shall be filed by the Department with the County Recorder. Notice to the property owner shall specify the nature of the violation and shall be deemed sufficiently served if mailed to the property owner as shown on the most current Los Angeles County Assessor's tax rolls. (Prior code § 26-10.3; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Any person, firm, corporation, partnership or copartnership who wilfully violates any of the provisions or fails to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment in jail for a period not to exceed six months, or by both fine and imprisonment, except that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to bar any legal, equitable or summary remedy to which the City or any person, firm, corporation, partnership or copartnership may otherwise be entitled; and the City or any person, firm, corporation, partnership or copartnership may file a suit in the Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles to restrain or enjoin any attempted or proposed subdivision or sale in violation of this title. (Prior code § 26-10.4; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

• A. Any person owning real property may request the issuance of a certificate of compliance, stating that such real property, or any division thereof, complies with the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act and this title. Such request shall be filed with the Director, upon such forms, and accompanied by such fee, as established by resolution of the City Council, and accompanied by such information as may be prescribed by the Director.

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City of Norwalk, CA § 16.01.120

NORWALK CODE

§ 16.01.130

• B. Upon making a determination of compliance, the Director and City Engineer shall cause a certificate of compliance to be filed with the County Recorder.

• (Prior code § 26-10.5; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

If any section, subsection, clause, phrase or portion of this title is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by decision of any Court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this title. (Prior code § 26-10.6; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

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City of Norwalk, CA

SUBDIVISIONS

§ 16.02.010

§ 16.02.020