Skip to content
ChatProjectCodes

Title 10 — SUBDIVISIONS AND DEDICATIONS›Title 10 — SUBDIVISIONS AND DEDICATIONS

Sec. 10-1.912. - Hillside and large lot subdivisions.

Pacifica Planning Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-09-23 · Pacifica

(a)

General Plan guideline objectives. The adopted General Plan endorses a set of objectives for the future development of the hillside areas of the City. The adoption of precise or specific standards for density, grading, street standards, and the provision of open space was deferred pending further study which was underway at the time the provisions of this chapter were adopted. The major objectives for hillside development as set forth in the adopted General Plan are as follows:

(1)

To maximize choices in the types of environments and encourage variety in the development pattern of the hillsides;

(2)

To preserve, enhance, and promote the appearance and resources of the hillside areas;

(3)

To provide density and land use incentives to ensure the best possible development in the hillside areas;

(4)

To encourage the best development of building sites respecting the natural terrain;

(5)

To preserve and enhance the beauty of the landscape;

(6)

To prohibit, insofar as is feasible and reasonable, the padding or terracing of building sites in the hills;

(7)

To provide a safe means of ingress and egress while minimizing the scarring effect of hillside streets; and

(8)

To encourage a more diverse housing mix.

(b)

Criteria for the use of the General Plan guideline objectives. If a subdivider, by written affirmation, desires to develop under the guideline objectives set forth in subsection (a) of this section, he shall use the provisions for the Planned Development District set forth in Article 22 of Chapter 4 of Title 9 of this Code.

(c)

Criteria for nonuse of the General Plan guideline objectives. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the City and the purpose of this subsection to protect property values, preserve natural beauty, and promote the public welfare by regulating the size of lots and the amount of hillside grading according to the natural cross slope of the ground before grading as set forth in this subsection. If a subdivider does not desire to use the guideline objectives set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the following criteria shall be used as the basis for development:

(1)

Table 4 set forth in this subsection shall be used to determine the minimum lot size and the maximum amount of grading which shall be permitted on land to be subdivided.

(2)

Where a subdivider, by written affirmation of such intent, elects to enhance the appearance, beautification, and/or recreation potential of his proposed subdivision by including permanent areas of open space, which shall be held by the City in fee title, easement, or other instrument acceptable to the City, he may be

permitted to reduce the lot sizes in his proposed subdivision provided the amount of open space offered for dedication to the City shall be equal to the sum of the difference between the size of the lots requested and the size of the lots required by said Table 4 and provided, further, that all proposed lots shall conform to the zoning provisions.

Table 4

Lot Size Prior to Grading

Topography Lot Sizes Grading
Slope
Category		 Cross
Slope		 Minimum
Area		 Minimum
Frontages		 Minimum
Depth		 Cut or Filled
Portions of
Any
Subdivision
Shall Not
Exceed
the Following
Amounts
Flat 0% 5,000 sq. ft. 50′ 80′ 100%
Hillside 10% 5,000 sq. ft. 50′ 80′ 100%
20% 10,000 sq. ft. 75′ 100′ 90%
Mountainous 35% 20,000 sq. ft. 100′ 100′ 30%
Rugged 50% or above 2 acres 200′ 200′ 10%

In using this table:

(a)

Interpolation shall be used.

(b)

Minimum lot frontage may be reduced by one-third (⅓) where such frontage abuts the outside of a sharp curve.

(c)

"Average cross slope" shall mean the average percentage of the grade within each topographically similar area to be subdivided, measured at right angles to the contours.

(§ 4, Ord. 458-86, eff. March 26, 1986)

Article 10. - Improvements

Sec 10-1.1001. - General.

The subdivider shall construct all required improvements, both on-site and off-site, according to approved standards.

No final map shall be presented to the Council or parcel map to the City Engineer for approval until the subdivider either completes the required improvements or enters into an agreement with the City agreeing to do the work.

(§ 7, Ord. 456-85, eff. December 25, 1985)

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
Export this section
▸Contents — Pacifica Planning Code
Pacifica Planning Code
  1. ▸Title 10 — SUBDIVISIONS AND DEDICATIONS
    Overview
    1. ▸Title 10 — SUBDIVISIONS AND DEDICATIONS
      Overview
      1. Sec. 10-1.101. - Citation, authority, and enforcement of provi…
      2. Sec. 10-1.102. - Purpose.
      3. Sec. 10-1.103. - Conformity to General Plan, Local Coastal Pro…
      4. Sec. 10-1.104. - Application.
      5. Sec. 10-1.105. - Exceptions.
      6. Sec. 10-1.106. - Modifications of requirements.
      7. Sec. 10-1.107. - Fees and deposits.
      8. Sec. 10-1.108. - Enforcement of provisions.
      9. Sec. 10-1.201. - Definitions.
      10. Sec. 10-1.301. - General.
      11. Sec. 10-1.302. - Division of land: Five or more parcels.
      12. Sec. 10-1.303. - Division of land: Four or less parcels.
      13. Sec. 10-1.401. - General.
      14. Sec. 10-1.402. - Form and contents.
      15. Sec. 10-1.403. - Accompanying data and reports.
      16. Sec. 10-1.404. - Geotechnical reports.
      17. Sec. 10-1.405. - Street names.
      18. Sec. 10-1.406. - Department reviews.
      19. Sec. 10-1.407. - Planning Commission action.
      20. Sec. 10-1.408. - Council reviews.
      21. Sec. 10-1.409. - Extensions of time for Planning Commission or…
      22. Sec. 10-1.410. - Appeals of Planning Commission action.
      23. Sec. 10-1.411. - Expiration.
      24. Sec. 10-1.412. - Extensions.
      25. Sec. 10-1.413. - Amendments to approved tentative maps.
      26. Sec. 10-1.501. - General.
      27. Sec. 10-1.502. - Phasing.
      28. Sec. 10-1.503. - Surveys required.
      29. Sec. 10-1.504. - Form.
      30. Sec. 10-1.505. - Contents.
      31. Sec. 10-1.506. - Preliminary submittal for City approval.
      32. Sec. 10-1.507. - Reviews by the City Engineer.
      33. Sec. 10-1.508. - Approval by the City Engineer.
      34. Sec. 10-1.509. - Approval by the Council.
      35. Sec. 10-1.510. - Denial by the Council.
      36. Sec. 10-1.511. - Filing with the County Recorder.
      37. Sec. 10-1.601. - General.
      38. Sec. 10-1.602. - Form, contents, accompanying data, and reports.
      39. Sec. 10-1.603. - Department reviews.
      40. Sec. 10-1.604. - Action by the City Engineer.
      41. Sec. 10-1.605. - Appeals of City Engineer action.
      42. Sec. 10-1.606. - Expiration and extensions.
      43. Sec. 10-1.607. - Amendments to approved tentative maps.
      44. Sec. 10-1.608. - Waivers of parcel map requirements.
      45. Sec. 10-1.609. - Final parcel maps.
      46. Sec. 10-1.701. - Authority and purpose.
      47. Sec. 10-1.704. - Definitions.
      48. Sec. 10-1.705. - Application.
      49. Sec. 10-1.706. - Filing and processing.
      50. Sec. 10-1.707. - Fees.
      51. Sec. 10-1.708. - Expiration.
      52. Sec. 10-1.709. - Vesting rights.
      53. Sec. 10-1.710. - Amendments.
      54. Sec. 10-1.711. - Development inconsistent with zoning.
      55. Sec. 10-1.801. - Dedications of streets, alleys, and other pub…
      56. Sec. 10-1.802. - Dedications: Fee title or easement.
      57. Sec. 10-1.803. - Park land dedications.
      58. Sec. 10-1.804. - School site dedications.
      59. Sec. 10-1.805. - Reservations.
      60. Sec. 10-1.806. - Local transit facilities.
      61. Sec. 10-1.807. - Supplemental improvement capacity.
      62. Sec. 10-1.901. - General.
      63. Sec. 10-1.902. - Conformance with the General Plan.
      64. Sec. 10-1.903. - Streets and thoroughfares: Minimum standards.
      65. Sec. 10-1.904. - Streets and thoroughfares: Grades, curves, an…
      66. Sec. 10-1.905. - Streets and thoroughfares: Curbs, sidewalks, …
      67. Sec. 10-1.906. - Cul-de-sacs.
      68. Sec. 10-1.907. - Alleys.
      69. Sec. 10-1.908. - Street trees.
      70. Sec. 10-1.909. - On-site vegetation.
      71. Sec. 10-1.910. - Easements.
      72. Sec. 10-1.911. - Lots.
      73. Sec. 10-1.912. - Hillside and large lot subdivisions.
      74. Sec. 10-1.1002. - Improvements required.
      75. Sec. 10-1.1003. - Deferred improvement agreements.
      76. Sec. 10-1.1004. - Design.
      77. Sec. 10-1.1005. - Access.
      78. Sec. 10-1.1006. - Improvement plans.
      79. Sec. 10-1.1007. - Improvement agreements.
      80. Sec. 10-1.1008. - Improvement security.
      81. Sec. 10-1.1009. - Construction and inspections.
      82. Sec. 10-1.1010. - Completion of improvements.
      83. Sec. 10-1.1011. - Acceptance of improvements.
      84. Sec. 10-1.1101. - General.
      85. Sec. 10-1.1102. - Initiation of proceedings.
      86. Sec. 10-1.1103. - Contents of petitions.
      87. Sec. 10-1.1104. - Submittal of petitions to the City Engineer.
      88. Sec. 10-1.1105. - Council approval.
      89. Sec. 10-1.1106. - Filing with the County Recorder.
      90. Sec. 10-1.1201. - Mergers required.
      91. Sec. 10-1.1202. - Notices of intention to determine status.
      92. Sec. 10-1.1203. - Hearings on determination of status.
      93. Sec. 10-1.1204. - Determinations of merger.
      94. Sec. 10-1.1205. - Appeals.
      95. Sec. 10-1.1206. - Mergers under prior laws.
      96. Sec. 10-1.1207. - Determinations when no hearing is requested.
      97. Sec. 10-1.1208. - Requests to merge by property owners.
      98. Sec. 10-1.1209. - Unmerged parcels.
      99. Sec. 10-1.1210. - Requests for determinations by owners.
      100. Sec. 10-1.1211. - Fees for mergers and unmergers.
      101. Sec. 10-1.1301. - Requirements.
      102. Sec. 10-1.1302. - Form and contents.
      103. Sec. 10-1.1303. - Submittal and approval by the City Engineer.
      104. Sec. 10-1.1304. - Filing with the County Recorder.

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.