Chapter 9.60 — GENERAL PROVISIONS

The purpose of this title and any rules, standards and specifications adopted pursuant hereto is to control and regulate the division of land within the city. This chapter is adopted to supplement and implement Title 7, Division 2, of the Government Code of the State of California, also known as the "Subdivision Map Act." This title may be cited as the "Subdivision Ordinance of the City of Palm Springs."

(Ord. 1125 § 2, 1981)

To be approved, any map of a proposed subdivision and the provisions for its design and improvement must be found by the planning commission to be consistent with the approved general plan, standard plans and specific plans of the city as may be applicable from time to time. (Ord. 1125 § 2, 1981)

The following standards of design and improvement are hereby established for subdivisions within the city:

• (1) Streets shall conform in design, improvement, and width to those streets shown on the approved general plan, standard plans, and/or any specific plans adopted pursuant thereto.

• (2) Alleys shall be avoided where possible, except as otherwise permissible under this Code. Alleys may be provided in commercial or industrial zones if other definite and assured provision cannot be made for service access, such as off-street loading, unloading and parking consistent with and adequate for the uses proposed. Alleys may be provided in the R-1-E residential zone, where the alley is designed to provide access to garage or carport structures at the rear of each residential lot abutting the alley. If approved, an alley shall:

  • (A) Be not less than twenty feet wide;

  • (B) Be improved to full width.

• (3) Private streets may be permitted if adequate assurance is provided for continued physical maintenance and access to the residents and/or owners of the subdivision. Private streets shall be designed and improved in accordance with the general plan, standard plans and/or specific plans pursuant thereto.

• (4) Driveway means the paved access from public or private streets to an area or building, reserved for the private use of the owner(s) of the driveway. Driveway approaches shall be constructed of portland cement concrete.

• (5) Intersecting street separation shall be no less than one hundred twenty-five feet. The term "intersecting street separation" means the minimum distance between centerlines of opposing streets where two streets intersect a third street from opposite directions.

• (6) Angle of intersection of all intersecting streets shall be as near to ninety degrees as possible.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PA4982 on 2026-07-07

City of Palm Springs, CA

SUBDIVISION OF LAND

§ 9.60.030

§ 9.60.030

• (7) Property line returns shall have a minimum radius of twenty feet.

• (8) Centerline radii shall be as follows, except for hillside streets, which radii shall be determined by specific plans for individual sites:

==> picture [401 x 98] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
(A) Major thoroughfares 1,000 feet
(B) Secondary thoroughfare 500 feet
(C) Collector street 250 feet
(D) Minor street 100 feet
(E) Private street 50 feet
----- End of picture text -----

• (9) Sidewalk design and construction shall be required in accordance with the approved standard plans, and/or specific plans as approved by the planning commission.

• (10) Bicycle trails design and construction shall be in accordance with the approved master plan of bikeways, standard plans, and/or specific plans pursuant thereto.

• (11) Signs. The placement of street name, regulatory, warning and guide signs and pavement markings shall be based on CalTrans Traffic Manual and such additional guidelines as may be adopted by resolution of the city council.

• (12) Traffic signal design and construction or design and relocation shall be based on the requirements of Cal-Trans Traffic Manual and such additional guidelines as may be adopted by resolution of the city council.

• (13) Street safety lights shall be installed along major and secondary thoroughfares, and collector streets in accordance with the requirements of the CalTrans Traffic Manual, city standard plans, city policy, and the National Standard Practice for Roadway Lighting.

In cases of conflict of standards in (11), (12) and (13) of this subsection, the city council standard shall govern.

• (14) Street trees may be required by the planning commission.

• (15) Utilities consisting of natural gas, electric power, and telephone distribution lines shall be installed to the property lines of all lots. All existing abutting and transecting thirty-three thousand volt of less of electric lines and all proposed utility lines shall be installed underground pursuant to Article V of Chapter 8.04 of this code, unless waived by the City Engineer. Television cable service shall be provided according to the approved franchise agreement with the city.

• (16) Water service shall be provided for all subdivisions in accordance with the requirements of the Desert Water Agency and the Fire Protection Bureau. Fire hydrants and other fire suppression services shall be installed as required.

• (17) All subdivisions shall be connected to the city sanitary sewer system by means of installing mains, laterals and appurtenances in accordance with the master plan of sewers.

• (18) The subdivider shall install storm sewer conduits, structures, and appurtenances when required, in accordance with the master plan of flood control and drainage or by city council direction.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PA4982 on 2026-07-07

City of Palm Springs, CA § 9.60.030

PALM SPRINGS CODE

§ 9.60.050

• (19) (A) The design of lots shall be in accordance with the zoning ordinance, adopted general plans, specific plans and with city policy.

  • (B) The subdivision lot design, size, and configuration of structure orientation, as well as possible sunlight easements, shall be considered to provide for future passive or natural heating and/or cooling opportunities.

(C) Lot area and dimensions shall be as required in the zoning ordinance.

(Ord. 1125 § 2, 1981; Ord. 1410 § 1, 1992; Ord. 1979 § 8, 2019; Ord. 2031 § 15, 2020)

• (a) Grading and control of wind and water erosion shall be in direct accordance with Chapter 70 of the Uniform Building Code, and this chapter.

• (b) Developers of subdivisions located in areas subject to wind erosion and blowsand shall be responsible for compliance with the following:

  • (1) Subdivisions should be extensions of existing development rather than isolated tracts;

  • (2) Sides of a proposed subdivision that abut an undeveloped area shall have installed a minimum six-foot solid masonry wall to protect it from the prevailing wind;

  • (3) A minimum six-foot wooden fence may be substituted for a solid masonry wall where the required wall ex-tends over a future street opening;

  • (4) Project phasing of subdivisions shall be phased whereby the perimeter streets, walls and required landscaping be installed first (west phase first);

  • (5) Site grading is to be broken down into as many phases as economically feasible to reduce the exposure of graded soils;

  • (6) In severe cases of blowsand, the subdivider may be required to plant, irrigate and maintain approved planting to the windward of a wall up to a depth of one hundred and fifty feet as prescribed by a specific plan;

  • (7) Soils disturbed during the development of a subdivision, whether within or adjacent to, shall be covered with one or more of the following materials to produce an effective wind erosion control:

    • (A) Complete cover of gravel or rock landscaping,

    • (B) Organic mulches (sprinkler, irrigated),

    • (C) Irrigated grasses,

    • (D) Landscape vegetation.

• (c) On each lot of a residential single-family subdivision, where a final or parcel map is required, a minimum fifteengallon sized tree or equivalent appropriate landscaping may be required to be planted in the front setback area and provided with a permanent irrigation system.

• (Ord. 1125 § 2, 1981)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PA4982 on 2026-07-07

City of Palm Springs, CA

SUBDIVISION OF LAND

§ 9.60.050

§ 9.60.080

For hillside areas, off-site improvements such as street design, width, radii, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, etc., shall be as required in the specific plans for each area and the general standards may be modified to adjust to specific topographic conditions. (Ord. 1125 § 2, 1981)

Any deviations from the standards of design and improvement as specified in Section 9.60.030 shall be reported to the planning commission by the city staff. These deviations shall be allowed only if approved by the planning commission and appear on an approved specific plan. (Ord. 1125 § 2, 1981)

• (a) The director of public works may authorize lot line adjustments wherein the number of lots is less than or remains the same before and after the adjustment. This shall be accomplished by submitting in duplicate, the following documents completed in the manner herein described:

  • (1) Completed application, in a form prescribed by the director;

  • (2) An eight and one-half by thirteen inch plat, in a form approved by the city, showing all of the following:

    • (A) The lot line to be adjusted, in the existing and proposed positions,

    • (B) Bearings and distances to clearly indicate the change in lot configuration(s) being proposed,

    • (C) Effect of the proposed lot line adjustment on any existing structures or other improvements,

    • (D) Location map of all lots affected under the proposed lot line adjustment,

    • (E) North arrow and scale prescribed by the city engineer as being of sufficient size to clearly indicate all that is being proposed;

• (b) The owner(s) shall show proof of ownership of all affected lots and submit an affidavit attesting to their consent to the adjustment. The affidavit shall be in a form approved by the city.

• (c) The owner(s) shall pay a processing fee for the lot line adjustment application, which may be set by the city council by resolution.

• (Ord. 1125 § 2, 1981; Ord. 1410 § 2, 1992; Ord. 1459 § 1, 1993; Ord. 2031 § 16, 2020)

Applications for lot line adjustments shall be administered in the following manner:

• (1) One copy each of the forms described in Section 9.60.070 shall be forwarded to the planning department.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PA4982 on 2026-07-07

City of Palm Springs, CA

PALM SPRINGS CODE

§ 9.60.080

§ 9.60.090

• (2) The director shall either approve or disapprove the application and forward to the city engineer for completion.

• (3) Any decision of the director concerning lot line adjustments may be appealed to the planning commission.

• (Ord. 1125 § 2, 1981; Ord. 1410 § 3, 1992; Ord. 2031 § 17, 2020; Ord. 2088, 11/9/2023)

If a lot line adjustment approval is granted, a certificate of compliance shall be filed with the county recorder, which certificate shall describe the real properties involved, name the owners thereof, and state that a lot line adjustment has been granted by action of the director, giving the date thereof.

• (Ord. 1241 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1410 § 4, 1992; Ord. 2031 § 18, 2020)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PA4982 on 2026-07-07

City of Palm Springs, CA

SUBDIVISION OF LAND

§ 9.61.010

§ 9.61.020

CHAPTER 9.61 DEFINITIONS