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Title 16 — SUBDIVISIONS›Chapter 16.03 — DEFINITIONS

Chapter 16.06 — ACCESS EASEMENT WIDTHS/CUL-DE-SAC LENGTH REQUIREMENTS

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

16.06.020 - Width requirements—New access easements or rights-of-way.

A.

All access easements or rights-of-way must connect directly or indirectly, via private road(s) if necessary, with a publicly maintained street. The easements or rights-of-way used for access to a publicly maintained street must contain the minimum access width required for their entire length from the subject property, including the property's frontage along the easement or right-of-way.

B.

All newly created private access easements or rights-of-way shall be fifty feet in width except as indicated in Table 16.06.010. Any applicant for a subdivision may request a width of less than fifty feet for a privately maintained road but not less than the minimum widths shown in the table above for the number of lots served, or potentially served, by the easement or right-of-way to be established. All requests must be accompanied by a written explanation describing the circumstances which warrant the lesser access easement or right-of-way width.

C.

If a request for a lesser access easement width is made in writing accompanying the application for a subdivision, then the planning director shall determine the appropriate access width considering the potential for future land divisions to be served via the subject access, or future connection to another road or street. The minimum width as determined by the planning director shall be commensurate with the number of actual or potential parcels which are or could be served by the access easement or right-of-way serving the land division, as required in Table 16.06.010.

(Ord. 223 §5(part), 1993)

16.06.025 - Existing access easement or right-of-way width requirements.

Not withstanding the requirements of Table 16.06.010, land divisions of real property abutting private road easements or rights-of-way in existing single-family residential neighborhoods may be proposed if the existing access easement or right-of-way allows sufficient space to construct the appropriate road

standard (as adopted by resolution) and provide for necessary utility services. Table 16.06.025 provides minimums of access easement or right-of-way widths for road standards adopted by town resolution. In the circumstance of topography requiring cut or fill, unusual drainage or unique public utility requirements, the town engineer may request of the applicant design information sufficient to determine necessary minimum easement or right-of-way width.

TABLE 16.06.025

Access Easement or Right-of-Way Width Requirements for Divisions of Land Using Existing Easements

Total Number or Potential
Number of Lots Served by Road
or Street
Minimum Road Standard as Set
Forth by Town Resolution
Minimum Access Width
Required (feet)
5+ A-3 30
2—4 A-2 28
1 A-1 20

(Ord. 223 §5(part), 1993)

16.06.040 - Maximum cul-de-sac length requirements.

A.

Newly created cul-de-sac. In conjunction with the design of a land division project (either via parcel map or subdivision map), any newly created cul-de-sac shall not exceed 1,320 lineal feet (1/4 mile length) as measured from its intersection with a through street (or road) to the farthest point of its terminus.

B.

Existing cul-de-sac. Whenever a land division of real property is designed to be provided access by an existing cul-de-sac or an existing cul-de-sac with a proposed extension added thereto, the length of the affected cul-de-sac as measured from its intersection with a through street (or road) to the farthest point of its terminus shall not exceed 1,800 lineal feet.

C.

Exceptions. Land divisions of real property provided access by a cul-de-sac that exceeds the maximum length requirement of subsection "B" of this section may be approved if the planning commission or the Town Council (in cases of appeal) receives substantial evidence of public record to support adopting two of the following required findings:

1.

The affected cul-de-sac will not provide access to more than twenty-four (24) lots or parcels; or

The land division includes the designed establishment and assured maintenance of alternative improvement features located onsite and off-site that includes Town Fire Chief deemed accepted wildland fire suppression tactics, strategies and provisions for firefighter and civilian safety. Such features may include, but are not limited to: fuel reduction, building codes(s), greenbelts, roadway width turnout(s) and other mitigations to make the land division area safe during a wildland fire; or

3.

The affected cul-de-sac is specifically identified as the only means of planned access serving the real property proposed for land division within either a Town of Paradise adopted General Plan Circulation Element, a "Specific Plan" established in accordance with Government Code sections 65450 et. seq., or a "Master Road Plan".

(Ord. 223 §5(part), 1993; Ord. No. 417, § 4, 4-13-2004)

Chapter 16.07 - SUBDIVISION OF FIVE OR MORE LOTS

16.07.010 - Preliminary maps.

A.

The contents, form, and submittal of preliminary maps shall be governed by the provisions of this title.

B.

Prior to the filing of an application for a tentative map for a subdivision of five or more parcels (other than condominium conversions), the subdivider may submit plans and data related to the design, layout, grading and other features proposed for the development as required by the planning director, the town engineer, and other agencies as determined appropriate by the community development department. Within twentyeight days after such submittal, the community development department shall report to the applicant any comments or changes to the proposed plan it deems appropriate as a result of its preliminary review.

C.

After receiving comments from the community development department, the subdivider shall prepare a tentative map pursuant to the provisions of this title.

(Ord. 203 §2(part), 1990; Ord. No. 430, § 3, 12-14-2004)

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