Chapter 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS

Government Code sections 66410 et seq. (the Subdivision Map Act, "SMA"), establish comprehensive regulations for the subdivision of land. The SMA requires local agencies to adopt regulations for the design and improvement of subdivisions and authorizes local agencies to adopt additional subdivision regulations consistent with State law. This division adopts regulations governing subdivision of land in the unincorporated area of the County as required by and authorized under the SMA.

(Added by Ord. No. 10037 (N.S.), effective 3-26-10)

Terms used in this division that are defined in the SMA but not defined in this division shall have the same meaning as in the SMA. The following definitions shall apply to this division:

(a) "Access restriction easement" means a permanent easement a property owner dedicates to the County that prohibits any person from obtaining access to a road or right-of-way adjacent to the property.

(b) "Adjustment plat" means a drawing filed with the Director as part of the application process for a lot line adjustment adjusting the boundaries between two to four adjoining parcels, where land taken from one parcel is added to an adjoining parcel, but does not create any additional parcels.

(c) "Average daily trips, ADT" means the average total number of motor vehicle trips per day to and from a location.

(d) "Basis of bearings" means the source of uniform orientation of all measured bearings shown on a map using the California Coordinate System of 1983, Zone 6, established by Public Resources Code sections 8801 et seq.

• (e) "Bicycle route" means a facility where the main form of travel is by bicycle.

(f) "Cable lines" means electronic cable, conduit and their appurtenances which distribute television signals or telephone or internet connections.

(g) "CEQA" means the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code sections 21000 et seq.

(h) "Certificate of compliance" means a document the County issues pursuant to Government Code section 66499.35 identifying real property and signifying that the division of the real property complies with applicable provisions of the SMA and this division.

(i) "Conservation subdivision" means a residential subdivision design that improves preservation of environmental resources in a balance with planned densities and community character subject to applicable Community Plans, the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, Resource Protection Ordinance and Groundwater Ordinance.

(j) "County fire official" means a person designated by the Director of Public Safety to implement and enforce the County Fire Code.

• (k) [Reserved.]

(l) "Designated remainder parcel" means a unit of land a subdivider designates pursuant to Government Code section 66424.6 which is not divided for the purpose of sale, lease or financing and is designated on a tentative map or tentative parcel map at the time the subdivider files the map.

(m) "Director" means the Director of Planning & Development Services or a person the Director designates to implement or enforce this division.

• (n) "Director DEHQ" means the Director of the Department of Environmental Health and Quality or a person the Director DEHQ designates to implement or enforce this division.

(o) "Director DPW" means the Director of Public Works or a person the Director designates to implement or enforce this division.

• (p) "Director DPR" means the Director of Parks and Recreation or a person the Director DPR designates to implement or enforce this division.

• (q) "PDS" means the Department of Planning and Development Services.

• (r) "DPR" means the Department of Parks and Recreation.

• (s) "DPW" means the Department of Public Works.

• (t) "Environmental resource" means natural habitats, sensitive species, sensitive habitat lands, wetlands, floodplains, significant prehistoric/historic sites, and/or agricultural lands.

(u) "Extenuating Circumstances" means events or requirements that are out of the control of the applicant, including but not limited to the following: mandated requirements or review from other government agencies (e.g., United States [U.S.] Army Corp of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board permit requirements); the need to complete studies that include surveys or other associated requirements that are outside the applicant's control (e.g. seasonal surveys, traffic counts during school year, etc.); the discovery of new environmental issues affecting the project; and/or financial hardship (e.g., loss of financing, change in circumstances affecting a loan, unanticipated and/or extraordinary costs).

(v) "Feasible" has the same meaning as the term "feasible" in Government Code section 66473.1(e).

(w) "Inactive Permit Application" means the condition which occurs when requested materials, funds, and/or other information necessary to proceed with processing a discretionary permit application (e.g., a Tentative Map, Tentative Parcel Map, or other discretionary permit) have not been submitted within 12 months of the last written request by PDS.

(x) "Inactive Permit Application Holder" means the applicant or owner of an Inactive Permit Application.

(y) "Lease" means an agreement for the use of real property that creates a landlord-tenant relationship between the parties to the lease and includes a written or oral agreement. In addition to an agreement that creates a tenancy for a specific term, a lease also includes an agreement that creates a tenancy at will or a month-to-month tenancy.

• (z) "Lot" means a unit of land and may also be referred to in this division as a "parcel."

(aa) "Lot area" means the same as the term "Lot Area, Net" as defined in the County Zoning Ordinance.

• (bb) "Major subdivision" means a subdivision creating five or more lots or units not counting a "designated remainder parcel," as defined in this chapter, as one of the five or more lots.

(cc) "Major transmission facilities, mains and lines" means electrical transmission lines with 64,000 volts capacity or more, gasoline or oil transmission lines six inches or more in diameter, natural gas mains six inches or larger in diameter, sewer outfall or transmission mains thirteen inches or larger in diameter, water transmission mains fourteen inches or larger or telephone long distance and trunk communication facilities.

• (dd) "Minor subdivision" means a subdivision creating four or fewer lots or units not counting a "designated remainder parcel," as defined in this chapter as one of the four or fewer lots.

• (ee) "Parcel map" means a map required by Government Code sections 66426(f) or 66428 prepared in compliance with Government Code sections 66444 et seq.

(ff) "Road" has the same meaning as the term "street" as defined in this chapter.

(gg) "San Diego County Standards" refers to those standards and specifications on file in the Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors (Clerk) as Attachment C with Resolution No. 99-186 (6-30-99 (8)) (San Diego County Standards for Private Roads) and Document Number 0775217 (5-1-12 (13, CR29)) (Public Roads Standards); provided, however, that with respect to development within the "Country Town" area of the Borrego Springs Planning Area, the standards and specifications contained in the "Community Right-of-Way Development Standards - Country Town Area of the Borrego Springs Planning Area" on file with the Office of the Clerk as Document Number 740149 (4-10-91 (6)), and with respect to development within the San Dieguito Planning Area, the standards and specifications contained in the "Community Right-of-Way Development Standards - Country Town Sphere of the San Dieguito Planning Area" on file with the Office of the Clerk as Document Number 750029(a) (6-6-92 (9)), and with respect to development within the Fallbrook Community Development Area, the standards and specifications contained within the "Fallbrook Community Right-of-Way Development Standards for Public Roads" on file with the Office of the Clerk as Document Number 761748 (12-14-94 (1)), and with respect to development within the Julian Community Planning Area, the standards and specifications contained in the "Community Right-of- Way Development Standards: Julian Historic District and Julian Community Planning Area" on file with the Office of the Clerk as Document Number 0768777 (3-6-02 (17)), and with respect to development within the Valley Center Community Planning Area, the standards and specifications contained within the "Valley Center Community Right-ofWay Development Standards" on file with the Office of the Clerk as Document Number N/A , and with respect to development and road improvement projects along the segment of Valley Center Road that traverses the General Plan Villages of the Valley Center Community Planning Area (from the Woods Valley Road intersection to the Cole Grade Road intersection), the requirements contained within the "Valley Center Road Corridor Concept Plan" on file with the Office of the Clerk shall also apply and shall supersede the aforementioned documents to the extent of any conflict between them.

(hh) "SMA" means the Subdivision Map Act of the State of California contained in Government Code sections 66410 et seq.

(ii) "Street" means a County highway, State highway, other public road or alley, or a private thoroughfare at least ten feet wide that connects with a County highway, State highway, other public road, private road or an alley which affords primary access to an abutting lot.

(jj) "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 or any purpose, 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 easement or railroad rights-of-way, but a freeway, as defined in Streets and Highways Code section 23.5 shall not be considered a road or street for the purpose of interpreting this section. "Subdivision" includes a condominium project, as defined in Civil Code section 1351(f), a community apartment project, as defined in Civil Code section 1351(d) or the conversion of five or more existing dwelling units to a stock cooperative, as defined in Civil Code section 1351(m).

(kk) "Tentative map" means a map prepared for the purpose of showing the design and improvement of a proposed major subdivision and the existing conditions in and around it.

(ll) "Tentative parcel map" means a map prepared for the purpose of showing the design and improvement of a proposed minor subdivision and the existing conditions in and around it.

(mm) "Through lot" means a lot having frontage on two parallel streets or a lot that is not a corner lot that has frontage on two streets, each of which may provide access to the lot.

(Added by Ord. No. 10037 (N.S.), effective 3-26-10; amended by Ord. No. 10040 (N.S.), effective 4-2-10; amended by Ord. No. 10167 (N.S.), effective 10-14-11; amended by Ord. No. 10171 (N.S.), effective 10-28-11; amended by Ord. No. 10224 (N.S.), effective 10-25-12; amended by Ord. No. 10529 (N.S.), effective 5-18-18; amended by Ord. No. 10709 (N.S.), effective 1-15-21; amended by Ord. No. 10783 (N.S.), effective 5-27-22; amended by Ord. No. 10935 (N.S.), effective 4-11-25)

No person shall create a subdivision except as provided in the SMA and this division. (Added by Ord. No. 10037 (N.S.), effective 3-26-10)

(a) Whenever a property owner or subdivider files security with the Clerk pursuant to Government Code section 66493(a) to secure the payment of taxes or special assessments collected as taxes which are a lien on the property to be subdivided but not yet payable, the Clerk may release the security after the Treasurer-Tax Collector notifies the Clerk that the total amount of these taxes or special assessments have been paid in full.

(b) If the property owner or subdivider deposits cash to secure the payment of the estimated taxes or special assessments pursuant to Government Code section 66493(c), the Treasurer-Tax Collector shall draw upon the cash deposit, at the request of the property owner, to pay the taxes or special assessments when they are payable. (Amended by Ord. No. 9227 (N.S.), effective 7-21-00; amended by Ord. No. 10037 (N.S.), effective 3-26-10)

(a) An applicant to convert an existing residential or non-residential development to condominiums shall submit a tentative map for five or more units or a tentative parcel map for four or fewer units. As used in this section, an existing residential or non-residential development means a development that has received a final certificate of occupancy. The subdivision map shall indicate all sub-lots including common-held sub-lots. If the project is to be an air space condominium, a one-lot subdivision is required.

(b) A tentative subdivision map involving conversion to condominiums of any existing residential or nonresidential building, other than a residential mobile home development, shall have conditions which:

(1) Bring the development into conformance with current Zoning Ordinance requirements for a new development except that Zoning Ordinance section 4115 dealing with "Computation of Permitted Dwelling Units" shall only apply if the tentative map or tentative parcel map proposes additional dwelling units.

(2) Bring all structures on the site into conformance with the requirements of the County Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical and Fire Codes as they were amended and in effect in San Diego County at the time the structures were constructed and with the requirements of those codes in effect at the time the tentative map or tentative parcel map is approved with regard to all of the following items:

(A) Interior fire sprinklers.

• (B) Smoke detectors.

• (C) Railings, guardrails and handrails.

(Added by Ord. No. 5325 (N.S.), effective 12-12-78; Ord. No. 5333 (N.S.), adopted 1-2-79, effective 2-1-79, supersedes Ord. No. 5325; amended by Ord. No. 6144 (N.S.), effective 9-10-81; amended by Ord. No. 6410 (N.S.), effective 8-27-82; amended by Ord. No. 6575 (N.S.), effective 6-3-83; amended by Ord. No. 9841 (N.S.), effective 4-

20-07; amended by Ord. No. 10037 (N.S.), effective 3-26-10; amended by Ord. No. 10224 (N.S.), effective 10-25-12; amended by Ord. No. 10529 (N.S.), effective 5-18-18)

(a) If a parcel or unit of land is contiguous to a parcel or unit of land held by the same owner and any one of the contiguous parcels or units does not conform to current standards for minimum parcel size to permit use or development under the Zoning Ordinance, the parcels or units may be merged if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) At least one of the contiguous parcels or units is not developed with a structure for which a permit has been issued or for which a building permit was not required at the time of construction, or is developed only with an accessory structure or accessory structures, or is developed with a single structure, other than an accessory structure, that is also partially sited on a contiguous parcel or unit.

• (2) One or more of the following conditions exists with respect to any affected parcel. The parcel:

• (A) Comprises less than 5,000 square feet at the time of the determination of the merger.

• (B) Was not created in compliance with applicable laws and County ordinances in effect at the time of its creation.

• (C) Does not meet current standards for sewage disposal and domestic water supply.

• (D) Does not meet slope stability standards.

• (E) Has no legal access which is adequate for vehicular and safety equipment access and maneuverability.

• (F) If developed would create a health or safety hazard.

• (G) Is inconsistent with the County General Plan or any applicable specific plan, other than minimum lot size or density standards.

(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply if any of the conditions in Government Code section 66451.11(b)(7)(A)-(E) exist.

(c) If the County approved a lot line adjustment or a division of land plat or issued a certificate of compliance resulting in the merger of parcels or units of land which would not have merged pursuant to the current provisions of this section, the merged parcels or units shall remain merged. The Director, however, may issue a certificate of compliance on written application of the owner of the merged property or a vendee of that person pursuant to a contract of sale of the real property, if the Director determines all of the following are true:

• (1) No final or parcel map has been recorded for all or any portion of the parcels or units.

(2) In the case of a division of land plat, the ownership of all portions of the merged lots remains the same as when the division of land plat was approved.

(3) In the case of a lot line adjustment, after the merged parcels or units are unmerged, the lot line adjustment would meet the present requirements for a lot line adjustment in chapter 9 of this division and the resulting parcels or units would not be required to be merged pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(4) In the case of a certificate of compliance, after the merged parcels or units are unmerged, the certificate of compliance would still be issuable pursuant to section 81.1103 and the resulting parcels or units would not be required to be merged pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(d) If the Director determines that the requirements for a parcel merger have been met and the County intends to take action under this section to merge the parcels, the Director shall proceed pursuant to Government Code sections 66451.12-66451.18. If a property owner requests a hearing pursuant to Government Code section 66451.13 the Director shall hold the hearing.

(Added by Ord. No. 5835 (N.S.), effective 8-28-80; amended by Ord. No. 6396 (N.S.), effective 8-12-82; amended by Ord. No. 6508 (N.S.), effective 3-1-83; amended by Ord. No. 6882 (N.S.), effective 1-17-85; amended by Ord. No. 10037 (N.S.), effective 3-26-10)

(a) As a condition of approval of a tentative map, vesting tentative map or tentative parcel map, for which the applicant submitted a complete application before January 3, 2003 or a map modification, resolution amendment, time extension, adjustment plat, certificate of compliance or conditional certificate of compliance the County approved before January 3, 2003, the applicant shall: (1) defend, indemnify and hold the County, its agents, officers and employees harmless, from any claim, action or proceeding against the County, its agents, officers or employees to attack, set aside, void or annul the approval by the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Director or any other County employee or agency, or for any proceeding, act, or determination taken, done or made prior to that decision, if the action is brought within the time period provided in Government Code Section 66499.37 and (2) reimburse the County, its agents, officers or employees for any court costs and attorney's fees that the County, its agents, officers or employees may be required by a court to pay as a result of the approval. At its sole discretion, the County may participate in the defense of any action, but that participation shall not relieve the applicant of any obligation imposed by this condition. The County shall promptly notify the applicant of any claim or action and cooperate fully in the defense.

(b) Each applicant seeking approval of a tentative map, vesting tentative map or tentative parcel map for which a complete application is submitted on or after January 3, 2003 and each applicant seeking approval of a map modification, resolution amendment, time extension, adjustment plat, certificate of compliance or conditional certificate of compliance, that is approved on or after January 3, 2003, shall be subject to the defense and indemnification provisions in sections 86.201 et seq. of this code.

(Added by Ord. No. 7782 (N.S.), effective 8-24-90; amended by Ord. No. 9517 (N.S.), effective 1-3-03; amended by Ord. No. 10037 (N.S.), effective 3-26-10)

Whenever this division provides that an "advisory agency," as that term is used in Government Code section 66415, shall perform a function the following shall apply:

(a) The Planning Commission shall serve as the advisory agency for an application concerning a major subdivision.

(b) The Director shall serve as the advisory agency for an application concerning a minor subdivision.

(c) The advisory agency may prescribe the rules and procedures that an applicant is required to follow for a matter within the agency's jurisdiction.

(Added by Ord. No. 10037 (N.S.), effective 3-26-10)

(a) State Responsibility Area (SRA) Fire Safe Regulations, 14 California Code of Regulations (CCR) sections 1270 et seq., authorize a local jurisdiction to conduct inspections and consider requests for exceptions to fire safe regulations standards related to an application for a subdivision, when the local jurisdiction has implemented the State regulations through its subdivision approval process. Title 14 CCR section 1270.03 provides that the State Board of Forestry may certify local ordinances as equaling or exceeding the State regulations. No application for a subdivision shall be approved unless the proposed subdivision complies with 14 CCR sections 1270 et seq. or comparable provisions relating to subdivisions in the County Fire Code or fire district's fire code, whichever applies to the property, when the State Board of Forestry has certified the applicable local fire code as equaling or exceeding the State regulations.

(b) The County fire official shall (1) serve as the inspection authority for the County, as provided in 14 CCR section 1270.05 and (2) consider written requests for exceptions to the State fire safe regulations, as provided in 14 CCR sections 1270.07 and 1270.08 or local fire code regulations.

(c) An applicant for a subdivision who requests an exception to the applicable State or local fire safe regulations relating to subdivisions shall state the specific sections for which the applicant requests an exception, the material facts that support the applicant's contentions, the details of the exception or mitigating measure proposed and provide a map showing the proposed location and siting of the exception or mitigation measure.

(d) The Director shall provide the applicant requesting an exception with a written decision granting or denying the request within 30 days from the date the applicant files a request that complies with subsection (c).

(e) If the County fire official denies a request for an exception the applicant may appeal the denial by following the appeals procedures in section 96.1.108 of the Consolidated Fire Code, for projects located within the jurisdiction of a local fire district, and section 96.1.108 of the County Fire Code, for projects located outside of a local fire district. (Added by Ord. No. 10037 (N.S.), effective 3-26-10; amended by Ord. No. 10529 (N.S.), effective 5-18-18)

The Director shall enforce a violation of this division and Government Code sections 66410 et seq. (Added by Ord. No. 10037 (N.S.), effective 3-26-10)

Subdivided real property may be reverted to acreage pursuant to Government Code sections 66499.11 et seq. and this division. Reversion to acreage shall apply to all property subdivided by the final map or parcel map, including any remainder parcels created by the final map or parcel map. A petition for reversion to acreage by the owners of record, pursuant to Government Code 66499.13, shall be filed with the Director and include a deposit for a standard application for a tentative map, for a final map reversion, and a tentative parcel map, for a parcel map reversion. Return of fees and deposits, and release of securities shall be in accordance with California Government Code section 66499.19 and section 81.207 of this code.

(Added by Ord. No. 10696 (N.S.), effective 12-18-20)

(a) Inactive Permit Applications. Permit applications require the payment of fees and deposits for permit processing, and submittal of application materials as specified in Chapter 2 of Division 1 of Title 8, and adopted Schedule of Filing Fees and Deposits. To determine if a project is "inactive", a permit application shall meet the criteria in the definition of "Inactive Permit Application", Section 81.102.

(b) Application Withdrawal or Extension of Time. Once a permit application is deemed Inactive, the Director, or their designee, shall provide written notification to the Inactive Permit Application Holder that certain materials, funds, and/or other information are needed in order to continue processing the permit application. The applicant shall have 60 days from the date of the written notification to submit the requested materials, funds, and/or other information or to request an extension in accordance with subparagraph "1" below.

(1) No later than 60 days before the expiration of the two-year period of inactive status, the Director shall provide written notification to the permit holder that the two-year period of inactive status is expiring, and that certain materials, funds, and/or other information are needed in order to continue processing the permit application. Upon the receipt of a request for an extension of inactive status, a two-year extension of inactive status may be granted. If the

materials, funds, and/or other information, or a written request for an extension, is not submitted within 60 days of the written notification to the Inactive Permit Application Holder, the Director shall deem the permit application withdrawn and close it in accordance with subparagraph "d" of this section.

(2) No later than 60 days before the expiration of the first two-year extension of inactive status, the Director shall provide written notification to the permit holder that the first two-year extension of inactive status is expiring, and that certain materials, funds, and/or other information are needed to continue processing the permit application. If the materials, funds, and/or other information, or a written request for a second extension pursuant to subparagraph "3" below, is not submitted within 60 days of the written notification to the Inactive Permit Application Holder, the Director shall deem the permit application withdrawn and close it in accordance with subparagraph "d" of this section.

(3) Upon the receipt of a request for a second extension, the Director may grant a second extension of inactive status pursuant to subparagraph "c" of this section. If granted a second extension, the applicant shall then have an additional two years to submit the requested materials, funds and/or other

information. No later than 60 days before the expiration of the second two-year extension, the Director shall provide written notification to the permit holder that the second two-year extension is expiring, that certain materials, funds, and/or other information are needed in order to continue processing the permit application. If the requested materials, funds, and/or other information is not submitted within 60 days of the written notification to the Inactive Permit Application Holder, the Director shall deem the permit application withdrawn and close it in accordance with subparagraph "d" of this section.

(c) Extenuating Circumstances. The applicant may request an additional extension of the Inactive Permit Application for two years due to extenuating circumstances, as specified in the definition of "Extenuating Circumstances", Section 81.102, in accordance with the following:

(1) The applicant shall submit a written request for an extension 60 days prior to the expiration of the permit application describing the extenuating circumstances applicable to the project.

(2) If the Director finds that there are extenuating circumstances applicable to the project, the Director may approve an additional extension of the Inactive Permit Application for up to two years.

(3) No later than 60 days before the expiration of the two-year extension for extenuating circumstances, the Director shall provide written notification to the permit holder that the final two-year extension is expiring, that certain materials, funds, and/or other information are needed in order to continue processing the permit application. If the materials, funds, and/or other information are not received within the 60 days, the project application will be deemed withdrawn and closed in accordance with subparagraph "d" of this section.

(d) Project Closure. Upon deeming an inactive project application withdrawn, the Director shall notify the applicant in writing that the project application has been deemed withdrawn and is closed. Projects which require a deposit account shall be charged for the project closure, and any unused funds will be refunded pursuant to Section 81.207.

(e) Reapplication. Once closed, a permit application cannot be reopened. To reapply, the applicant shall submit a new development permit application with required submittal materials and shall be subject to all applicable fees and regulations in effect on the date the new application is deemed complete.

(f) Decisions by the Director under this section may be appealed by the permit applicant in accordance with Section 7200 through 7206 of the Zoning Ordinance.

(Added by Ord. No. 10783 (N.S.), effective 5-27-22)