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Title 16Part VI — Development Standards

Article 2 — Creation Of New Parcels

Santa Cruz County Planning Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Santa Cruz County

16.13.560. Creation of new parcels.

Allow the creation of new parcels including those created by minor land division or subdivision on parcels which include a flood hazard area only under the following circumstances:

  • (A) Subdivision proposals, including proposals for manufactured home parks and subdivisions, shall be reviewed to determine that:

    • (1) Such proposals are consistent with the need to minimize flood damage and will be reasonably safe from flooding;

    • (2) All public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electric and water systems are located and constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damage;

    • (3) Adequate drainage is provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards; and

    • (4) Development of structures on newly created parcels will not be dependent on coastal protection structures.

  • (B) A full hydrologic report and any other appropriate technical report must demonstrate that each proposed parcel contains at least one building site, including a septic system and leach field site, which is located outside of the flood hazard area, and that public utilities and facilities such as roadways, stormwater management facilities, sewer, gas, electrical and water systems can be located and constructed to minimize flood damage and not cause a health hazard.

  • (C) If any portion of proposed subdivisions, including manufactured home parks and manufactured home subdivisions, lies within a flood hazard area, the following shall be required:

    • (1) Preliminary land division proposals shall identify all flood hazard areas and the elevation of the base flood.

    • (2) Delineation of flood hazard areas, floodway boundaries and flood zones, and base flood elevations, as appropriate, shall be shown on preliminary maps and final maps and certified by a registered professional engineer.

  • (Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)

16.13.570. Project density limitations.

The following requirements shall apply to density calculations for new building sites created through minor land division, subdivision, or other development approval or permit:

  • (A) The portion of a property within the flood hazard area shall be excluded from density calculations.

  • (B) Coastal Hazards. The portions of a property subject to coastal inundation, as determined by a geologic hazards assessment, geologic report, or adopted Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), shall be excluded from density calculations.

  • (Ord. 5350 § 1, 2020)

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County of Santa Cruz, CA

ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESOURCE PROTECTION

16.13.580

16.13.610

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