The following is typical of what it takes to get a final or parcel map recorded once the Planning Division issues a development permit which includes a land division. The permit typically allows you two years to do this.
- Submit final engineered improvement plans to the Surveyor and Development Review section of Public Works, together with any pertinent supporting information, such as drainage calculations, structural calculations and soils reports for retaining walls, and a preliminary engineer’s estimate of the cost of construction.
- Submit a final or parcel map to the Surveyor and Development Review section of Public Works, together with any pertinent supporting information, such as closure calculations, preliminary title report, and pertinent deeds.
- Submit the soils report and an erosion control plan to the Environmental Planning section of the Planning Division.
- Submit copies of the improvement plans to the appropriate water purveyor for review and comment. In addition to Public Works approval, the plans will have to be approved by the water purveyor. Furthermore, if the improvements include a water main extension, you’ll probably have to enter into a main extension agreement with the water purveyor and submit whatever securities and fees the water purveyor requires.
- Submit a landscape plan and a biotic restoration plan, if required, to the Environmental Planning section of the Planning Division.
- Submit any landscape, biotic, drainage, roadway, sanitation, or other maintenance agreements, homeowners’ agreements, and conditions, covenants and restrictions (CC&R’s) to Public Works and Planning.
- Acquire any easements and rights-of-way necessary to construct required improvements or gain access or secondary access to the project.
- In the case of full tract subdivisions (five or more lots created), enter into an agreement countersigned by the Director to meet the County's affordable housing requirements.
- Execute a subdivision agreement with Public Works, agreeing to make the improvements shown on the plans and required by the tentative map.
- Submit construction securities in the form of a letter of credit from a financial institution or a cash instrument to insure construction of the required improvements. The securities will be based on the estimate of the cost of construction, the cost of deferred monumentation in the case of tracts, and the amount required to secure the coming year’s taxes on the property underlying the subdivision. In addition, all property taxes currently due must be paid in full. Typically, the overall amount of securities is a bit more than 150% of the estimated cost of construction.
- Pay all fees due prior to recording. Typically, these include drainage fees, road and roadside improvement fees, park dedication fees, child care fees, additional review fees, pavement striping deposit, and construction inspection deposit.
- In the case of tracts, the project must be placed on the Board of Supervisors' agenda to get the final map approved. It takes about three weeks lead time to do so.