Subdivisions

What is a Subdivision?

Subdivision refers to all divisions of a tract or parcel of land into 2 or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale, lease, or building development, and includes all divisions of land involving a new street or change in existing streets, and includes re-subdivision which would involve the further division or relocation of lot lines of any lot or lots within a subdivision previously made and approved or recorded according to law; or the alteration of any streets or the establishment of any new streets within any subdivision previously made and approved or recorded according to law, and includes combinations of lots of record.

Subdivision Requirements

All subdivisions are subject to the requirements of the Land Development Regulations as defined in the ordinance. Applications for subdivisions shall be made as defined in the ordinance.

All subdivisions are subject to approval by the Planning Commission unless categorized as a minor subdivision. A minor subdivision is defined as a subdivision of land into 2 or fewer lots on less than 5 acres of land when:

  • No new streets, alleys, or other public ways are created
  • No changes are made to the existing right of way of any streets, alleys, or other public ways
  • No new utilities are required to serve the subdivided land
  • The division of land meets the minimum requirements of the subdivision ordinance
  • No flag lot is created in a residential zone district that is inconsistent with existing development patterns
  • The lots have direct access onto a public street that has been accepted for maintenance by the appropriate agency

Any subdivision requiring Planning Commission approval is considered a major subdivision.

Public Improvements

All public improvements associated with a subdivision will be subject to the City Land Development Ordinance and the requirements and standards of this manual.

Plat Specifications

Please refer to the Subdivision Permits

Summary Plat Approval

The City Engineer shall be authorized to sign final plats of minor subdivisions on existing public streets without such divisions of land having first obtained preliminary approval by the Planning Commission. All persons requesting summary approval shall submit in writing a statement establishing the existence of a public street and that such streets have been accepted for maintenance by the appropriate agency.

The summary plats must be duly signed by the City Engineer and recorded in the office of the County Register of Deeds prior to the recording of any individual deeds for the subdivided lots. The summary plat shall meet all the specifications of a final plat.

View a flowchart of the subdivision approval process (PDF).