Subdivisions

Subdivisions are parcel modification actions, governed by Municipal Code Title 15 (Subdivisions), which is also referred to as the "Subdivision ordinance". Depending on the action/location, subdivision proposals may also need to meet lot size/dimension standards specified in the Zoning Ordinance for the specific Zoning District.

Subdivisions are jointly managed by the Community Development Department's Planning Division and the Public Works Department's Engineering Division. Subdivision actions (including condominium divisions) can include the following:

Subdivision type	Action by	Description
Tentative minor subdivision map	Planning Commission (or City Engineer if eligible under SB 684/SB 1123)	Initial action for a subdivision creating less than five (5) lots or condominium units (except for Urban lot splits)
Final parcel map	City Engineer	Secondary action for a subdivision creating less than five (5) lots or condominium units (except for Urban lot splits)
Urban lot split (SB 9)	City Engineer	Subdivision of a parcel within a residential single-family zone into no more than two (2) parcels pursuant to the authority set forth in Section 66411.7 of the Government Code.
Tentative major subdivision map	City Council (or City Engineer if eligible under SB 684/SB 1123)	Initial action for a subdivision creating five (5) or more lots or condominium units
Final map	City Council (or City Engineer if eligible under SB 684/SB 1123)	Secondary action for a subdivision creating five (5) or more lots or condominium units
Lot merger	City Engineer	Joining of two (2) or more contiguous parcels of land under one ownership into one parcel
Lot line adjustment	City Engineer	Minor shift or rotation of an existing lot line or other adjustments where the land taken from one parcel is added to an adjacent parcel and where the number of parcels is not changed
Vacation	Varies	The complete or partial abandonment or termination of the public right to use a street, highway, or public easement

The above list is meant to be illustrative, not comprehensive. Please consult the regulations for your specific location (see Public GIS, Subdivision Ordinance, and Zoning Ordinance links to the right) and/or contact staff to confirm whether a subdivision action may be required.

Review process

Step 1.Application intake

Prospective applicants should reach out to PlanningDept@menlopark.gov to initiate the submittal process. Staff will confirm that the proposed use requires review/approval and will work with the applicant to submit all required documents. See the application submittal guidelines(PDF, 460KB) and the Engineering Division's Commercial, multifamily and subdivision projects page for more information about typical requirements. As part of the intake process, staff will schedule a meeting with the applicant to review the proposal and coordinate next steps.

The applicant will also be asked to create an account on the online permit center, if they don't already have one. At the conclusion of this phase, staff will create a record in the City's online permit center and invoice any required fees.

Step 2.Fee payment

As specified on the fees and payments page, the applicant submits payment online for all invoiced fees. Fee amounts are specified in the master fee schedule, and fees should only be paid on the official City online permit center.

Step 3.Staff review and (as needed) applicant resubmittal

Following fee payment, a Planning Division or Engineering Division staff member will be assigned to oversee the proposal, and they will commence detailed review. Within 30 days, staff will confirm whether the application is complete/consistent and thus ready for action, or whether corrections/augmentations are required. In the latter case, a letter specifying all questions or issues will be issued, and the application will go into "pending resubmittal" status. Once the applicant resubmits via the online permit center, the staff review cycle will start again. Note that multiple rounds of review could be required before a proposal is ready for action.

Step 4.Action

Once the application has been deemed complete/consistent, the proposal will be readied for action. Subdivision actions can vary significantly by action type (e.g., Planning Commission/City Council actions require public notice, staff reports, and public meetings, while City Engineer actions are more administrative). In either case, actions will include the required findings and any relevant conditions of approval.

Step 5.Appeal period

Most subdivision actions include an appeal period before the action becomes effective. If the initial action is appealed, it will be considered and acted on by the designated secondary reviewer.

Step 6.Implementation

All subdivision approvals include conditions that have to be met, and many subdivision actions include a time limit for implementation. Failure to follow conditions and/or missing deadlines can result in the action lapsing.

Contact us

Phone

650-330-6702

Email

PlanningDept@menlopark.gov