16.16.020 Lot line adjustments.
A. Purpose. Lot line adjustments of five or more parcels shall be subject to the same application requirements as those required for a tentative map as described in Section 16.10.010. Lot line adjustments involving four or fewer existing adjoining lots may be used to accomplish the following objectives, subject to the required findings and possible conditions of approval outlined below:
1. To eliminate an existing encroachment; or
2. To meet or more closely meet the minimum lot size and area requirements of the zoning district classification in which the subject property is located; or
3. To meet building setback requirements; or
4. To better recognize topographic features; or
5. Other purposes approved by the director.
B. Application Submittal Requirements. Applications and fees for lot line adjustments involving four or fewer parcels shall be filed with the community development department, and shall contain the following items:
1. Preliminary title report.
2. An authorization consenting to the proposed adjustment signed by all parties having a record title interest in the property to be subdivided.
3. Assessor’s parcel map(s) with the affected properties highlighted.
4. Name, if any, date of preparation, north arrow, scale, and, if based on a survey, the date of the survey.
5. Name and address of the person or entity who prepared the map and the applicable registration or license number.
6. The legal boundaries of the properties to be adjusted, with sufficient information to locate the property and to determine its position with respect to adjacent named or numbered subdivisions, if any.
7. Names and addresses of the applicant(s) and all parties having record title interest in the property being adjusted.
8. Topographic information based on city datum with a reference to the source of the information.
9. Existing streets and lot lines and the location and outline to scale of all structures which are to be retained within the properties and all structures outside the adjustment area within ten feet of the boundary lines; the distances between structures to be retained and notations concerning all structures which are to be removed.
10. The locations, widths and purpose of all existing and proposed easements for utilities, drainage and other public purposes, shown by dashed lines, within and adjacent to the subdivision (including proposed building setback lines, if known); all existing and proposed utilities including size of water lines and the size and grade of sewer lines, location of manholes, fire hydrants, street trees and streetlights.
11. The name, location, width and directions of flow of all watercourses and flood-control areas within and adjacent to the property involved; the proposed method of providing storm water drainage and erosion control.
12. The location of all potentially dangerous areas, including areas subject to inundation, landslide, settlement, excessive noise, and the means of mitigating the hazards.
13. The locations, widths and names or designations of all existing or proposed streets, alleys, paths and other rights-of-way, whether public or private; private easements within and adjacent to the subdivision; the radius of each centerline curve; a cross-section of each street and planned line for street widening or for any other public project in and adjacent to the subdivision; private streets shall be clearly indicated.
14. The lines and approximate dimensions of all lots, and the number assigned to each lot (lots shall be numbered consecutively); the total number of lots; the area of each lot.
15. The locations of any existing or abandoned wells, septic leaching fields, springs, water impoundments and similar features to the extent they affect the proposed use of the property.
16. Preliminary map (five eighteen-inch by twenty-six-inch copies, folded, and one eight-and-one-half-inch by eleven-inch reduction). Each set of plans must contain:
a. The location, type, trunk and canopy diameter of all trees on the property and indicate status (e.g., to be removed, maintained, or relocated); notations as to general type of vegetation in areas not occupied by trees.
b. A preliminary development plan or statement detailing the purpose of the lot line adjustment.
c. A vicinity map of appropriate scale and showing sufficient adjoining territory to clearly indicate surrounding streets, other land in the subdivider’s ownership, and other features which have a bearing on the proposed subdivision.
d. A description of requested exceptions from the subdivision design standards for such items as lot area and dimensions, street sections or utility easements.
17. Any additional information required by the director in order to verify the legal status of the affected lots and make the required findings.
C. Review Procedure. The community development director shall, within fifty days of the application being accepted as complete, approve, conditionally approve or deny the request and so notify the applicant in writing.
D. Required Findings for Approval. The community development director shall approve a lot line adjustment if all of the following findings can be made:
1. The land taken from one parcel is added to an adjacent parcel, and where a greater number of parcels or building sites than originally existed is not thereby created.
2. The modified parcels are consistent with, or more closely compatible with, the parcel design, minimum lot area, setbacks, environmental quality, and public health and safety criteria specified in the municipal code, the general plan and any applicable specific plan (unless findings can support a reasonable exception).
3. The lot line adjustment does not create (or increase existing) inconsistencies with the zoning regulations, building code and the general plan.
4. The modified lot lines do not alter an existing right-of-way, except with written approval of the city public works director.
5. The adjustment does not result in an increase in the number of nonconforming parcels nor increase the nonconformity of an existing parcel.
E. Required Findings for Denial. The director shall deny a lot line adjustment if any one of the required findings for approval cannot be made.
F. Conditions of Approval. Conditions of approval are limited to those necessary for the parcels to meet general plan or zoning and building code requirements, to require the prepayment of real property taxes prior to recordation of documents effecting the lot line adjustment, or to facilitate the relocation of existing utilities, infrastructure, or easements.
G. Recorded Deeds. The Subdivision Map Act requires that lot line adjustments be reflected in a recorded deed (Section 66412(d)). Therefore, following the director’s approval, the applicant shall submit for recordation an agreement relating to lot line adjustment, quitclaim deeds and acceptance thereof (if the adjustment involves parcels with separate landowners), or a declaration of lot line adjustment (if the adjustment involves only one landowner). No record of survey shall be required for a lot line adjustment unless required by Section 8762 of the Business and Professions Code. (Ord. 1729 § 4 (Exh. A), 2023)