Article 2. Final Maps of California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 7. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.

The content and form of final maps shall be governed by the provisions of this article.

The final map shall be prepared by or under the direction of a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor, shall be based upon a survey, and shall conform to all of the following provisions:
  (a) It shall be legibly drawn, printed, or reproduced by a process guaranteeing a permanent record in black on tracing cloth or polyester base film. Certificates, affidavits, and acknowledgments may be legibly stamped or printed upon the map with opaque ink. If ink is used on polyester base film, the ink surface shall be coated with a suitable substance to assure permanent legibility.
  (b) The size of each sheet shall be 18 by 26 inches or 460 by 660 millimeters. A marginal line shall be drawn completely around each sheet, leaving an entirely blank margin of one inch or 025 millimeters. The scale of the map shall be large enough to show all details clearly and enough sheets shall be used to accomplish this end. The particular number of the sheet and the total number of sheets comprising the map shall be stated on each of the sheets, and its relation to each adjoining sheet shall be clearly shown.
  (c) All survey and mathematical information and data necessary to locate all monuments and to locate and retrace any and all interior and exterior boundary lines appearing on the map shall be shown, including bearings and distances of straight lines, and radii and arc length or chord bearings and length for all curves, and any information that may be necessary to determine the location of the centers of curves and ties to existing monuments used to establish the subdivision boundaries.
  (d) Each parcel shall be numbered or lettered and each block may be numbered or lettered. Each street shall be named or otherwise designated. The subdivision number shall be shown together with the description of the real property being subdivided.
  (e) (1) The exterior boundary of the land included within the subdivision shall be indicated by distinctive symbols and clearly so designated. The exterior boundary of the land included within the subdivision shall not include a designated remainder or omitted parcel that is designated or omitted under Section 66424.6. The designated remainder or omitted parcel shall be labeled as a designated remainder parcel or omitted parcel. The map shall show the definite location of the subdivision, and particularly its relation to surrounding surveys.
  (2) If the map includes a "designated remainder" parcel, and the gross area of the "designated remainder" parcel or similar parcel is five acres or more, that remainder parcel need not be shown on the map and its location need not be indicated as a matter of survey, but only by deed reference to the existing boundaries of the remainder parcel.
  (3) A parcel designated as "not a part" shall be deemed to be a "designated remainder" for purposes of this section.
  (f) On and after January 1, 1987, no additional requirements shall be included that do not affect record title interests. However, the map shall contain a notation or reference to additional information required by a local ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 66434.2.
  (g) Any public streets or public easements to be left in effect after the subdivision shall be adequately delineated on the map. The filing of the final map shall constitute abandonment of all public streets and public easements not shown on the map, provided that a written notation of each abandonment is listed by reference to the recording data or other official record creating these public streets or public easements and certified to on the map by the clerk of the legislative body or the designee of the legislative body approving the map. Before a public easement vested in another public entity may be abandoned pursuant to this section, that public entity shall receive notice of the proposed abandonment. No public easement vested in another public entity shall be abandoned pursuant to this section if that public entity objects to the proposed abandonment.

In the event that an owner's development lien has been created pursuant to the provisions of Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 17430) of Chapter 4 of Part 10.5 of the Education Code on the real property or portion thereof subject to the final map, a notice shall be placed on the face of the final map specifically referencing the book and page in the county recorder's office in which the resolution creating the owner's development lien was recorded. The notice shall state that the property subdivided is subject to an owner's development lien and that each parcel created by the recordation of the final map shall be subject to a prorated amount of the owner's development lien on a per acre or portion thereof basis.

(a) On or after January 1, 1987, a city or county may, by ordinance, require additional information to be filed or recorded simultaneously with a final or parcel map. The additional information shall be in the form of a separate document or an additional map sheet which shall indicate its relationship to the final or parcel map, and shall contain a statement that the additional information is for informational purposes, describing conditions as of the date of filing, and is not intended to affect record title interest. The document or additional map sheet may also contain a notation that the additional information is derived from public records or reports, and does not imply the correctness or sufficiency of those records or reports by the preparer of the document or additional map sheet.
  (b) Additional survey and map information may include, but need not be limited to: building setback lines, flood hazard zones, seismic lines and setbacks, geologic mapping, and archaeological sites.

When a soils report, geologic report, or soils and geologic report has been prepared specifically for the subdivision, each report shall be kept on file for public inspection by the city or county having jurisdiction.

Prior to filing, those certificates, statements, and acknowledgments set forth in this article shall appear on the final map and may be combined where appropriate.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, local agencies may require that those certificates, statements, and acknowledgments required by Sections 66436 and 66443, be made by separate instrument to be recorded concurrently with the final map being filed for record.

Whenever a certificate, statement, or acknowledgment is made by separate instrument, there shall appear on the final map a reference to the separately recorded document. This reference shall be completed by the county recorder pursuant to Section 66468.1.

(a) A statement, signed and acknowledged by all parties having any record title interest in the subdivided real property, consenting to the preparation and recordation of the final map is required, except in the following circumstances:
  (1) A lien for state, county, municipal, or local taxes or special assessments, a trust interest under bond indentures, or mechanics' liens do not constitute a record title interest in land for the purpose of this chapter or any local ordinance.
  (2) The signature of either the holder of beneficial interests under trust deeds or the trustee under the trust deeds, but not both, may be omitted. The signature of either shall constitute a full and complete subordination of the lien of the deed of trust to the map and any interest created by the map.
  (3) Signatures of parties owning the following types of interests may be omitted if their names and the nature of their respective interests are stated on the final map:
  (A) (i) Rights-of-way, easements or other interests which cannot ripen into a fee, except those owned by a public entity, public utility, or subsidiary of a public utility for conveyance to the public utility for rights-of-way. If, however, the legislative body or advisory agency determines that division and development of the property in the manner set forth on the approved or conditionally approved tentative map will not unreasonably interfere with the free and complete exercise of the public entity or public utility right-of-way or easement, the signature of the public entity or public utility may be omitted. Where that determination is made, the subdivider shall send, by certified mail, a sketch of the proposed final map, together with a copy of this section, to any public entity or public utility which has previously acquired a right-of-way or easement.
  (ii) If the public entity or utility objects to either recording the final map without its signature or the determination of the legislative body or advisory agency that the division and development of the property will not unreasonably interfere with the full and complete exercise of its right-of-way or easement, it shall so notify the subdivider and the legislative body or advisory agency within 30 days after receipt of the materials from the subdivider.
  (iii) If the public entity or utility objects to recording the final map without its signature, the public entity or utility so objecting may affix its signature to the final map within 30 days of filing its objection with the legislative body or advisory agency.
  (iv) If the public entity or utility either does not file an objection with the legislative body or advisory agency or fails to affix its signature within 30 days of filing its objection to recording the map without its signature, the local agency may record the final map without the signature.
  (v) If the public entity or utility files an objection to the determination of the legislative body or advisory agency that the division and development of the property will not unreasonably interfere with the exercise of its right-of-way or easement, the legislative body or advisory agency shall set the matter for public hearing to be held not less than 10 nor more than 30 days of receipt of the objection. At the hearing, the public entity or public utility shall present evidence in support of its position that the division and development of the property will unreasonably interfere with the free and complete exercise of the objector's right-of-way or easement.
  (vi) If the legislative body or advisory agency finds, following the hearing, that the development and division will in fact unreasonably interfere with the free and complete exercise of the objector's right-of-way or easement, it shall set forth those conditions whereby the unreasonable interference will be eliminated and upon compliance with those conditions by the subdivider, the final map may be recorded with or without the signature of the objector. If the legislative body or advisory agency finds that the development and division will in fact not unreasonably interfere with the free and complete exercise of the objector's right-of-way or easement, the final map may be recorded without the signature of the objector, notwithstanding the objections.
  (vii) Failure of the public entity or public utility to file an objection pursuant to this section shall in no way affect its rights under a right-of-way or easement.
  (viii) No fee shall be charged by a public entity, public utility, subsidiary of a public utility, or objector for signing, omitting a signature, or objecting pursuant to this section.
  (B) Rights-of-way, easements, or reversions, which by reason of changed conditions, long disuse, or laches appear to be no longer of practical use or value and signatures are impossible or impractical to obtain. A statement of the circumstances preventing the procurement of the signatures shall also be stated on the map.
  (C) Interests in, or rights to, minerals, including but not limited to, oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances.
  (4) Real property originally patented by the United States or by the State of California, which original patent reserved interest to either or both of those entities, may be included in the final map without the consent of the United States or the State of California to the map or to dedications made by it.
  (b) No monetary liability shall be incurred by, and no cause of action shall arise against, a local agency, a party, the subdivider, the subdivider's agent, or the engineer or land surveyor who prepared the map, on account of the omission of any signature, which omission is authorized by this section.
  (c) A notary acknowledgment shall be deemed complete for recording without the official seal of the notary, so long as the name of the notary, the county of the notary's principal place of business, and the notary's commission expiration date are typed or printed below or immediately adjacent to the notary's signature in the acknowledgment.

(a) Dedications of, or offers to dedicate interests in, real property for specified public purposes shall be made by a statement on the final map, signed and acknowledged by those parties having any record title interest in the real property being subdivided, subject to the provisions of Section 66436.
  (b) In the event any street shown on a final map is not offered for dedication, the statement may contain a declaration to this effect. If the statement appears on the final map and if the map is approved by the legislative body, the use of the street or streets by the public shall be permissive only.
  (c) An offer of dedication of real property for street or public utility easement purposes shall be deemed not to include any public utility facilities located on or under the real property unless, and only to the extent that, an intent to dedicate the facilities is expressly declared in the statement.
  (d) (1) If a subdivider is required under this division or any other provision of law to make a dedication for specified public purposes on a final map, the local agency shall specify whether the dedication is to be in fee for public purposes or an easement for public purposes.
  (2) If the dedication is required to be in fee for public purposes, the subdivider shall include the following language in the dedication clause on the final map or any separate instrument: "The real property described below is dedicated in fee for public purposes: (here insert a description of the dedicated property that is adequate to convey the property)."
  (3) If the dedication is required to be an easement for public purposes, the subdivider shall include the following language in the dedication clause on the final map or any separate instrument: "The real property described below is dedicated as an easement for public purposes: (here insert a description of the easement that is adequate to convey the dedicated property)."

The final map shall contain a certificate or statement for execution by the clerk of each approving legislative body stating that the body approved the map and accepted, accepted subject to improvement, or rejected, on behalf of the public, any real property offered for dedication for public use in conformity with the terms of the offer of dedication.

A statement by the engineer or surveyor responsible for the survey and final map is required. His or her statement shall give the date of the survey, state that the survey and final map were made by him or her or under his or her direction, and that the survey is true and complete as shown. The statement shall also state that all the monuments are of the character and occupy the positions indicated, or that they will be set in those positions on or before a specified later date. The statement shall also state that the monuments are, or will be, sufficient to enable the survey to be retraced.

(a) If a subdivision for which a final map is required lies within an unincorporated area, a certificate or statement by the county surveyor is required. If a subdivision lies within a city, a certificate or statement by the city engineer or city surveyor is required. The appropriate official shall sign, date, and, below or immediately adjacent to the signature, indicate his or her registration or license number and the stamp of his or her seal, state that:
  (1) He or she has examined the map.
  (2) The subdivision as shown is substantially the same as it appeared on the tentative map, and any approved alterations thereof.
  (3) All provisions of this chapter and of any local ordinances applicable at the time of approval of the tentative map have been complied with.
  (4) He or she is satisfied that the map is technically correct.
  (b) City or county engineers registered as civil engineers after January 1, 1982, shall only be qualified to certify the statements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subdivision (a). The statement specified in paragraph (4) shall only be certified by a person authorized to practice land surveying pursuant to the Professional Land Surveyors' Act (Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8700) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code) or a person registered as a civil engineer prior to January 1, 1982, pursuant to the Professional Engineers' Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6700) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code). The county surveyor, the city surveyor, or the city engineer, as the case may be, or other public official or employee qualified and authorized to perform the functions of one of those officials, shall complete and file with his or her legislative body his or her certificate or statement, as required by this section, within 20 days from the time the final map is submitted to him or her by the subdivider for approval.
  (c) As used in this section, "certificate," "certify," and "certified" shall have the same meaning as provided in Sections 6735.5 and 8770.6 of the Business and Professions Code.

The following statements shall appear on a final map:

Engineer's or Surveyor's statement:

This map was prepared by me or under my direction and is based upon a field survey in conformance with the requirements of the Subdivision Map Act and local ordinance at the request of (name of person authorizing map) on (date). I hereby state that all the monuments are of the character and occupy the positions indicated or that they will be set in those positions before (date), and that the monuments are, or will be, sufficient to enable the survey to be retraced, and that this final map substantially conforms to the conditionally approved tentative map.

(Signed) _____ (Date Signed) _____ L.S. or R.C.E. No. __________________ (Seal) Recorder's certificate or statement. Filed this ___ day of ____, 20__, at ____m. in Book ____ of ____, at page ____, at the request of ________. Signed _________________________ County Recorder

In addition to the certificates, statements, and acknowledgments required herein for final maps, the maps shall contain other certificates and acknowledgments as are required by local ordinance.