a. 
Generally.
This Article sets out regulations for the substantive review of subdivisions of land to serve the needs of all public and private interests within the City and surrounding areas.
b. 
Statement of policy.
Texas law allows cities to coordinate the platting, replatting, and conversion of raw land into subdivisions, including streets, alleys, and development parcels. This process, also known as platting, has long-range impacts on the development of Lubbock. The regulations of this Article are formulated to serve the needs of all public and private interests within the City and surrounding areas. Lubbock citizens are entitled to live in a city with healthy and safe development patterns. The development sector should be free to create that environment in a positive business atmosphere and accept the public responsibility of his or her profession. The regulations of this Article include not only protection for the subdivider's needs, but also the wants and needs of Lubbock citizens in the future.
c. 
Purposes.
The purposes of this Article are to:
1. 
Health and safety. Require healthy and safe development patterns;
2. 
Economic development. Promote economic development;
3. 
Future needs. Protect the subdivider's and citizens of Lubbock's needs in the present and in the future;
4. 
Harmonious development. Provide for the harmonious development of the City, for the coordination and alignment of streets within subdivisions with other existing or planned streets, or with other features of the City;
5. 
Open space. Provide for appropriate open space for recreation, public facilities, light, and air;
6. 
Capital improvements projects. Ensure conformance of development plans with the capital improvements projects that the City undertakes;
7. 
Compatibility. Ensure that development is compatible with and properly integrated into existing and future neighborhoods;
8. 
Acceptance and maintenance. Assure that facilities to be accepted and maintained by the City government are properly located and constructed;
9. 
Infrastructure. Facilitate adequate provision of transportation, potable water, wastewater, drainage, schools, parks, and other public requirements; and
10. 
Contamination protection. Protect groundwater and surface water resources from contamination.
(Ordinance 2023-O0054 adopted 5/9/2023)
a. 
Generally. This Article shall apply to land where any subdivided piece is less than or equal to five acres within the City limits and to all plats and all subdivisions of land where any lot is less than or equal to 10 acres in area within the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) as defined in Texas Local Government Code Chapter 212.
b. 
Requirement to plat.
Except as set forth in Subsection e., Exemption from Platting, below, the owner or owners of a tract of land within the City limits or in the ETJ who divides the land into two or more parts shall have a plat of the subdivision prepared in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code, Title 7, Chapter 212.004. Plats within the extraterritorial jurisdiction shall also come under the authority, review, and approval of the Lubbock County Commissioners Court in accordance with Chapter 232 of the Texas Local Government Code.
c. 
Compliance with UDC required to subdivide.
Unless a subdivision is specifically exempted from the requirements of this Article, it shall be unlawful for any person or entity to take any of the following actions until an appropriate plat is approved and recorded in conformity with this Article:
1. 
Subdivide. Subdivide any tract, lot, or parcel of land; and
2. 
Utilities. Connect or serve any utility service or facility to any tract, lot, or parcel of land.
d. 
Requirements for building permit.
1. 
Generally. Building Permits will be issued only on whole lots and tracts illustrated on recorded subdivision plats.
2. 
On or after June 26, 1975. For plats recorded on or after June 26, 1975, a Building Permit may be issued on a legally described portion of a platted lot that is wholly owned and the owner(s) of the remainder of the platted lot(s) will not consent to a replat. Under these circumstances, the issuance of a Building Permit is subject to approval by the Director of Planning. The Director of Planning's denial of a permit may be appealed to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
3. 
Water and wastewater. A Building Permit shall not be issued on a platted lot or tract, or any portion authorized under the procedure in Subsection d.2., On or after June 26, 1975, above, until such time as water and public wastewater service has been installed, accepted, and is operational as determined by the City Engineer or a Waiver or Delay is authorized in accordance with Section 39.07.044, Waiver of Improvements, or Section 39.07.045, Delay of Improvements, and the platted lot or tract is made accessible by way of an all-weather surface to the satisfaction of the Fire Marshal in accordance with the International Fire Code.
4. 
Structures. Building Permits may be issued by the Building Official for construction or improvement of structures on a tract other than a lot in a duly recorded subdivision as follows:
A. 
Installation of any sign, support, fence, or other structure not intended or designed to shelter or enclose persons or movable property;
B. 
Alterations, repairs, or remodeling made to an existing building or structure;
C. 
Permits issued for the installation of and/or work on building systems, such as electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), irrigation systems, fire suppression systems, etc.;
D. 
Construction of additional building floor area (attached to any building already in existence, or detached, on the same tract) which does not exceed more than 50 percent of the floor area of the principal building on the same tract no more than once in a 12-month period;
E. 
Accessory structures, as defined in Division 10.2, Definitions;
F. 
Moving a building or structure off of a lot or parcel;
G. 
Demolition of any existing building or structure; or
H. 
Other work as determined appropriate by the Director of Planning and the City Engineer.
e. 
Exemption from platting.
Certain divisions of land may be exempt from platting in accordance with Texas Local Government Code Chapter 212.
(Ordinance 2023-O0054 adopted 5/9/2023)