Whenever any words or phrases as used in this Title are not defined herein, but are defined in the Subdivision Map Act as last amended, such definitions are incorporated herein and shall be deemed to apply as though fully set forth in this title. If any inconsistency between a definition set forth in this Title and the Subdivision Map Act occurs, the definition in the Subdivision Map Act shall prevail.
(SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
Any reference to a section bearing numbers from 66410 through 66499.58 shall be to the Government Code relating to subdivisions.
(SCC 327 § 10, 1978; SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1585 § 2, 2015; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
All words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural the singular, each gender includes the other and any tense includes the other tenses unless the context requires otherwise. The word "shall" is mandatory and the word "may" is permissive. The word "includes" shall not limit a term to the specific examples, but is intended to extend its meaning to all other instances or circumstances of like kind or character.
(SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Approved access"
means right of vehicular travel to a public street, as shown on a final subdivision map or final parcel map and as approved by the Deputy County Executive of Community Services.
(SCC 327 § 10, 1978; SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1585 § 3, 2015; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Advisory agency"
means a designated official or an official body charged with the duty of making investigations and reports on the design and improvement of proposed divisions of real property, the imposing of requirements or conditions thereon, or having the authority under this Title to approve, conditionally approve or disapprove maps.
(SCC 327 § 10, 1978; SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Appeal board"
means a designated board or other official body charged with the duty of hearing and making determinations upon appeals with respect to divisions of real property, the imposition of requirements or conditions thereon, or the kinds, nature and extent of the design or improvements, or both, recommended or decided by the advisory agency to be required.
(SCC 327 § 10, 1978; SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Certificate of compliance"
means a certificate issued and recorded by the County pursuant to chapter 22.130 of this Code, and which determines that the subdivision of real property complies with the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act and Sacramento County ordinances enacted pursuant thereto. A filed final map or parcel map shall constitute a certificate of compliance with respect to the parcels of real property described therein.
(SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1702 § 1, 2022; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Dedication"
means the act of granting to a public agency the right to use a portion of real property for public purposes by the fee owner of the real property.
(SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Design"
means: (1) street alignments, grades and width; (2) drainage and sanitary facilities and utilities, including alignments and grades thereof; (3) location and size of all required easements and rights-of-way; (4) fire roads and firebreaks; (5) lot size and configuration; (6) traffic access; (7) grading; (8) land to be dedicated for park or recreational purposes; and (9) such other specific requirements in the plan and configuration of the entire subdivision as may be necessary or convenient to insure conformity to or implementation of the general plan, an adopted specific plan or adopted community plans of the County.
(SCC 327 § 10, 1978; SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Designated tributary"
means a specifically identified stream which has a defined bed and channel which serves to give direction to continuously or periodically flowing water into a larger stream or lake. The approximate locations of designated tributaries are indicated on the Sacramento County Comprehensive Zoning Plan maps.
(SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
A. 
"Improvement" refers to such street work and utilities to be installed, or agreed to be installed, by the subdivider on the land to be used for public or private streets, highways, ways, and easements as are necessary for the general use of the lot owners in the subdivision and local neighborhood traffic and drainage needs as a condition precedent to the approval of acceptance of the map thereof.
B. 
"Improvement" also refers to such other specific improvements or types of improvements, the installation of which, either by the subdivider, by public agencies, by private utilities, by any other entity approved by the local agency or by a combination thereof, is necessary or convenient to insure conformity to or implementation of the general plan, an adopted specific plan, or adopted community plan of the County.
(SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1585 § 6, 2015; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Final parcel map"
means a map prepared by a registered civil engineer or a licensed land surveyor and presented for filing, which conforms to an approved application for a tentative parcel map and the Subdivision Map Act.
(SCC 1585 § 7, 2015; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Final subdivision map"
means a map prepared by a registered civil engineer or a licensed land surveyor and presented for filing, which conforms to an approved application for a tentative subdivision map and the Subdivision Map Act.
(SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Right-of-way"
means that portion of real property dedicated or granted to the County to utilize said property for public street purposes. This dedication or grant includes the right for use by public utilities.
(SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1585 § 8, 2015; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
A street, highway, thoroughfare, road, avenue, boulevard, alley, lane, court, circle, drive, or way shall not be a public street until and unless the said street shall have been accepted into a street or road system maintained by a city, county, or the state. Streets and roads in public parks, public airports, public schools and similar public grounds shall not be construed to be public streets for the purpose of this division.
(SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Subdivision"
means the division, by any subdivider, of any unit or units of improved or unimproved land, or any portion thereof, shown on the latest equalized county assessment roll as a unit or as contiguous units, for the purpose of sale, lease or financing, whether immediate or future except for leases of agricultural land for agricultural purposes. Property shall be considered as contiguous units, even if it is separated by roads, streets, utility easement or railroad rights-of-way. "Subdivision" includes a condominium project, as defined in Section 4125 or 6542 of the Civil Code, a community apartment project, as defined in Section 4105 of the Civil Code, or the conversion of five or more existing dwelling units to a stock cooperative, as defined in Section 4190 or 6566 of the Civil Code. Any conveyance of land to a governmental agency, public entity, public utility, or subsidiary of a public utility for conveyance to such public utility for rights-of-way, shall not be considered a division of land for purposes of computing the number of parcels.
As used in this section, "agricultural purposes" means the cultivation of food or fiber or the grazing or pasturing of livestock.
(SCC 574 § 2, 1983; SCC 1585 § 9, 2015; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)
"Vesting Tentative Map" or "Vesting Map," or "Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map"
are synonymous and mean a form of tentative map which, when approved, confers a vested right to proceed for a limited period of time, with development in substantial compliance with the ordinances, policies, and standards that were in effect at the time the application for a vesting map was determined to be complete, or at the time the application was approved (if Section 22.25.020(c) is operative).
(SCC 651 § 1, 1986; SCC 1757, 7/22/2025)