The purpose of this article is to establish procedures and standards governing lot line adjustments and voluntary mergers within the City of Davis, in accordance with the Subdivision Map Act (Government Code Sections 66410 et seq.). The intent of these provisions is to ensure that such actions further the goals and policies of the City of Davis General Plan, are consistent with applicable zoning and development standards, and promote the orderly and efficient subdivision and development of land. It is further the intent of this article to prevent the creation of parcels that are inconsistent with established planning, zoning, and building regulations, to facilitate clear and accurate property boundaries, and to provide an efficient, transparent, and legally compliant process for property owners seeking to adjust or merge parcels under common ownership.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)
An application on a form provided by the city shall be filed with the community development director:
(a) 
Whenever a lot line is adjusted between four or fewer parcels provided that a greater number of parcels than originally existed will not be created.
(b) 
Whenever two or more adjacent lots are to be merged voluntarily pursuant to Section 66499.20.3 of the Subdivision Map Act.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)
Lot line adjustment and voluntary merger applications filed pursuant to this article shall include all of the following:
(a) 
A completed application made on a form provided by the community development director.
(b) 
A preliminary title report current within the previous six months for all properties involved.
(c) 
A site plan which shows the following:
(1) 
The date of preparation, a north arrow, and scale of the map;
(2) 
If the map is based on a survey, the date of the survey;
(3) 
A vicinity key map of appropriate scale covering sufficient adjoining territory to clearly indicate the nearby street patterns, major access streets, property lines, and other adjacent properties;
(4) 
A statement of existing and proposed zoning and existing and proposed uses of the property;
(5) 
Boundaries and dimensions of the property(ies) involved in the application, with sufficient information to locate all existing and new property lines of each lot;
(6) 
Topographic information shall be sufficient to fully show the configuration of the land and any and all depressions that present drainage problems;
(7) 
The location and general description of any trees with notations as to their specimen type, and other significant natural features, and their retention or destruction;
(8) 
The approximate locations of all existing wells, abandoned wells and sumps; and an indication of any physical restrictions or conditions in the project which would affect the use of the property;
(9) 
The location of all structures which are to be retained or removed within the project boundaries and their distances other structures and existing or proposed street and lot lines;
(10) 
The locations, widths and purposes of all existing and proposed easements for utilities, drainage and other public purposes, shown by dashed lines, within and adjacent to the project boundaries;
(11) 
The location, width and directions of flow of all watercourses;
(12) 
The locations, widths and names or designations of all existing streets, alleys, pedestrian ways and other rights-of-way, whether public or private, within and adjacent to the project;
(13) 
Any planned line for street widening or for any other public project in and adjacent to the project; and
(14) 
The total area in square footage or acreage to the nearest one-tenth acre of each existing lot and each resulting lot.
(d) 
Deeds to convey interest in the property, including legal descriptions of the areas being conveyed, to complete the transaction shall be submitted in a form approved by the city attorney (all deeds shall be in a form suitable for recordation at the county recorders office); except for voluntary mergers.
(e) 
Legal descriptions of each new resulting lot for recordation.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)
The city engineer shall review the lot line adjustment or voluntary merger application for compliance with the requirements in Section 36.12.030. The city engineer shall notify the applicant whether or not all required information for the lot line adjustment or voluntary merger application has been submitted. If the application is determined to be incomplete, the city engineer shall specify those parts of the application which are incomplete. An application for a lot line adjustment or voluntary merger shall not be processed until the application complies with all of the requirements in Section 36.12.030.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)
Once an application is determined complete, the city engineer shall refer copies of the application to any city department, local agency or other individual or group the city engineer believes may have an interest. If no response is received within 21 calendar days of the referral date, the city engineer will assume that the outside agency has no comment to make.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)
Upon completion of the referral period, the city engineer shall approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application in accordance with the requirements of this title. The city engineer may attach conditions to the approval of a lot line adjustment and voluntary merger to facilitate the following:
(a) 
Compliance with the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and applicable specific plan. If the parcels or structures are nonconforming with respect to Zoning Ordinance requirements, a lot line adjustment shall not increase the degree of nonconformance;
(b) 
Compliance with the local building regulations, including the California Building Code;
(c) 
Payment of real property taxes prior to approval of the lot line adjustment or voluntary merger; and
(d) 
The relocation of existing infrastructure or easements.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)
Requests for withdrawal of any application pursuant to this title shall be submitted to the city engineer in writing prior to the effective date of the application, as described in Section 36.12.040. Upon receipt of such request, the city engineer shall notify all concerned parties of the withdrawal. A refund of the filing fee shall be made in accordance with adopted resolutions and ordinances in effect at the time the withdrawal is made.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)
Within two working days of the decision by the city engineer, the community development director shall provide notice of the decision to the applicant at the address appearing on the application, or to such other address designated in writing by the applicant. The notice shall contain the following information:
(a) 
Findings upon which the decision was based;
(b) 
The environmental document prepared and date ratified, unless exempt;
(c) 
The action of the city engineer;
(d) 
Conditions of approval;
(e) 
An application expiration date and renewal requirements;
(f) 
Notice of the appeal period and brief description; and
(g) 
Notice of need to pursue administrative remedies.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)
A decision by the city engineer to approve a ministerial application shall be effective upon the approval date.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)
An approved or conditionally approved lot line adjustment or voluntary merger application is assignable, but an assignment does not discharge any conditions or obligations of the application. If an approved or conditionally approved application is reassigned, notice shall be given to the city engineer within thirty calendar days of the reassignment. Such notice shall include the name(s) and address(es) of the "party(ies)" assuming the approved or conditionally approved application.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)
(a) 
All lot line adjustments and voluntary mergers approved or conditionally approved pursuant to this article shall expire twelve months after the approval date unless:
(1) 
The lot line adjustment or voluntary merger is reflected in a recorded deed; and
(2) 
A certificate of compliance for each affected parcel is been recorded by the city engineer.
(b) 
A record of survey shall not be required unless required by Business and Professions Code Section 8762.
(c) 
Expiration of the approval shall automatically terminate all proceedings, and no documents which would transfer all or a portion of the real property involved shall be filed. However, the subsequent processing, approval and recordation of the documents may lawfully occur after the date of the expiration of the approval if the required documents have been submitted to the city engineer prior to the expiration date.
(Ord. 2678, 11/4/2025)