No person shall subdivide land without making and recording a plat of
said subdivision (if said subdivision is within the definition of "subdivision"
as defined in this chapter) and without fully complying with the provisions
of this chapter and of the Virginia Land Subdivision and Development Act.[1]
A.
No such plat of any subdivision shall be recorded unless
and until it shall be submitted to and approved by the Subdivision Agent of
Northumberland County.
B.
Whenever the owner or proprietor of any tract of land
to which this chapter applies desires to subdivide the same, he or she shall
submit a plat of the proposed subdivision to the Subdivision Agent.
C.
The Subdivision Agent shall act on any proposed plat
within 60 days after it has been officially submitted for approval by either
approving or disapproving such plat, in writing, and giving with the letter
specific reasons therefor. Specific reasons for disapproval may be contained
in the separate document or may be written on the plat itself and shall relate
in general terms such modifications or corrections as will permit approval
of the plat.
D.
If the Subdivision Agent fails to approve or disapprove
a plat within 60 days after it has been officially submitted for approval,
the subdivider, after 10 days' notice to the Subdivision Agent, may petition
the Circuit Court of Northumberland County to decide whether the plat should
or should not be approved. Such petition must be filed in the Circuit Court
within 60 days of the written disapproval of the Subdivision Agent.
E.
No lots to which this chapter applies shall be sold until
the plat of the subdivision is approved by the Subdivision Agent and recorded
as provided by this chapter and the Virginia Land Subdivision and Development
Act.
F.
Prior to official submission of the plat for approval,
the subdivider may, at his or her option, submit to the Subdivision Agent
a preliminary subdivision plat for tentative approval under such rules of
appropriation and procedure as hereinafter set forth.
[1]
Editor's Note: Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2240 et seq.
When a final plat is approved, it shall be duly executed and acknowledged
before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds, and when thus
executed and approved as herein specified, shall be filed and recorded in
the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the County and indexed under
the names of the landowners signing such statement and under the name of the
subdivision.
No subdivider shall subdivide any tract of land that is located within
the County, except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
This chapter bears no relation to any private easement, covenant, agreement
or restriction, nor is the responsibility of enforcing such private easement,
covenant, agreement or restriction implied herein to any public official.
When this chapter calls for more restrictive standards than are required by
private contract, the provisions of this chapter shall control.
No change, erasure or revision shall be made on any preliminary or final
plat after approval of the Agent has been endorsed in writing on the plat
unless authorization for such changes has been granted in writing on the plat
by the Subdivision Agent.
A.
There shall be a charge for the examination and approval
or disapproval of every plat reviewed by the Subdivision Agent. At the time
of filing the preliminary plat, the subdivider shall deposit with the Agent
a check payable to the Treasurer of Northumberland County, in the amount as
set forth in the Fee Schedule.[1]
[Amended 7-12-2001]
B.
Exemption. For subdivisions of less than five lots, there
will be no charge.
