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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 2Ch. 2Art. 3§ 66445 Parcel Map Preparation Requirements

§ 66445 Parcel Map Preparation Requirements

Government Code·California
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§ 66445 Parcel Map Preparation Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •A special map (parcel map) must be made by an engineer or surveyor to show property lines and streets.
  • •The map must be clear, drawn on special material, and include details like parcel numbers and street names.
  • •If the land has a big leftover piece (5 acres or more), it doesn’t need to be shown on the map, just mentioned in documents.
  • •Everyone who owns the land must agree to the map before it’s officially recorded.

Example

You want to split your big farm into smaller pieces to sell.

You hire a surveyor to draw a clear map showing the new property lines, streets, and parcel numbers. If there’s a big leftover piece of land (like 5 acres), it doesn’t need to be on the map, but you must mention it in the paperwork. All owners of the farm must sign off on the map before it’s official.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 66445 Parcel Map Preparation Requirements

The parcel map shall be prepared by, or under the direction of, a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor, shall show the location of streets and property lines bounding the property, 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 or statements, 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) 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. (d) (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 parcel or omitted parcel shall be labeled as a designated remainder parcel or an omitted parcel. (2) The map shall show the location of each parcel and its relation to surrounding surveys. If the map includes a “designated remainder” parcel or similar 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. (e) Subject to the provisions of Section 66436, a statement, signed and acknowledged by all parties having any record title interest in the real property subdivided, consenting to the preparation and recordation of the parcel map is required, except that less inclusive requirements may be provided by local ordinance. With respect to a division of land into four or fewer parcels, where dedications or offers of dedications are not required, the statement shall be signed and acknowledged by the subdivider only. If the subdivider does not have a record title ownership interest in the property to be divided, the local agency may require that the subdivider provide the local agency with satisfactory evidence that the persons with record title ownership have consented to the proposed division. For purposes of this paragraph, “record title ownership” means fee title of record unless a leasehold interest is to be divided, in which case “record title ownership” means ownership of record of the leasehold interest. Record title ownership does not include ownership of mineral rights or other subsurface interests that have been severed from ownership of the surface. (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, local agencies may require that those statements and acknowledgments required pursuant to subdivision (e) be made by separate instrument to be recorded concurrently with the parcel map being filed for record. (g) On and after January 1, 1987, no additional survey and map requirements shall be included on a parcel map that do not affect record title interests. However, the map shall contain a notation of reference to survey and map information required by a local ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 66434.2. (h) Whenever a certificate or acknowledgment is made by separate instrument, there shall appear on the parcel map a reference to the separately recorded document. This reference shall be completed by the county recorder pursuant to Section 66468.1. (i) If a field survey was performed, the parcel map shall contain a statement by the engineer or surveyor responsible for the preparation of the map that states that all monuments are of the character and occupy the positions indicated, or that they will be set in those positions on or before a specified date, and that the monuments are, or will be, sufficient to enable the survey to be retraced. (j) 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 parcel 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. (Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 332, Sec. 74. (SB 113) Effective January 1, 2010.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

propertylicenseroadparcel maplocationrelationafter januarydocument

Related Statutes

  • § 23178 County Boundary Property Records
  • § 66448 Parcel Map Survey Requirements
  • § 14666.8 State Wireless Lease Inventory
  • § 23122 Mariposa County Boundaries
  • § 23173 Boundary Determination Process

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 66445.
View Official Source