FINAL MAPS (County Reviewed)

The content of this page will provide guidance through the Final Map review and recording process for subdivisions reviewed by the County in the unincorporated areas, and all contract cities of the Los Angeles County.



 


All subdivisions have planning and zoning implications and, accordingly at the beginning stage, you must obtain approval from the Department of Regional Planning or your City Planning Department before you can record a Final Map. To learn more about the planning stage process with the County of Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning, click here.


FINAL MAP PREPARATION


TYPICAL FINAL MAP (Tract & Parcel Maps)
Below are some tips and tools to help in preparing the final maps.
Please note that final maps can only be prepared by licensed California Land Surveyors or pre-1982 Registered Civil Engineers.

Sheet size: All final maps must be 18” x 26” with a blank 1” margin on all sides.
  • First sheet of the final map (Title Sheet) must include the following:
    • Map Number
    • Preamble
    • Number of Lots
    • Gross Area
    • Owner's / Subdivider's Statement / Record Owner's note
    • Notary Certificates
    • Trustees/Beneficiaries (if required by the Title company)
    • Signature Omission Note (if required by the Title company)
    • Surveyor's/Engineer's Statement
    • Basis of Bearing
    • County Surveyor's and / or City Engineer's Certificate (where applicable)
    • Other applicable certificates and statements
    • County Tax Certificates
  • Following sheets of the final map should include the details of the land being subdivided, including but not limited to:
    • Establishment of Street Center Lines
    • Establishment of the Subdivision Boundary
    • Found Monuments and their references
    • New Monuments being Set with specifications
    • Existing Easements
    • Bearing and Distance of all courses & curves
    • North Arrow
    • Legend
    • Map Scale
    • Distinctive Border
    • Other applicable borders and boundaries (e.g. County/City Boundary)
    • Labeling of all boundary lines, etc.

    Sample Tract Map
    Sample Parcel Map


REFERENCE MATERIALS AND SAMPLES




CONTACT US

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact our Final Maps Section at (626) 458-4930, or email us at LDD-FinalMaps@pw.lacounty.gov. To discuss your project with us, you can make an appointment for an online meeting between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, M-Th by using the following link: https://pw.lacounty.gov/landing/onlineappointments.cfm

SUBMITTAL AND REVIEW PROCESS


In order to properly process your submittal and to facilitate review of your project, please submit all of the applicable required items below. It is our policy to review only completed submittals. Submittals that are not complete or do not contain the necessary references, documents, or supporting calculations may be delayed or rejected. All documents should be submitted electronically, using PDF format, to EPIC-LA. If you have already formally submitted a plan check package in the past and you wish to upload revised documents, you must resubmit to EPIC-LA under the existing plan case. For questions regarding this checklist, please contact the appropriate plan checking unit at (626) 458-4930.

FINAL MAP SUBMITTAL

REQUIRED ITEMS FOR TRACT AND PARCEL MAP REVIEW
(All in pdf format and submitted electronically in Epic-LA)
  • Tract or Parcel Map
  • Conditions of Approval
  • Reference Documents
    • Approved Tentative Map, including the Date of approval
    • All deeds referenced on final map or required for interpretation of the deeds referenced on the map
    • Underlying tract or parcel map
    • All recorded maps referenced on final map
    • Vesting Deed
  • Preliminary Subdivison Report
  • Closure calculations
  • Assessor's Map (Most recent copy with the boundary of the proposed division of land outlined in red and marked with tract or parcel number)
  • Property Tax Bond Estimate Declaration (BED)
  • Property Tax History (5-Year Tax) must be original, signed by a title officer, and dated within last 90 days

FEES

  • Plan check fees are required to facilitate review and recordation of your final map.
  • You can pay the plan check review in person or online using e-check (for charges less than $100,000) / credit card (for charges less than $50,000.00). After you have submitted your plans for review, your plan checker will create a fee invoice that you can view and pay in Epic-LA under your plan case.

See LDD Fee Schedule Below
Submit my plans
LDD Fee Schedule

FINAL MAP REVIEW PROCESS

For each Tract or Parcel Map Submittal, a check print showing plan check comments and a corrections list will be generated by the plan checker and sent to the applicant who submitted the Final Map. They will also address deficiencies in the document and inform you of supporting documents that are needed in order to obtain the technical approval. The following is a link to resubmit your corrected final map and required supporting documents.


Resubmit my corrected map and supporting documents

PAPERLESS SUBMITTALS

We've been processing paperless plan review since 2013. All documents should be submitted electronically, using PDF format, to EPIC-LA.




CONTACT US

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact our Final Maps Section at (626) 458-4930, or email us at LDD-FinalMaps@pw.lacounty.gov. To discuss your project with us, you can make an appointment for an online meeting between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, M-Th by using the following link: https://pw.lacounty.gov/landing/onlineappointments.cfm

PROPERTY TAX CLEARANCES (Tax Package)


Below are some tips and tools about preparing the tax package for tax clearances. In order to record a final map, applicant must have Current and Future Property Tax Clearances. A Tax Write-up will be prepared by Land Development staff based on 5-Year Property Tax History and Bond Estimate Declaration (BED), and then sent to the Assessor’s and Treasurer / Tax Collector’s Offices as a Tax Package, together with the latest Assessor's Map and BED. You can follow up with the Assessor’s Office for your Future Property Tax Bond Estimate. You can contact the Treasurer / Tax Collector’s Office for your Current Property Tax Clearance.


Sample 5-Year Tax History
Sample Bond Estimate Declaration
Blank BED form and Instructions


CURRENT AND FUTURE PROPERTY TAX CLEARANCE PROCESS
Below is a flowchart showing the process to obtain the Current and Future Property Tax Clearances.




CONTACT US

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact our Final Maps Section at (626) 458-4930, or email us at LDD-FinalMaps@pw.lacounty.gov. To discuss your project with us, you can make an appointment for an online meeting between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, M-Th by using the following link: https://pw.lacounty.gov/landing/onlineappointments.cfm

APPROVAL AND RECORDATION PROCESS


FINAL MAPS

APPROVAL
After the Tract or Parcel Map is technically approved, the applicant needs to obtain various agency clearances required for the Final Maps recordation process. Depending on type and location of the Final Map (County Unincorporated area or City), the jurisdictional agencies and required clearances may vary.
List of Agencies and Clearances


RECORDATION
After all required clearances are obtained by the applicant, the recordation process will be different based on location of the map (County Unincorporated area or City) and scope of the project (PM or TR).

List of required items to record the Final Map:

  • All appplicable Fees paid.
  • All Agency Clearances obtained.
  • Signed and Notarized Mylars.
  • Original wetsigned Final Guarantee (from Title Comppany) Sample Final Guarantee


Final Maps located in the County Unincorporated area must go to the Board of Supervisor's (BOS) for final approval. After BOS approval, the Tract or Parcel Map (Public Works has delegated authority to approve Parcel Maps in the County Unincorporated area, and don't need to go to the Board of Supervisor's for approval) will be processed and delivered to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Office for recordation.
After the Final Map is recorded, the applicant can obtain a pdf copy of the recorded map from Los Angeles County Pubic Works "Land Records Information Website".



Final Maps located in the Cities must go to the respective city for approval and signatures. A required City Letter issued to the applicant by Land Development Division will accompany the Final Map Mylars going to the City. Final Maps returning from the city will be processed and delivered to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Office for recordation.
After the Final Map is recorded, the applicant can obtain a pdf copy of the recorded map from Los Angeles County Pubic Works "Land Records Information Website"
Contract Cities




CONTACT US

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact our Final Maps Section at (626) 458-4930, or email us at LDD-FinalMaps@pw.lacounty.gov. To discuss your project with us, you can make an appointment for an online meeting between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, M-Th by using the following link: https://pw.lacounty.gov/landing/onlineappointments.cfm



Note: Resubmittals will be required to address any corrections needed on previous submittal.



FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS

To get an idea of what type of development is possible on your property or a piece of property you’re interested in buying, it’s best you reach out to the Department of Regional Planning, Land Divisions Section and to Public Works, Subdivision Planning Section. They’ll provide you all applicable requirements your development will need to satisfy.
From Epic-LA by going to Apply, Plans (click on All), search for Map Number, and fill out the application (don’t change the default application type to parcel map or tract map). The tentative map number will be issued as soon as you submit the application.
Yes, according to County Code (Title 21). In addition, the Subdivision Map Act requires that the improvements either be built or secured prior to recording the final map.
This is when the applicant submits all documents, plans, and improvement bonds, etc. required to record a final tract map or parcel map before the tentative map expires. At that point, even if the tentative map expires while the County is processing the submittals (for final approval only), the final map is considered to be a timely filing and the County is still able to deliver it to get recorded.
Public Works staff will deliver the final map to the Registrar-Recorder / County Clerk’s office for recording.
From the Land Records Information (Viewer) website: https://pw.lacounty.gov/sur/landrecords/
Once a tax bond has been processed, the fees have been expended. If the map doesn’t record that same year that tax bond clearance is issued and a new tax bond is required, then a tax bond processing fee will become due again.
Yes, one instance of a bond processing fee covers one bond and a supplemental tax bond is separate from the tax bond for the following year’s normal property taxes.
Through Epic-LA, by clicking on Plans (click on All), then search for the appropriate type of map to be processed (tract map or parcel map) and click on Apply to get to the application form.
To comply with the Subdivision Map Act Sections 66492 and 66493, certifying that there are no liens against the subdivision for unpaid taxes or special assessments and full payment or security of payment for the following year’s property taxes.
You need to request it, prior to the tentative map expiration, from the planning agency for your project whether it’s the Department of Regional Planning or City Planning.