FAQ

How do I create a Subdivision?

What is a Subdivision?

A subdivision is described in the Ohio Revised Code (711.001) as any of the following:

No Plat approval required (lot split)

a.)  The division of any parcel of land shown as a unit or as contiguous on the last preceding tax roll:

– into 2 or more parcels, sites, or lots;
– any one of which is less than 5 acres;
– for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership;
– along an existing public street, not involving the opening, widening, or extension of any street or road;
– up to four per year from an original tract or five if all land has been subdivided.
– see additional information under Lot Splits.

Plat approval required

b.) The improvement of one or more parcels of land for residential, commercial, or industrial structures or groups of structures involving the division or allocation of land for the opening, widening, or extension of any street or streets.

c.) The division or allocation of land as:

– open spaces for common use by owner, occupants or lease holders; or
– easements for the extension and maintenance of public sewer, water, storm drainage or other public facilities.

The subdivision of land within Delaware County is reviewed by the DCRPC as well as many other county agencies in order to ensure that the public health, safety and welfare are protected. The review consists of external factors such as water supply and sewer capacity, as well as the internal design (safe street patterns and proper drainage). The process also ensures there is public record of the lots or parcels created in the county Recorder’s office.

Please note that subdivision of existing, platted lot(s) require submission of a plat. Platted lots cannot be subdivided with the No Plat lot split process.

Common Access Driveways (CADs) are platted subdivisions and require the recording of a Maintenance Agreement and the construction of the CAD prior to signature from the Regional Planning Commission.

What are the rules?

When subdividing land, standards for improvements and platting are prescribed by the Delaware County Subdivision Regulations for all land in unincorporated townships.

The subdivision regulations help the land owner understand what type of subdivision they are planning, the necessary information and materials, and the process to follow in order to finalize the plan

From small property divisions to large tract divisions, the regulations provide guidance to the public for accomplishing their goals while meeting the DCRPC’s standards. (For more info see Subdivision Regulations.)

What is the Cost?

Costs vary depending on the size of the project and include overall fees and well as a per lot fee based on each buildable lot. Funds are also collected on behalf of the Soil and Water Conservation District and the Health District (if applicable). The fees charged by DCRPC are found in the Fee Schedule. The listed fees do not include preparation fees of the surveyor or engineer.

Where do I start?

It is advisable to discuss the project with your township zoning officer and DCRPC staff. If the proposed development needs to be rezoned, that process is separate from the Subdivision process and must be at least initiated before a Preliminary Plan can be approved.

How long does it take?

Major subdivisions typically require at least two meetings of the Regional Planning Commission, with the development time dependent upon the nature of the project and the level of improvements.

Platted subdivisions must go through the following three steps:

Submission of a Sketch Plan (site review): This is a rough sketch that the staff distributes to a number of agencies. Staff will send the applicant notice of the date of the site review and submit comments afterward. The applicant and consultant should use these comments to prepare the Preliminary Plan.

Submission of a Preliminary Plan: The requirements of the Preliminary Plan are included in the Subdivision Regulations. This step includes the parallel submission of Preliminary Engineering plans to the County Engineer. The Preliminary Plan includes essentially the first few pages of the Preliminary Engineering plans with detail to meet the RPC requirements. Review will include a Technical Review Committee meeting and the opportunity to resubmit revisions based on comments. Approval requires an affirmative vote of the Regional Planning Commission at a regular meeting.

Shortly following the approval of the Preliminary Plan, the Preliminary Engineering Plan will be approved by the County Engineer’s office. At that point, Final Engineering can be prepared and submitted for all or part of the project, also through the County Engineer’s office and Sanitary Engineer’s office. The Final Engineering must be approved before the Final Plat will be signed by the County Engineer and Sanitary Engineer.

Submission of a Final Plat: The Final Plat must be circulated for approval by the local zoning inspector, the County Engineer, and the Sanitary Engineer. Securing those signatures typically requires a separate review of engineering plans and subdivider agreements. Public improvements need to be either completed or bonded before signature. Applicants must submit a draft copy of the Final Plat to the RPC staff prior to circulating for signatures.

A combined agency flowchart, as well as flowcharts showing how local township Re-zoning interacts with the Subdivision process, are located on the Application Forms page.

More information for the timeline of the various subdivision types can be found in Section 200 of the Subdivision Regulations. DCRPC application forms may be downloaded here.