Community & Economic Development Director review.
Riverside Municipal Code § 18.150.100
in effect18.150.100 - Community & Economic Development Director review.
A. Tentative parcel map.
1. Tentative parcel maps that meet all of the criteria listed below can be approved by Community & Economic Development Director in accordance with the Subdivision Map Act. The City Manager shall have the authority to enter into all agreements related to the approval of the parcel map.
a. The existing parcel has an average natural slope no greater than 20 percent.
b. All necessary infrastructure and utilities are provided to the proposed parcels in a manner consistent with City standards.
c. The map would create no more than four parcels.
d. None of the conditions of California Government Code Section 66474, Grounds for Denial of Tentative or Parcel Map, exist. These conditions include:
(1) That the proposed map is not consistent with the applicable General Plan and Specific Plans as specified in Section 65451.
(2) That the design or improvement of the proposed subdivision is not consistent with applicable General and Specific Plans.
(3) That the design is not physically suitable for the type of development.
(4) That the site is not physically suitable for the proposed density of development.
(5) That the design of the subdivision or the proposed improvements are likely to cause substantial environmental damage or substantially and avoidably injure fish or wildlife or their habitat.
(6) That the design of the subdivision or type of improvements is likely to cause serious public health problems.
(7) That the design of the subdivision or the type of improvements will conflict with easements, acquired by the public at large, for access through or use of, property within the proposed subdivision. In this connection, the governing body may approve a map if it finds that alternate easements, for access or for use will be provided, and that these will be substantially equivalent to ones previously acquired by the public. This subsection shall apply only to easements of record or to easements established by judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction and no authority is hereby granted to a legislative body to determine that the public at large has acquired easements for access through or use of property within the proposed subdivision.
B. Lot line adjustments, lot consolidations and lot merger/unmergers.
1. The City Surveyor shall conditionally approve an application for a lot line adjustment, lot consolidation or lot merger/unmerger upon a finding that the property involved meets all the following criteria:
a. The parcels are physically contiguous and not separated by any public right-of-way.
b. No additional parcels will be created.
c. The resulting parcels comply with all applicable requirements of Title 19 of this Code, unless in conjunction therewith a variance is granted by the Community & Economic Development Director pursuant to the provisions of Title 19.720 of this Code.
d. The proposed adjustment, consolidation or merger/unmerger and the resulting parcels comply with applicable requirements as to area, improvement and design, floodwater drainage control, appropriate improved public roads, sanitary disposal facilities, water supply availability, environmental protection and other requirements of this title.
e. No new streets or street extensions are created, although dedications for street rights-of-way may be required in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.16.060 of the Riverside Municipal Code.
f. In the case of properties proposed to be created by a lot line adjustment, lot consolidation or lot merger/unmerger with an average natural slope of 20 percent or greater, an initial study needs to be prepared and a negative declaration adopted in accordance with the City's California Environmental Quality Act - CEQA Resolution.
2. The City Surveyor may only impose such conditions to a conditional approval of the lot line adjustment, lot consolidation or lot merger/unmerger as may be necessary to conform to the City's Zoning and building regulations including those regulations applicable to the issuance of a building permit set forth in Section 13.16.060 of the Municipal Code, to require the prepayment of real property taxes prior to the approval of the lot line adjustment, lot consolidation or lot merger/unmerger, or to facilitate the relocation of existing utilities, infrastructure or easements. No tentative map, parcel map or final map shall be required as a condition of the approval of a lot line adjustment, lot consolidation or lot merger/unmerger.
3. The City Surveyor may refer the lot line adjustment, lot consolidation or lot merger/unmerger to the Planning Commission.
C. Parcel map waivers.
1. Findings for waiver. The City Surveyor and City Engineer, shall grant the application for a waiver of the parcel map only upon a finding that the proposed division of land complies with the requirements established by the Subdivision Map Act and this title as to area, improvement and design, floodwater drainage control, appropriate improved public roads, sanitary disposal facilities, water supply availability, environmental protection, and such other requirements as therein set forth.
2. Conditions. The City Surveyor shall condition the waiver of a parcel map upon the filing of a tentative map as set forth in this title conforming to the configuration of each parcel as approved by said Commission, and upon the filing of such documents as may be necessary to meet the requirements of the Subdivision Map Act or this title including a signed and acknowledged statement satisfying all of the requirements of Section 66436 of the Subdivision Map Act and a certificate or statement satisfying the requirements of Section 66492 of the Subdivision Map Act.
3. Effective date; appeal. The decision of the City Surveyor to either grant or deny the application for the waiver of a parcel map shall be final and effective ten days following its decision unless the applicant or any other interested person files a notice of appeal to the Planning Commission within this time in accordance with the procedures as hereinafter set forth. An appeal shall stay the decision of the City Surveyor until final action by the Planning Commission.
D. Certificate of Compliance.
1. Review by Planning Commission. If the matter of the issuance of a Conditional Certificate of Compliance is referred to the Planning Commission, the Community & Economic Development Director shall cause the matter to be placed on the next available agenda of said Commission. At the time set for discussion, the Planning Commission shall receive a written report from the City Surveyor setting forth the actions taken on the matter and the facts and circumstances relied upon in arriving at such decision together with any recommended conditions. The applicant or other interested party shall have an opportunity to present testimony orally and/or in writing. The Planning Commission, acting in the capacity of the City Surveyor, may direct the issuance of a Conditional Certificate of Compliance, or a Certificate of Compliance if no conditions are imposed, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, if it finds that the property was divided in violation of the Subdivision Map Act or this title and that the proposed real property may be approved as not being contrary to the public health or the public safety. The Planning Commission may impose such conditions as may be authorized in accordance with subsection C above. The Planning Commission shall have the right to continue the matter from time to time as is reasonable in order to obtain additional information as said Commission determines necessary.
2. Effective date; appeal. The decision of the City Surveyor or the Planning Commission acting in its capacity as City Surveyor shall be final and effective ten days following the rendering of a decision, unless the applicant or other interested person files a notice of appeal to the City Council within this time in accordance with the procedures as hereinafter set forth. An appeal shall stay the decision until final action by the City Council.
3. Notice of appeal. Notice of an appeal to the City Council of a decision of the City Surveyor or of the Planning Commission regarding the issuance of a Conditional Certificate of Compliance shall be filed by the applicant or any other interested party with the Planning Division within ten days of such decision, together with such appeal fee as may be established in the City's fee resolution. The notice of appeal shall set forth the grounds of the appeal and the action or relief requested.
4. Setting matter for review. The Planning Division shall promptly forward the notice of appeal to the City Clerk, together with any appropriate staff reports and the decision of the City Surveyor or the Planning Commission from which the appeal is made. The City Clerk shall set the matter for discussion on the City Council's next available agenda; provided, however, the matter shall be set for consideration within 30 days of receipt of the notice of appeal and appeal fee.
5. Review. At the time set for discussion, the City Council shall receive a written report from the Public Works Department setting forth the facts and circumstances of the case and the decision of the City Surveyor or Planning Commission. The applicant or any other interested person shall have an opportunity to present testimony orally and/or in writing. The City Council may affirm, reverse, or modify the decision of the City Surveyor or Planning Commission. The City Council shall direct the issuance of a Conditional Certificate of Compliance, or a Certificate of Compliance if no conditions are to be imposed, if it finds that the property was divided in violation of the Subdivision Map Act or this title and that the proposed real property may be approved as not being contrary to the public health or the public safety. The City Council may impose such conditions as may be authorized in accordance with subsection C above. The City Council shall have the right to continue the matter from time to time as is reasonable in order to obtain additional information as said City Council determines necessary. The decision of the City Council shall be final and shall be effective immediately upon pronouncement of the decision.
(Ord. 7459 § 53, 2019; Ord. 7341 §7, 2016; Ord. 6968 §1, 2007)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT18SU_ARTIVREFIAPPR_CH18.150GEAPPRPR_18.150.100COECDEDIREFetched: 11/1/2026