Subdivision Review

Recommendations Relating to Subdivision Requests

Planning reviews and makes recommendations relating to subdivision (commercial and residential) requests. View the subdivision ordinance. The subdivision processes serve to legally subdivide property in Chesterfield County. The processes include the following categories:

  • Lot Subdivisions - Preliminary, Construction and Final Plat (Amended Plat, Family Subdivision, Line Modification and Lot Subdivision)
  • Residential Parcel Subdivisions - Parcel Acreage (Amended Plat, Family Subdivision, Line Modification and Parcel Subdivision)
  • Validated Plat

Lot Subdivisions (Preliminary, Construction and Final Plat)

Lot subdivisions (Amended Plat, Family Subdivision, Line Modification and Lot Subdivision) include division of any parcel of land into two or more lots for the purpose of transfer of ownership or development for residential use or residential townhouse use.

Amending a Final Plat

A recorded final plat may only be altered through an amended or line modification plat as defined in Sec. 17-85. Plats which involve changes to a lot subdivision shall be reviewed as provided in Sec. 17-48, as applicable. Plats which involve changes to a lot subdivision shall be reviewed as provided in Sec. 17-51 or Sec. 17-52, as applicable.

  1. Amended Plat

Amended Plat

An amended plat is an alteration of a recorded plat or portion thereof which does not involve a change in property lines. Amendments may include, but are not limited to, name changes and typographical corrections relating to text, metes and bounds descriptions, coordinate points, floodplain limits, wetland limits, RPA lines, setback lines, drainage easements, buffers, incorrectly numbered lots or parcels.

  1. Family Subdivision
  1. Line Modifications
  1. Lot Subdivision

Lot Subdivision Process

  1. Inquiry Meeting

Inquiry Meeting

To begin the lot subdivision review process, the first step is to obtain county and state input on the initial concept plan for the subdivision. 

To do this, file an inquiry request through the Enterprise Land Management (ELM) citizen access portal (under Planning, Submit an Application, Planning: Other, Inquiry Meeting) using the inquiry questionnaire (PDF). A virtual inquiry meeting (scheduled for Thursday mornings) will be held with the subdivision review team, the developer and the consultant to discuss the inquiry request.

  1. Preliminary Plat
  1. Construction Plan
  1. Final Plat

Residential Parcel Subdivision

A residential parcel subdivision (Amended Plat, Family Subdivision, Line Modification and Parcel Subdivision) final plat involves the subdivision of land for which a preliminary plat is not required, into two or more parcels each being five acres or more, each having 250 feet or more of state maintained road frontage, and each having a 250 foot width maintained for the depth required to create a five acre parcel in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 17-51 and Sec. 17-85. The residential parcel subdivision final plat is the document that establishes the legal boundaries for all parcels, rights of way and easements.

Amending a Final Plat

A recorded final plat may only be altered through an amended or line modification plat as defined in Sec. 17-85. Plats which involve changes to a lot subdivision shall be reviewed as provided in Sec. 17-48, as applicable. Plats which involve changes to a parcel subdivision shall be reviewed as provided in Sec. 17-51 or Sec. 17-52, as applicable.

  1. Amended Plat

Amended Plat

An amended plat is an alteration of a recorded plat or portion thereof which does not involve a change in property lines. Amendments may include, but are not limited to, name changes and typographical corrections relating to text, metes and bounds descriptions, coordinate points, floodplain limits, wetland limits, RPA lines, setback lines, drainage easements, buffers, incorrectly numbered lots or parcels.

  1. Family Subdivision
  1. Line Modification
  1. Parcel Subdivision

Residential Parcel Subdivision Process

  1. Inquiry Meeting (Optional)

Inquiry Meeting (Optional)

The residential parcel subdivision review process may involve county and state input on the initial concept plan for the subdivision. 

To do this, file an inquiry request through the Enterprise Land Management (ELM) citizen access portal (under Planning, Submit an Application, Planning: Other, Inquiry Meeting) using the inquiry questionnaire (PDF). A virtual inquiry meeting (scheduled for Thursday mornings) will be held with the subdivision review team, the developer and the consultant to discuss the inquiry request.

  1. Parcel Acreage - Final Plat

Validation Plat

A validation plat is a plat used to correct improper recordation or subdivision pursuant to article II, division 4, sec. 17-60 of the subdivision ordinance (PDF).

Lots or parcels that were subdivided or modified prior to Feb. 28, 2001, without completing a subdivision process with Planning may be deemed invalid if they do not meet the lot or parcel standards in place at the time of the subdivision or modification. Lots or parcels deemed invalid are ineligible to receive a building permit. The validation plat process provides property owners the opportunity to validate property created or modified in violation of the subdivision ordinance in effect prior to Feb. 28, 2001.

To be eligible for a validation plat, the lot or parcel must contain no additional divisions or alterations done on or after Feb. 28, 2001 and it meet all requirements of the applicable zoning district at the time it was created (or the property owner must secure relief from those requirements).

Validation Plat Process

  1. Submit Application and Plan Documents

Submit Application and Plan Documents

The applicant submits a current mortgage survey or current survey plat through ELM. Planning will review the plat and provide comment within five days of submittal. If the survey is suitable, Planning will create a plat and notify the applicant that the plat is available for the needed in-person signature.

  1. Final Approval and Recordation