Subdivisions

Sandy City Ordinance require a landowner desiring to divide property to go through a subdivision process. A "Subdivision" is defined as:

"Subdivision shall mean any land that is divided, resubdivided or proposed to be divided into two or more lots, parcels, sites, units, plots, or other division of land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, for offer, sale, lease, or development either on the installment plan or upon any and all other plans, terms, and conditions. Subdivision includes: (i) the division or development of land whether by deed, metes and bounds description, devise and testacy, lease, map, plat, or other recorded instrument; and; (ii) divisions of land for all residential and nonresidential uses, including land used or to be used for commercial, agricultural, and industrial purposes." [2002 Revised Ordinances of Sandy City, Title 15, Land Development Code, Chapter 15, Definitions]

A detailed Subdivision Procedure Description is available in PDF format This procedure lists the documents that are required to be provided to Sandy City, the time line for approvals, and other important requirements. A simplified version is listed below.

The process to subdivide property consists of 3 basic steps:

1. Preliminary Plat Review by the Planning Commission
2. Final Plat Review by City Staff
3. Recordation of the Plat with the County Recorder

During the preliminary review, the proposed plat is reviewed for compliance with local zoning regulations. This includes but is not limited to compliance with minimum lot sizes, lot widths, hillside ordinance restrictions, and access. The Public Utilities Department, Public Works Department, Parks & Recreation Department and Community Development Department review the proposal and make a recommendation to the City's Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission then holds a Public Meeting to perform the preliminary review. Often conditions of approval are attached to the subdivision.

During Final Plat review by City Staff, the applicant resolves any outstanding issues. Typically at this stage the engineering work for roads, utilities, and waterways are completed. Occasionally minor lot adjustments are made to accommodate utilities or easements. A Title Report is submitted with a final mylar drawing of the plat to the City for required approval signatures. The Mayor is the last to sign the plat.

To record the signed mylar, the developer takes the plat to the Salt Lake County Recorder's Office. They review the property description to verify that what is being divided matches up with property ownership records, and that all legal descriptions "close" and are contained within the boundary of the original legal description of the property being divided. Assuming all is in order, the plat is recorded, and the lots may then be sold and developed.

The contact persons for Subdivision Review are: