SB 9 lot split survey cost and the parcel map requirements California cities check
An SB 9 lot split divides one California single-family lot into two parcels, and the city approves it as a parcel map that a licensed land surveyor (or a civil engineer licensed before 1982) prepares and signs. Expect $5,000 to $15,000 for the survey, tentative map and final parcel map on a simple split, plus a city filing fee that runs $4,006 in Glendora, $4,466 in Los Angeles and about $11,700 in unincorporated Sacramento County. The city has 60 days to decide a complete application or it is deemed approved.
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Why every SB 9 lot split starts with a licensed land surveyor
SB 9 is codified at Government Code 66411.7. It lets an owner split a qualifying single-family lot into "no more than two new parcels of approximately equal lot area provided that one parcel shall not be smaller than 40 percent of the lot area of the original parcel," with both new parcels at least 1,200 square feet unless the city allows smaller. The approval is ministerial: if the split meets the objective standards, the city has to approve it.
What the law does not waive is the map. Section 66411.7(b)(2) says the split must meet the objective requirements of the Subdivision Map Act, and under Sections 66448 to 66450 the parcel map is prepared from a field survey and signed with the statement "This map was prepared by me or under my direction," followed by an L.S. or R.C.E. number. Only a licensed land surveyor, or a civil engineer licensed before January 1, 1982, can certify it. Los Angeles City Planning's SB 9 requirements say it plainly: the final parcel map "must be prepared by a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor."
Who buys this: a homeowner who wants to sell half the lot, build a second house to keep or rent, or give a child a buildable parcel, and an investor working with that owner. The surveyor is the first hire, because the survey decides whether the line you have in mind actually passes the 40 percent test, where the access strip goes, and whether the existing house and its utilities sit where the deeds say they do. Describe the lot and up to 3 California licensed land surveyors quote the survey and parcel map.
How much does an SB 9 lot split cost?
An SB 9 lot split costs roughly $10,000 to $30,000 before construction on a simple lot: the surveyor's map work, the city filing fee, the map check and title, and recording. Utilities for a second home are a separate and often larger budget.
| Line item | Typical cost | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Boundary survey, tentative map and final parcel map, simple 2 parcel split | $5,000 - $15,000 | Licensed land surveyor |
| Topographic survey when the city or the architect asks for one | $900 - $3,500 | Licensed land surveyor |
| SB 9 lot split filing fee, city or county | $4,006 to about $11,700 (see the fee table) | City or county planning |
| Final parcel map check and technical review | Often a separate deposit, e.g. $1,000 initial deposit in unincorporated LA County | City or county surveyor |
| Title report for the map and a final report before recording | Quoted by the title company | Title company |
| Recording the parcel map | County recorder fee | County recorder |
| Separate water, sewer and power connections for the new parcel | Often the largest item; quoted by each utility | Utilities and contractors |
Surveyor ranges are market ranges for 2026, not a quote; published Bay Area estimates for an SB 9 parcel map fall in the same $5,000 to $15,000 band. Older tracts with poor monumentation, a flag lot access strip and title problems push it up. Ask every surveyor you compare whether the price includes the title report review, setting monuments at the new corners, the closure calculations the map checker wants, and one round of corrections. Those are the lines where quotes for the same parcel map work differ.
SB 9 lot split fees in Los Angeles, Sacramento County and other California cities
These are the SB 9 or parcel map filing figures from each government's own fee schedule or SB 9 requirements sheet. Your parcel pays the schedule of whichever city, or the county if it is unincorporated.
| Jurisdiction | SB 9 or parcel map fee | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| City of Glendora | $4,006 tentative parcel map and lot split fee (Planning fee P-48) | SB 9 requirements, March 2025 |
| City of Los Angeles | $4,466 Administrative Review Major filing fee; Bureau of Engineering and LADBS map fees are separate | July 1, 2025 (was $4,319 from July 1, 2024) |
| Sacramento County, unincorporated | PMR-SB9 legislative parcel map: $11,017 across eight departments, plus a 6.5% IT fee capped at $850, about $11,733 | County fee table updated September 10, 2026 |
| Los Angeles County, unincorporated | Final parcel map initial deposit $1,000, with further deposits if review costs run higher | March 1, 2026 |
| City of Menlo Park | Parcel map fee per the City Master Fee Schedule | Parcel map checklist for SB 9, December 16, 2025 |
Sacramento County splits its SB 9 line among Planning ($8,297), Environmental Management ($671), Community Development ($750), Surveys ($360), SacDOT ($628) and smaller shares; the total is our sum of the county's published figures. Los Angeles bills the parcel map review separately from the $4,466 planning fee. The same two-parcel split costs about $4,000 to file in Glendora and nearly three times that in unincorporated Sacramento County. Fee schedules change each fiscal year, so confirm the current figure before you budget.
SB 9 lot split requirements the surveyor has to design around
Most of these rules land on the map itself, which is why the surveyor, not the architect, usually finds the problem first.
| Requirement | Where it is | What it means for the survey |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller parcel at least 40% of the original lot | 66411.7(a)(1) | The new line is placed from measured, not assessor, lot area |
| Each new parcel at least 1,200 sq ft, unless the city allows less | 66411.7(a)(2) | Small lots need exact area figures on the map |
| Lot was not itself created by an earlier SB 9 split | 66411.7(a)(3)(G) | Title and recorded map research |
| Owner has not split an adjacent parcel under SB 9 | 66411.7(a)(3)(H) | Research covers neighboring parcels too |
| City must approve or deny within 60 days of a complete application, or it is deemed approved | 66411.7(b)(1)(B) | A complete, correct map starts the clock |
| No right-of-way dedication or offsite improvements may be required | 66411.7(b)(3) | No street widening strip on the map |
| City may require utility easements and access to the public right-of-way | 66411.7(e) | Easements and the access strip are drawn and described |
| Setbacks for new units capped at 4 ft from side and rear lines | 66411.7(c)(3) | Building envelopes follow from the surveyed lines |
| Applicant signs an affidavit to live in one unit for 3 years, unless a land trust or qualified nonprofit | 66411.7(g) | Paperwork, not survey, but it filters out pure investors |
| City may not require fixing nonconforming zoning conditions | 66411.7(i) | Existing encroachments are shown, not cured |
Text read from Government Code 66411.7 as amended through 2025, including SB 450 (2024) and AB 1061 (2025). HCD's SB 9 fact sheet adds that a city may deny an application only for a specific, unmitigable adverse impact on health or safety. Rentals of units on a lot created this way must be longer than 30 days under 66411.7(h).
What makes an SB 9 lot split cost more or stall
The filing fee is fixed. These are the things that move the total, and most of them show up in the survey before anyone draws a house.
- Old tracts with missing corners. When the original monuments are gone or disagree, the surveyor spends more field and research time, and some cities want the tract remapped. One SB 9 builder reports remapping fees in older neighborhoods running to tens of thousands of dollars.
- The access strip. A rear parcel needs access to the public right-of-way, which the city may require under 66411.7(e). A flag strip or an access easement has to fit beside the existing house without breaking the 40 percent rule.
- Title problems. Cities ask for a recent title report with the map; Menlo Park wants one dated within two months of submittal and a final report within 90 days. Old easements and unreleased deeds of trust surface here.
- Utilities. Separate laterals and meters for the new parcel are usually the largest bill and are not part of the map. Price them before you commit.
- Encroachments. A fence, garage or driveway that crosses the existing lot line has to be shown on the map. Settle it with the neighbor first; a boundary dispute survey documents it, and a lot line adjustment can fix it.
How long does an SB 9 lot split take?
1.
Feasibility check, 1 to 2 weeks
Confirm the zone is single-family residential, the lot is not historic or in an excluded hazard area, and nobody has split it or an adjacent parcel under SB 9. Many cities publish an SB 9 checklist; Los Angeles uses form CP-3605.
2.
Title report and boundary survey, 3 to 6 weeks
The surveyor reviews the title report, pulls recorded maps for your lot and the neighbors, recovers corners and measures the lot, the house and the improvements.
3.
Tentative or SB 9 map and application
The surveyor drafts the split with both parcel areas, the access, easements and existing structures. You sign the owner occupancy affidavit and file with the fee.
4.
City review, 60 days on a complete application
Under 66411.7(b)(1)(B) the city must approve or deny a completed application within 60 days or it is deemed approved. A denial has to list the defects and how to fix them.
5.
Final parcel map and map check
The surveyor prepares the final parcel map with closures and monument notes, and the city or county surveyor checks it is technically correct. Corrections loop here.
6.
Monuments set and map recorded
New corners are set and the map is recorded with the county recorder. Only then can the new parcel be sold or financed separately.
SB 9 lot split questions
How much does an SB 9 lot split cost?
Plan on $5,000 to $15,000 for the surveyor's boundary survey, tentative map and final parcel map, plus the city fee: $4,006 in Glendora, $4,466 in Los Angeles, about $11,700 in unincorporated Sacramento County. Map check, title and recording add more, and utilities for a second home are a separate budget.
What are the requirements for an SB 9 lot split?
The lot must be in a single-family zone in an urban area, the smaller parcel must be at least 40 percent of the original and each parcel at least 1,200 square feet, the lot cannot come from an earlier SB 9 split, and the owner signs an affidavit to live in one unit for three years.
Do I need a surveyor for an SB 9 lot split?
Yes. The split is approved as a parcel map under the Subdivision Map Act, and that map has to be prepared and signed by a licensed land surveyor or a civil engineer licensed before 1982. The surveyor also sets the monuments at the new corners.
How long does an SB 9 lot split take?
Four to eight months from first survey to recorded map is common. The survey and map take one to two months, the city must decide a complete application within 60 days, and the final map check and corrections take the rest.
Can I do an SB 9 lot split in Los Angeles?
Yes. City Planning processes SB 9 splits as an administrative review with a $4,466 filing fee from July 1, 2025, using its CP-3605 requirements, and the final parcel map must be prepared by a licensed land surveyor or registered civil engineer. Engineering and building map fees are separate.
Does SB 9 apply to charter cities?
The statute says it does: 66411.7 defines a local agency as a city or county "whether general law or chartered." A 2024 Superior Court ruling for five charter cities was sent back to the trial court by the Court of Appeal in November 2025 to reconsider under SB 450. Check with your planning office.
Do I have to live on the property after an SB 9 lot split?
Yes, as a rule. The applicant signs an affidavit stating the intent to occupy one of the units as a principal residence for at least three years from approval. Community land trusts and qualified nonprofits are exempt, and cities may not add other owner occupancy conditions.
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