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Subdivision plans

Subdivision & Lot Split Plans

See how your land divides before you pay for a survey: new lot lines, lot areas, frontage and building envelopes, checked against your zoning’s minimums.

  • Lot areas calculated
  • Frontage checked
  • Building envelopes
  • Ready for pre-application
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Aerial photo of a corner lot with a house, front walk and a large side and rear yard
ELM STREET OAK AVENUE PROPOSED LOT LINE BUILDING ENVELOPE EXISTINGHOUSE LOT A4,687 SF LOT B3,787 SF 72.0'65.1'52.6' FRONTAGE N 01020 FT
Example: one corner lot divided into two, drawn from aerial imagery and parcel lines. A concept layout, not a recorded plat.

Example sheet

What’s on Your Lot Split Plan

A finished layout splitting a corner lot into two. Hover or tap a number to see what each part is and why the planning reviewer needs it.

Example sheet
ELM STREET OAK AVENUE PROPOSED LOT LINE BUILDING ENVELOPE EXISTINGHOUSE LOT A4,687 SF LOT B3,787 SF 72.0'65.1'52.6' FRONTAGE N 01020 FT 12345678
  1. 1

    Parent parcel boundary

    The whole lot as it is today, from the parcel record or your survey.

  2. 2

    Proposed lot line

    Where the new line would run, drawn heavier so it stands out.

  3. 3

    Lot areas

    Square footage of each new lot, checked against your zone’s minimum.

  4. 4

    Frontage

    How much of each lot touches a public street, another common minimum.

  5. 5

    Building envelope

    Where a new building could go on the new lot after setbacks.

  6. 6

    Existing buildings

    What stays, and on which lot, with distances to the new line.

  7. 7

    Streets and access

    Street names and how each lot is reached.

  8. 8

    North arrow and scale

    So the layout can be measured and oriented.

  9. 9

    Title block with sources

    Where the boundary came from, and a clear note that this isn’t a plat.

Your layout follows your zoning code’s minimums, so it will differ from this example.

Quick answer

What Is a Subdivision Plan?

A subdivision plan (or lot split plan) is a scaled layout showing how one parcel would be divided into new lots, with each lot’s lines, area, frontage and buildable area. Planning departments use it in pre-application and review. The final recorded plat is prepared and sealed by a licensed land surveyor; our layout is the step before.

Reviewed by the MakeSitePlan drafting team · Updated October 2026

Also called
Lot split plan, concept plan, tentative or preliminary layout
Used for
Splitting a lot, small subdivisions, lot line changes, checking land before buying
Who asks for it
The city or county planning department
What you send
Your address, and a survey or plat if you have one
What you get
A scaled layout with lot areas, frontage and building envelopes
Not included
The recorded plat and corner monuments. Those need a licensed surveyor

What’s included

Always on the Layout, Plus What Planning Asks For

Small splits and larger subdivisions get reviewed differently. The left column is on every layout we draw; the right is added when your planning department asks for it.

AlwaysOn every subdivision layout

  • Parent parcel boundaryWith dimensions from the record or your survey
  • Proposed lot linesClearly drawn as new
  • Area of each lotIn square feet and acres
  • Frontage of each lotAlong each public street
  • Building envelopesSetback lines on every new lot
  • Existing buildingsWith distances to the new lines
  • Title block and sourcesIncluding a “not a plat” note

If askedAdded when planning requires it

  • Zoning summary tableMinimum lot size, width, frontage and setbacks
  • Access and drivewaysShared drives or flag-lot access strips
  • EasementsExisting ones, and new ones the split creates
  • Utility routesWhere water, sewer and power could reach each lot
  • Several layout optionsTwo or three ways to divide the land
  • Open space or dedicationLand given to the street or the public, where required
  • Vicinity mapWhere the parcel sits in the neighbourhood

By project

What Your Layout Shows for Your Project

A one-into-two split and a feasibility check answer different questions. Pick yours to see what we put on the sheet.

Aerial view of a corner lot with a house and a large yard

Layout for a lot split

  • The new lot line, placed to meet minimum lot sizes
  • Area and frontage of both lots
  • Existing house distances to the new line
  • Building envelope on the new lot

Often also asked for: a recorded plat from a licensed surveyor, after planning approves the layout.

Price My Lot Split

Also: combining lots, flag lots, family splits and simple condo or townhome layouts. Ask about yours

Is this the right drawing?

Layout vs Plat vs Survey

A subdivision goes through several drawings, and only some of them need a licensed surveyor. Here’s where our layout fits.

Subdivision layout Concept options Recorded plat Boundary survey
What it isA scaled plan of the proposed lotsTwo or three ways to divide the landThe legal document that creates the lotsField measurement of the existing boundary
Who prepares itA drafterA drafterA licensed land surveyorA licensed land surveyor
Site visitNoNoYesYes
Legal effectNone. For review and planningNone. For decisionsCreates the lots once recordedEstablishes the boundary
When you need itPre-application and planning reviewBefore you commit to one layoutAfter approval, to recordUsually before the plat
We prepare itYesYesNo, a surveyor doesNo, a surveyor does

You need a surveyor as well when…

  • the planning department approves the layout and the lots must be recorded
  • the boundary itself is uncertain or disputed
  • corner markers must be set on the ground
  • the property is in California, or any state where only surveyors may locate lines

Planning departments differ on what they need first. Send any notes from them with your quote request and we’ll tell you what our layout covers before you pay.

Plan review

What the Planning Reviewer Checks

Most lot splits succeed or fail on a few numbers. We check every layout against this list before it reaches you.

  1. 01

    “Is each lot at least the minimum size?”

    Lot areas calculated and compared with your zoning district’s minimum in a table.

  2. 02

    “Does each lot have enough frontage?”

    Street frontage measured for every lot, including corner and flag lots.

  3. 03

    “Can every lot be reached?”

    Access shown for each lot: street, shared drive or access strip.

  4. 04

    “Do existing buildings still meet setbacks?”

    Distances from every existing building to the new lines written on the plan.

  5. 05

    “Is there room to build?”

    A building envelope on each new lot after all setbacks.

  6. 06

    “Are easements respected?”

    Recorded easements shown, and any new ones the split would need.

Got comments back from planning? We revise the layout to answer each one, including layouts prepared by someone else.

Permit Corrections

What to send us

An Address Starts It. A Survey Sharpens It.

  • Required
    Property address or parcel numberSo we can pull the parcel and zoning
  • Required
    What you want to doHow many lots, and roughly where
  • Helpful
    Boundary survey or platThe most accurate starting point
  • Helpful
    Deed or title documentsFor easements and access rights
  • Helpful
    Notes from planningPre-application comments or emails
  • Helpful
    Photos of the landDriveways, sheds and fences on site

No survey yet? Many owners start with a layout from parcel records to see if a split works, then order the survey once they know it’s worth it.

How it works

  1. 1

    Send the basics

    Use the quote form or WhatsApp. Two minutes.

  2. 2

    Approve your price

    We look at your zoning and parcel, then reply with the price and turnaround. Nothing starts until you approve.

  3. 3

    Get your layout

    A scaled PDF with lot areas, frontage and envelopes, ready for the planning department.

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Deliverables & pricing

What You Receive, and What Sets the Price

Every parcel and zoning code is different, so we quote each layout. Here’s what you get, and what moves the price.

File
Vector PDF, print-ready. Other formats on request
Sheet size
Matched to your planning department, usually 24 × 36
Scale
Engineer’s scale that fits the parcel, such as 1" = 30'
Title block
Parcel number, zoning, date, sources and a “not a plat” note
Revisions
Revision terms are written in your quote
Turnaround
Stated in your quote. Rush can be requested

What affects the price

  • Number of lotsEach lot is calculated and checked
  • Parcel shapeIrregular boundaries take longer
  • Layout optionsTwo or three versions to compare
  • Source documentsA survey saves time over records
  • Easements and accessShared drives and new easements
  • Rush deliveryWhen you need it sooner
Get My Exact Price

Free quote. You see the price before we start.

Where we work

Subdivision Layouts Across the U.S.

We check your county or city’s subdivision and zoning rules for minimum lot size, frontage and setbacks, wherever the land is.

Surveying is licensed in every state. Our layouts are for planning; the recorded plat and boundary work need a local licensed surveyor. In California, that includes layouts that locate property lines.

Next step

Approved Layout? Here’s What Comes After.

Once planning accepts the layout, a licensed surveyor prepares the plat to record the new lots. Larger subdivisions may also need civil engineering for roads, grading and utilities.

We can prepare the site plan and drawings for the first house on the new lot.

Site Plans

Subdivision FAQ

Subdivision & Lot Split Questions

Short answers to what people ask before ordering. Ask anything else in your quote request.

Get Price Quote

Reviewed by the MakeSitePlan drafting team
Updated October 2026

Can you prepare the final plat?

No. The recorded plat must be prepared and sealed by a licensed land surveyor. We prepare the layout that planning reviews first, which the surveyor can then work from.

Can my lot be split?

It depends on your zoning: minimum lot size, width, frontage and setbacks for the buildings that stay. Our layout checks those numbers for your parcel.

What does the planning department need first?

Many start with a pre-application meeting and a concept layout. Requirements vary, so send any notes you have and we’ll match them.

Do I need a survey before the layout?

Not always. A layout from parcel records is often enough to see if a split works. You’ll need a survey before the plat is recorded.

Can you check minimum lot sizes for me?

Yes. We look up your zoning district’s minimums and show them next to each new lot in a table.

What about a lot line adjustment?

We draw the current and proposed line, with areas before and after for both lots. A surveyor prepares the legal descriptions to record it.

Can you show more than one way to split the land?

Yes. Two or three concept options side by side help you choose before paying for surveys and engineering.

Do you work in California?

Not for layouts that locate property lines. California treats that as land surveying, which needs a licensed surveyor.

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