Subdivision Services

As of June 1, 2023, we have transitioned to the Unified Development Ordinance. Subdivision regulations are located in Article 30. Streets & Other Infrastructure can be found in Articles 29-34.

Nonresidential: Projects related to a new street, a new street right-of-way or a change in existing street.

Residential: For developments of single family detached, duplex, triplex and/or quadruplex on individual lots in the N1and N2A/B districts.

Multi Family: For projects that meet the definition of a multi-dwelling development, as defined use in Article 15.

Mixed Use: Used for mixed residential and commercial projects.

In Charlotte and Mecklenburg County a proposal to subdivide land must be approved by the Planning Department before the actual dividing of land and constructing of improvements can begin.

Since the City and County governments are separate governing bodies, two almost identical ordinances are used: the City of Charlotte Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and the Mecklenburg County Subdivision Ordinance.

The Planning Department coordinates the use of these ordinances in the review and approval of all subdivision proposals. Generally the approval process is completed in two phases: the preliminary plan phase and the record map phase.

Sketch Plans are not required but are highly encouraged by staff. A sketch plan is submitted for review before the actual preliminary plan is formally submitted and a great mechanism to receive feedback. (Article 30.5)

A Preliminary Plan is submitted to the Planning department by the applicant via Accela. The plan shows details of street construction, lot layout, storm drains, creeks, and adjacent properties (Article 30.6). The plan should be prepared by a registered landscape architect, engineer, or land surveyor.

Once the preliminary plan is submitted, it’s in the Gateway Phase to determine if the plan is submitted correctly and apply the fee accordingly. Once the fee is paid the review process begins.

Depending on the plan, Planning Department staff Assigns Review Tasks to City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and State of North Carolina departments when required.

***Once plans have met the city's ordinance requirements, Staff Grants Official Preliminary Plan Approval. Applicants are electronically notified of the results. After a preconstruction meeting, construction can begin.***

Once the preliminary plan is approved the customer can move forward to the Record Map Phase.

Development within Neighborhood 1 (N1) zoning is considered single family. With the implementation of the UDO, duplexes and triplexes are now allowed on a single family (N1) zoned lot. Quadplex maybe allowed in the N1 zoning district and will need to comply with the prescribed conditions of Article 15. Single family development is allowed in Neighborhood 2 (N2) with prescribed conditions (Article 15).

A subdivision development plan that includes a mixture of uses such as single family detached and multi-dwelling stacked, or residential and commercial, or is in a legacy MX zoning district.

Major Final Plats: 15-day review cycle after payment for each review

Standard Subdivisions Include:

1.  All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale or building development whether residential or nonresidential.

2.   Residential and nonresidential multiple building site and multi-site projects even if there is no division of the underlying land into separate parcels which is to be recorded with the County Register of Deeds.

3.  All divisions of land involving the dedication of a new street or a new street right-of-way or a change in existing streets

For further clarification  please refer to Article 29

Minor Final Plats: 15-day review cycle after payment for each review

Minor subdivision means a subdivision that is not otherwise exempt from this article and that does not involve any of the following: 

1. The creation of any new public street or street right-of-way.

2.  The extension of any needed rights-of-way or easements for the water or sewer system operated by Charlotte Water. 

3.  The installation of drainage improvements through one or more lots to serve one or more other lots. 

4.  The installation of a private wastewater treatment plant or a private water supply system for more than one lot or building site.

For further clarification  please refer to Article 29

Exempt plats: 5-day review cycle after payment for each review

Common exceptions to subdivision include but are not limited to:

 1. The combination or recombination of portions of parcels created and recorded where the total number of parcels or lots is not increased 2. The division of land into parcels greater than ten acres where no street right-of-way dedication is involved.

 2. The division of a tract in single ownership whose entire area is no greater than two acres into not more than three lots, where no street right-of-way dedication is involved and where the resultant lots are equal to or exceed the standards of the appropriate zoning classification. 

For additional exemptions, please refer to Article 29

Property owners must fill out and sign subdivision application prior to plan and plat approval.