Platting is the process required by the government to obtain an approval of a subdivision of real property. It is established by the Texas Local Government Code Chapter 212 (for cities) or 232 (for counties). The Plat submission and approval process can become complex as it requires approval from your city planning department and in some cases your county as well.
For over a decade Tetra has helped clients receive approval for their Plats. Our team has experience in large commercial Plats as well as residential Plats. Before you begin your construction project, or even prior to purchasing land for development, make sure to review any Platting requirements. Call Tetra anytime with questions regarding Platting.
A Plat is a map that is drawn to scale of a town or a section of land that has been subdivided into lots showing the location and boundaries of individual parcels with the streets, alleys, easements, and rights of use over the land of another. The platting process allows the governing authorities to: a) Ensure that all lots comply with local regulations. b) Ensuring compliance with a land use plan established to control the development of a city and c) Ensuring that all property has access to public infrastructure such as roads.
Every governing body, such as the planning commissions of cities and counties, will require various other pieces of information to appear on the Plat. These may include:
In Houston the rules for Platting are governed by the Code of Ordinances Chapter 42 – SUBDIVISIONS, DEVELOPMENTS AND PLATTING.
The rules for Plats by the State of Texas are found here: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.212.htm
A plat provides for the subdivision of land that can be legally defined (i.e. Lot 5, block 12 of the Texans Fans subdivision). Subdivision plats are required to show how land will be subdivided. The plat must reflect adequate streets and right-of-way for the project. In the City of Houston the plat is checked to assure it abides by all development rules as established by Chapter 42, the City’s land development ordinance. By law, the Planning Commission is required to approve plats that meet the requirements of Chapter 42 such as:
The process begins at the city level. The City of Houston illustrates the beginning of their process as follows:
Almost all Plats require a new survey. For example The City of Houston requires the following:
The only exception to this general rule are Amending Plats.
General types of Plats:
Vacating Plat:
(a) The proprietors of the tract covered by a plat may vacate the plat at any time before any lot in the plat is sold. The plat is vacated when a signed, acknowledged instrument declaring the plat vacated is approved and recorded in the manner prescribed for the original plat.
(b) If lots in the plat have been sold, the plat, or any part of the plat, may be vacated on the application of all the owners of lots in the plat with approval obtained in the manner prescribed for the original plat.
(c) The county clerk shall write legibly on the vacated plat the word “Vacated” and shall enter on the plat a reference to the volume and page at which the vacating instrument is recorded.
(d) On the execution and recording of the vacating instrument, the vacated plat has no effect.
The following are the most common Classes of Plats in Houston:
The City of Houston’s municipal code, Sec. 42-70, sets the following: This division establishes the procedures for the review of applications for subdivision plats, development plats, general plans and street dedication plats. As provided in this division, the director is authorized to approve Class I plats and development plats that meet the requirements of this chapter. Only the commission is authorized to approve Class II plats, Class III plats, general plans, street dedication plats and any Class I plat or development plat that the director refers to the commission.
Therefore a Class I plat will require a public hearing if a variance is requested. Class II and Class III plats require approval of the Planning Commission.
Tetra Land Services will represent you at any public hearings required for your plat. If a variance is required for your plat we will handle all necessary forms and notifications. Public hearings require a mail out to nearby residents along with signs posted to announce the date and time of the hearing.
The Commission meets every other Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in City Hall annex chambers, 900 Bagby, unless otherwise posted. The agenda is posted three days in advance on the Department’s website at www.houstonplanning.com. Items on the agenda posted as consent are typically considered all in one grouping. Items considered separately include replats requiring a public hearing and variances. Members of the public can sign up to speak on any agenda item at the meeting. Speakers are allowed two minutes and can only speak once per item (if the item is deferred, speakers must choose at which meeting to speak).
Tetra Land Services is a civil engineering, commercial and residential land surveying company. We are TXDot pre-certified. At Tetra Land Services, we understand that accountability and a commitment to expedient service is vital to our customers. Please contact us any time regarding our engineering, land surveying, platting, appraisal or other services.
5304 Ashbrook, Texas 77081
713-462-6100
jvn@tsatx.com
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