Centralized Plat Signature and Recording Process
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Subdivision FAQs
The division of a tract or a parcel of land into two (2) or more lots, sites, or other divisions requiring new street or utility construction, or any division of less than five (5) acres for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale or building development, and includes resubdivision and when appropriate to the context, relates to the process of subdividing or to the land or area subdivided.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission and staff review subdivision plats for unincorporated Hamilton County, the City of Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Walden, Ridgeside, and East Ridge. The City of Red Bank, the Town of Signal Mountain, Soddy-Daisy, and Collegedale each have their own Planning Commission and approve their own subdivision plats.
The subdivision regulations do not apply to the following:
- Any subdivision, the plat of which has been recorded prior to February 14, 1935 or
- The subdivision of land which will produce tracts of land, all of which are greater than five (5) acres in size when no street or utility is to be constructed.
Plats expire two years after Planning Commission approval unless the plat is recorded or other plats of the same area are submitted within two years.
See below.
Subdivision Plat Approval Process
For proposed preliminary subdivision plats located in unincorporated Hamilton County, City of Chattanooga, City of Lake Site, or City of East Ridge, applicants may request a pre-submittal meeting at no cost.
The purpose of this meeting is to help determine the scope and feasibility of the development proposal.
The Preliminary Plat is submitted with an application and a fee to the Regional Planning Agency and reviewed by staff from RPA and other departments. This is the most important piece of the process. The Preliminary Plat is the “working drawing” that contains all of the vital information for professional staff review. A detailed report is written by RPA and given to the applicant explaining what corrections need to be made in preparing the Preliminary Plat before it can be placed on the Planning Commission meeting agenda.
The Planning Commission meeting is held the second Monday of every month on the fourth floor of the Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Avenue, at 1:00pm. The Planning Commission is the final authority on subdivision plats. They vote to either approve or deny the Preliminary Subdivision Plat.
The public is invited to participate in the meeting and will be given an opportunity to express support or opposition to subdivision requests.
These detailed drawings (different from the Preliminary Plat) are submitted to and reviewed by the Land Development Office (LDO), not the Regional Planning Agency.
The Final Plat is submitted (with an application) after Planning Commission approval of the Preliminary Plat. The Final Plat is then approved or denied by the Planning Commission. If approved by the Planning Commission and all necessary department signatures are obtained, the Final Plat may be recorded. It then becomes the legal subdivision document allowing the sale of lots. A fee is due upon signing by the RPA.
The Planning Commission meeting is held the second Monday of every month on the fourth floor of the Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Avenue, at 1:00pm. The Planning Commission is the final authority on subdivision plats. They vote to either approve or deny the Final Subdivision Plat.
The public is invited to participate in the meeting and will be given an opportunity to express support or opposition to subdivision requests.
The developer begins clearing, grading, installing streets and drainage facilities.
Additional Information
Subdivision Plat Deadline: 12:00 Noon, 3rd Monday of each month
Subdivision questions: contact RPA Development Services at 423-643-5902 or email: subdivision@chattanooga.gov.
Infrastructure and Operational questions: contact one of the following:
| CITY OF CHATTANOOGA | HAMILTON COUNTY |
| Public Works – 643-6000
Engineering – 643-6190 Traffic Engineering – 643-5950 Technical Information – 643-6033 Building Inspection – 643-5894 Board of Appeals – 643-5883 Landscape Coordinator – 643-5885 Land Development Office– 643-5891 Neighborhood Services – 425-3700 |
Public Works – 209-7800
Engineering – 209-7810 Traffic Engineering – 209-7810 County GIS – 209-7760 Building Inspection – 209-7860 Board of Appeals – 209-7860 Environmental Health – 209-8110
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