TO: Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers
FROM: Beth Lindauer, Community Development Director
SUBJECT:
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Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending RBMC §20.6(A) Regarding Lot Line Adjustments and Voluntary Mergers Consistent with the California Subdivision Map Act
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RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
recommendation
1. Introduce and waive the first reading of Ordinance 1098 amending Red Bluff Municipal Code (“RBMC”) §20.6 regarding lot line adjustments and voluntary mergers; and
2. Conduct a Public hearing and consider all testimonies.
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SUMMARY:
RBMC Section 20.6(A) establishes the procedures and approval authority for lot line adjustments and voluntary mergers within the City of Red Bluff. The current code language contains procedural standards and approval requirements that are inconsistent with the California Subdivision Map Act, particularly Government Code Section 66412(d), which governs lot line adjustments.
Recent changes and clarifications in State law emphasize that qualifying lot line adjustments are ministerial actions and that local agency review must be limited to specific determinations authorized by the Subdivision Map Act. The City’s existing code includes discretionary Planning Commission review requirements for certain lot line adjustments and lacks updated procedural language reflecting current State standards.
The proposed ordinance updates RBMC Section 20.6(A) to ensure consistency with State law, clarify application requirements and approval authority, streamline processing procedures, and reduce unnecessary discretionary review.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
The last section amendment occurred by way of Ordinance 1051 on January 15, 2019.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed amendments modernize the City’s lot line adjustment procedures and align local regulations with the California Subdivision Map Act. The ordinance clarifies that lot line adjustments may occur only between four or fewer adjoining parcels where land from one parcel is added to another and no additional parcels are created. The amendments also reaffirm that lot line adjustments and voluntary mergers may not create new lots or substandard parcels.
Furthermore, the amendment establishes that qualifying lot line adjustments are ministerial actions processed by the Planning Director rather than discretionary actions requiring Planning Commission approval. The review shall be limited to determinations authorized by Government Code Section 66412(d), including consistency with the General Plan, zoning regulations, applicable specific plans, and building ordinances.
Additional updates include:
• Removal of Unnecessary Mapping Requirements
• Updated Application Requirements
• Limitations on Conditions of Approval
These changes bring the City’s procedures into alignment with State law and current subdivision practices throughout California.
CEQA
The proposed ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the common sense exemption, because it can be seen with certainty that the ordinance will not result in a significant effect on the environment.
CITY FISCAL IMPACT:
The proposed ordinance amendment is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact on the City.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. RBMC 20.6 Update - REDLINE DRAFT
2. RBMC 20.6 Update - CLEAN DRAFT
CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO. 1098
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RED BLUFF AMENDING RED BLUFF MUNICIPAL CODE §20.6(A) REGARDING LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY MERGERS TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY WITH THE CALIFORNIA SUBDIVISION MAP ACT
WHEREAS, the City of Red Bluff regulates subdivisions, lot line adjustments, and voluntary mergers pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Red Bluff Municipal Code (“RBMC”); and
WHEREAS, RBMC §20.6(A) establishes procedures for lot line adjustments and voluntary mergers within the City; and
WHEREAS, Government Code section 66412(d) of the California Subdivision Map Act exempts qualifying lot line adjustments from tentative and parcel map requirements and limits local agency review authority to objective determinations expressly authorized by State law; and
WHEREAS, the California Subdivision Map Act characterizes qualifying lot line adjustments as ministerial actions subject to the Permit Streamlining Act; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that amendments to RBMC §20.6(A) are necessary to maintain consistency with current State law, clarify administrative procedures, and streamline processing of qualifying lot line adjustments; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments clarify that qualifying lot line adjustments shall be processed ministerially by the Planning Director or designee and eliminate unnecessary discretionary review requirements inconsistent with Government Code section 66412(d); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines section 15061(b)(3), the City Council finds that the ordinance is exempt from CEQA because it can be seen with certainty that the ordinance will not have a significant effect on the environment; and
WHEREAS, the City Council conducted duly noticed public hearings on June 2, 2026, and considered all testimony and evidence presented.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RED BLUFF DOES ORDAIN ON JUNE 2, 2026, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. FINDINGS
The City Council of the City of Red Bluff hereby finds as follows:
A. Red Bluff Municipal Code (“RBMC”) §20.6 establishes procedures for lot line adjustments and voluntary mergers within the City of Red Bluff.
B. Government Code §66412(d) of the California Subdivision Map Act establishes procedures and limitations applicable to qualifying lot line adjustments.
C. The City Council finds that portions of the existing RBMC provisions governing lot line adjustments are outdated and should be revised to reflect current State law and contemporary subdivision administration practices.
D. The City Council further finds that the amendments adopted by this Ordinance are necessary to:
1. Ensure consistency with the California Subdivision Map Act;
2. Clarify that qualifying lot line adjustments are ministerial actions;
3. Streamline administrative processing procedures;
4. Eliminate obsolete and discretionary review standards inconsistent with Government Code §66412(d); and
5. Clarify application requirements and approval procedures.
E. The City Council finds that the amendments adopted herein are consistent with the City of Red Bluff General Plan.
SECTION 2. CEQA
The City Council finds that this Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to:
1. CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3), the common sense exemption, because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment; and
2. CEQA Guidelines §15378(b)(5), because the Ordinance involves organizational and administrative activities of government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes to the environment.
In addition, qualifying lot line adjustments processed pursuant to Government Code §66412(d) are ministerial actions not subject to CEQA.
SECTION 3. AMENDMENT TO RBMC §20.6(A)
RBMC §20.6(A) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
§20.6 SPECIFIC PROCEDURES FOR MINOR DIVISIONS
(A) Lot Line Adjustments and Voluntary Mergers
1. A voluntary merger or lot line adjustment shall not create any new lot or building site.
2. A lot line adjustment may only occur between four or fewer existing adjoining parcels where land taken from one parcel is added to an adjoining parcel and no greater number of parcels than originally existed is thereby created.
3. A parcel map, tentative map, or final map shall not be required for a qualifying lot line adjustment processed pursuant to Government Code Section 66412(d).
4. The Planning Director, or designee, shall serve as the review authority for lot line adjustments and voluntary mergers processed pursuant to this Section.
5. The Planning Director shall approve a lot line adjustment upon determining that:
a. The proposed lot line adjustment conforms to the General Plan;
b. The proposed lot line adjustment conforms to any applicable specific plan;
c. The resulting parcels conform to applicable zoning and building ordinances;
d. The lot line adjustment complies with Government Code Section 66412(d); and
e. No greater number of parcels than originally existed will be created.
6. Review of a lot line adjustment shall be limited to those determinations authorized by Government Code Section 66412(d).
7. Lot line adjustments processed pursuant to this Section shall be ministerial actions.
8. Planning Commission approval shall not be required unless processed concurrently with a separate discretionary entitlement requiring Planning Commission review. When processed concurrently with a discretionary entitlement, the lot line adjustment shall remain ministerial and review shall be limited to the determinations authorized by Government Code Section 66412(d).
9. Applications for a lot line adjustment or voluntary merger shall be submitted on forms approved by the City and shall include:
a. A map drawn to an acceptable scale showing existing and proposed property lines, parcel dimensions, easements, and total parcel areas before and after the adjustment;
b. Legal descriptions of the affected and resulting parcels prepared by a licensed land surveyor or registered civil engineer authorized to practice land surveying;
c. Authorization from all affected property owners;
d. A current preliminary title report or other evidence of ownership acceptable to the City; and
e. Any additional information reasonably necessary to determine compliance with this Section and Government Code Section 66412(d).
10. The Planning Director may deem an application incomplete if the information necessary to determine compliance with this Section has not been provided.
11. A lot line adjustment shall not create parcels inconsistent with applicable zoning standards unless otherwise authorized by this Code or State law.
12. A lot line adjustment shall not increase the degree of nonconformity of an existing parcel unless otherwise permitted by this Code.
13. Conditions of approval shall be limited to those necessary to:
a. Ensure consistency with the General Plan, any applicable specific plan, zoning and building ordinances;
b. Require prepayment of real property taxes where authorized by law; or
c. Facilitate the relocation, protection, or continuation of existing utilities, infrastructure, or easements.
14. The City shall not impose conditions or exactions on approval of a lot line adjustment except as authorized by Government Code Section 66412(d).
15. The City shall approve or disapprove a lot line adjustment in accordance with the Permit Streamlining Act (Government Code Section 65920 et seq.).
16. Approval of a qualifying lot line adjustment shall be considered a ministerial action and shall not be subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”).
17. A voluntary merger shall be reflected in a Certificate of Voluntary Merger, which shall be recorded.
18. A lot line adjustment shall be reflected in a deed, which shall be recorded.
19. A record of survey shall not be required unless otherwise required pursuant to Section 8762 of the California Business and Professions Code.
20. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit sequential lot line adjustments otherwise permitted by law.
21. Approval of a lot line adjustment shall not authorize development inconsistent with applicable zoning, building, fire, health, or safety regulations.
22. Decisions of the Planning Director made pursuant to this Section may be appealed in writing to the City Manager. Appeal review shall be limited to whether the determinations required by this Section can be made.
SECTION 4. SEVERABILITY
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more portions may be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
ATTEST: ___________________________
Mayor’s Signature
___________________________
Deputy City Clerk