Lot Splits

What is a Parent Tract?
is a lot of record that existed on October 2, 1991, the date of the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan adoption, or a parcel of land fronting on a public road and divided by an easement road approved by variance to Road Ordinance 18 prior to May 7, 1992

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Lot of Record?

• A lot which had been assigned a parcel number by the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office prior to May 7, 1992, and which met the applicable subdivision regulations of Alachua County at the time the lot was created;
• A lot that was created by a deed or by a contract for deed executed prior to May 7, 1992, and which met the applicable subdivision regulations of Alachua County at the time the lot was created;
• A lot created by a separate legal description where a building permit has been issued;
• Lots created by either the County Commission or Board of Adjustment of Alachua County.

What is a subdivision?

It is the platting of real property into three or more lots, parcels, tracts, tiers, blocks, sites, units, or any other division. Subdivision includes the establishment of new streets and alleys, additions, and re-subdivisions; and, when appropriate to the context, subdivision applies to the process of subdividing or to the lands or area to be subdivided.

What criteria must be met for dividing a parent parcel?

A parent tract can be divided once without meeting the subdivision regulations if the following conditions are met:

• Tract has frontage on and direct access to an existing publicly maintained street and meets all frontage requirements.
• Both lots meet the minimum lot size requirement of the zoning district.
• Joint driveway access can be provided if one or both lots will not have road frontage if approved by the County Engineer.
• A parent tract that was created by a variance granted by the Board of Adjustment or County Commission may not be split unless the variance was approved prior to October 2, 1991 and the purpose of the split is to provide a lot for an immediate family member.
• The lot split must be memorialized in a document recorded in the public record

Any other lot splits not meeting the requirements above will be considered subdivisions and must go through the Development Review Process and comply with the Subdivision Regulations found in Chapter 407, Article 8. of the ULDC.

How do I obtain County Engineer approval if needed?

If County Engineer approval is required, applications are processed online through the County’s Citizenserve permitting site at https://citizenserve.com/alachuacounty.

Applicants must create a user account and then apply for the permit type Right of Way Connection permit, and subtype ‘Residential/Agricultural’ and choose the connection type ‘Common Drive (Lot Split)’.

Questions on the application process can be directed to the Public Works Department at 352-374-5240.