California Extends Life of Subdivision Maps

July 18, 2008

Senate Bill 1185, signed into law on July 15, 2008, extends the expiration date of any approved tentative or vesting tentative subdivision map or parcel map set to expire on July 15 or later by one year. The bill also gives local governments the discretion to extend the life of tentative maps for an additional year beyond the automatic extension. Under existing law, the Subdivision Map Act mandates an initial two-year life for a tentative map. This may be extended by local ordinance for an additional year. Local agencies are also permitted, on the subdivider’s application, to extend the life of a tentative map for additional periods not to exceed a total of 5 years.

With passage of SB 1185 the expiration date of some 1,800 maps, representing more that 250,000 housing units, will automatically be extended one year. Specifically, the Bill provides for a one-year extension of any approved tentative or vesting tentative subdivision map or parcel map that has not expired as of July 15, 2008, but will expire before January 1, 2011. Thus, for example, an approved tentative map, set to expire on January 1, 2009, now expires January 1, 2010.

In addition, the Bill also extends the period for any legislative, administrative, or other state agency approval by one year if that approval pertains to the development contemplated by the tentative map and that approval has not already expired.

Finally, SB 1185 permits local governments to extend the expiration of a tentative map for periods not to exceed six years (as opposed to the previous max of 5 years) in addition to the mandatory two-year life and one year automatic extension.