Lot Consolidation

Overview  

This page was designed as part of the County’s 6th Cycle Housing Element to support property owners in unincorporated areas of San Diego County who wish to consolidate adjacent lots to optimize land use. Below are key details and answers to common questions about the process, requirements, and benefits of lot consolidation.

A lot merger combines two adjacent lots. A lot consolidation may merge more than two lots. The application process for lot mergers and lot consolidations is the same regardless of the number of lots.

Compliance with zoning, design standards, and practical considerations for building affordable or starter homes can be challenging on smaller lots, and the Lot Consolidation Assistance Program could help to create more lots where development would be feasible. Historically, older subdivision maps left undeveloped undersized lots throughout the unincorporated areas of the County that are not aligned well with current zoning and building standards. While lot consolidations are not required for most subdivisions, the process may be needed if a proposed project cannot meet set back requirements or is proposed to build over lot lines. 

Overall lot consolidation supports housing development by providing suitable, larger parcels that can accommodate diverse housing types. Specifically, lot consolidation can provide the following benefits: 

• Optimized land use: Combining smaller parcels into a larger lot allows for more flexible and efficient land utilization, including better alignment with zoning requirements. 
• Enhanced Housing Development: Consolidated lots provide opportunities to create housing that meets local needs, including affordable and entry-homes. 
• Simplified compliance and infrastructure planning: Consolidating lots can reduce redundancies in permitting, surveys, etc. making it easier to align with zoning and streamline access to utilities, roads and other infrastructure.

What is Lot Consolidation?

A Lot Consolidation is the process of merging up to four (4) existing contiguous parcels (lots that touch each other) into one parcel.

Lot consolidations are subject to the County’s Subdivision Ordinance, the California Subdivision Map Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act.

Lot Consolidation Process

1. Submit Documents and Fees: Use the Lot Consolidation Checklist [LINK here] to ensure all necessary documents and fees are included in the application. 
2. Planning & Development Services (PDS) Review: PDS will review the submitted materials to verify that all requirements have been met.
3. Conditional Approval and Recording Requirements: If all requirements have been met, the Director of PDS will approve the consolidation. PDS will then issue a Notice of Conditional Approval (NOCA), which requires the applicant to record merger grant deeds that include the resultant legal descriptions of the newly merged lot boundaries.
4. Issuance of Certificate of Merger: Following receipt of the newly recorded grant deeds, PDS will record a Certificate of Merger. This certificate will include the official legal descriptions of the consolidated lot boundaries.