Subdivision Approval Process

Approval Requirements

Planning Commission Approval
Preliminary site plan drawings must be submitted to the Planning Division showing the scope of the project.  These drawings are distributed to Engineering, Public Utilities, Transportation and the Fire Department for review and comment. The subdivision must be approved by an administrative hearing or by the Planning Commission.

Improvement Plan Approval
Final civil improvement plans including a grading plan, street lighting plan, utility plan and profile sheets, and roadway plan and profile sheets are submitted to Planning, Engineering, Public Utilities, Transportation, and the Fire Department for review.  The civil improvement plans must be signed and sealed by a Civil Engineer registered in the State of Utah.  After the improvement plans comply with each department’s specific design criteria, the cover sheet of the plan set is signed by each department indicating final approval.

Plat Approval
A subdivision plat is submitted to the City Surveyor for review and approval.  The plat must be signed and sealed by a professional surveyor licensed in the State of Utah.  After complying with all survey requirements, the plat is signed by the City Surveyor and other City officials indicating final approval.  The approved subdivision plat is then recorded at the County Recorder's office (see Subdivision Plat Approval Requirements Checklist).

Pre-Construction Requirements

Subdivision Agreement
The developer must enter into a subdivision agreement with Salt Lake City.  This requires that the developer provide insurance and a security device to guarantee completion of the public infrastructure.  The amount of the security device is based on the estimate of roadway and utility improvements as approved by the City Engineer.  The security device can be a payment and performance bond, letter of credit, cash, or an escrow agreement.  The developer must pay the City a fee for services rendered by City engineering during the design and construction phases of the project.  The developer must also pay public utility fees and enter into agreements as required by the Public Utilities Department. Insurance must also be provided by the contractors.

Pre-construction Meeting
A pre-construction meeting is held to review the project requirements with the developer and the contractors.  APWA Specifications and the testing requirements applicable to the project are explained at this meeting.  The developer is required to provide and pay for material testing during construction of the project.


Construction Requirements

Construction
Project improvements must be installed in accordance with the approved plans and the APWA Standard Plans and Standard Specifications.  Salt Lake City Engineering and Public Utilities assign an inspector to each subdivision project to monitor the construction.  City acceptance of the work is based on material test results meeting or exceeding minimum standards as defined in the APWA Specifications.  

The city provides a construction testing needs analysis form that outlines the minimum standards.  Upon completion of the project improvements, a substantial completion date is assigned which begins the one-year warranty period.  75% of the security device is eligible for release 90 days after substantial completion.  "Record Documents" (as-builts) must be submitted to the Engineering Division as soon as possible following substantial completion of the project. The improvements are to be completed within one year of the notice to proceed date.

One-Year Warranty
The subdivision improvements must remain in good condition during a one-year warranty period.  At the end of the one-year warranty, a final review of the project is made.  If any of the improvements have failed during the warranty period, the defective work must be replaced at no expense to the City.  The remaining 25% of the security device is released and the City accepts the project upon completion of all work and successful replacement of defective work. 

Organizational Summary of the Subdivision Approval Process