AI-assisted research summary: A subdivider must prepare and file a plat when the subdivision includes lots of five acres or less; the commissioners court may also require plats for certain larger-lot subdivisions.
Sec. 232.023. PLAT REQUIRED. (a) A subdivider of land must have a plat of the subdivision prepared if at least one of the lots of the subdivision is five acres or less. A commissioners court by order may require each subdivider of land to prepare a plat if none of the lots is five acres or less but at least one of the lots of a subdivision is more than five acres but not more than 10 acres. (a-1) A subdivision of a tract under this section includes a subdivision of real property by any method of conveyance, including a contract for deed, oral contract, contract of sale, or other type of executory contract, regardless of whether the subdivision is made by using a metes and bounds description. (b) A plat required under this section must: (1) be certified by a surveyor or engineer registered to practice in this state; (2) define the subdivision by metes and bounds; (3) locate the subdivision with respect to an original corner of the original survey of which it is a part; (4) describe each lot, number each lot in progression, and give the dimensions of each lot; (5) state the dimensions of and accurately describe each lot, street, alley, square, park, or other part of the tract intended to be dedicated to public use or for the use of purchasers or owners of lots fronting on or adjacent to the street, alley, square, park, or other part; (6) include or have attached a document containing a description in English and Spanish of the water and sewer facilities and roadways and easements dedicated for the provision of water and sewer facilities that will be constructed or installed to service the subdivision and a statement specifying the date by which the facilities will be fully operable; (7) have attached a document prepared by an engineer registered to practice in this state certifying that the water and sewer service facilities proposed under Subdivision (6) are in compliance with the model rules adopted under Section 16.343, Water Code, and a certified estimate of the cost to install water and sewer service facilities; (8) provide for drainage in the subdivision to: (A) avoid concentration of storm drainage water from each lot to adjacent lots; (B) provide positive drainage away from all buildings; and (C) coordinate individual lot drainage with the general storm drainage pattern for the area; (9) include a description of the drainage requirements as provided in Subdivision (8); (10) identify the topography of the area; (11) include a certification by a surveyor or engineer registered to practice in this state describing any area of the subdivision that is in a floodplain or stating that no area is in a floodplain; and (12) include certification that the subdivider has complied with the requirements of Section 232.032 and that: (A) the water quality and connections to the lots meet, or will meet, the minimum state standards; (B) sewer connections to the lots or septic tanks meet, or will meet, the minimum requirements of state standards; (C) electrical connections provided to the lot meet, or will meet, the minimum state standards; and (D) gas connections, if available, provided to the lot meet, or will meet, the minimum state standards. (c) A subdivider may meet the requirements of Subsection (b)(12)(B) through the use of a certificate issued by the appropriate county or state official having jurisdiction over the approval of septic systems stating that lots in the subdivision can be adequately and legally served by septic systems. (d) The subdivider of the tract must acknowledge the plat by signing the plat and attached documents and attest to the veracity and completeness of the matters asserted in the attached documents and in the plat. (e) The plat must be filed and recorded with the county clerk of the county in which the tract is located. The plat is subject to the filing and recording provisions of Section 12.002, Property Code. (f) The commissioners court may require a plat application submitted for approval to include a digital map that is compatible with other mapping systems used by the county and that georeferences the subdivision plat and related public infrastructure using the Texas Coordinate Systems adopted under Section 21.071, Natural Resources Code. A digital map required under this subsection may be required only in a format widely used by common geographic information system software. A requirement adopted under this subsection must provide for an exemption from the requirement if the subdivider of the tract submits with the plat application an acknowledged statement indicating that the digital mapping technology necessary to submit a map that complies with this subsection was not reasonably accessible. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 979, Sec. 4, eff. June 16, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 404, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1364 (S.B. 1599), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 550 (H.B. 2033), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015.