City of Commerce City, CO
HomeSubdivision Plats
A subdivision (sometimes called a plat) is the process by which property is divided or consolidated in order to legally create lots, tracts or parcels.
For a list of active and recently approved cases, visit our Subdivision Cases page.
Residential Lots per Filing Limit due to COVID-19
With the increase in residential development activity in the city and to ensure that there is adequate time to thoroughly evaluate plat documents, it is necessary to limit the number of lots included within each residential filing.
Residential Lots per Filing Policy (added Nov. 2020)
Different types of plats include:
Final Plats
A final plat provides a permanent and accurate record of the exact size and location of the lots, blocks, streets, drainage areas, easements and other parcels of land within a subdivision. When filed with the county clerk and recorder, a final plat becomes the legal instrument whereby the location and boundaries of separate land parcels within the subdivision are identified.
Sketch Plats
A sketch plat is a generalized land use plan for, and layout of, an area proposed to be included within a subdivision. This is an optional step for small subdivisions, but a required step for any subdivision plat greater than 20 lots. This process provides an early, informal evaluation of a proposed subdivision before substantial expenses have been incurred. A sketch plat provides city staff and the applicant with an opportunity to determine the development’s conformance with the Comprehensive Plan and the requirements of the Land Development Code and assists the applicant with the preparation of a final plat.
Sketch Plat details
Common Wall Subdivisions
The city’s Land Development Code allows for new and existing duplexes and townhomes to be subdivided along a common, or party, wall. A common wall subdivision allows for individual fee simple ownership of each half of a duplex or each townhome unit. This means the owner owns their portion of the structure as well as the ground beneath it. This process differs from a Condo Plat (only offered by the County) that allows for ownership of only the portion of the structure but not ownership of the ground beneath it.
Approval of a common wall subdivision is contingent upon the structure meeting additional building code requirements. Prior to hiring a surveyor to prepare the plat, it is imperative to discuss with the Commerce City Building Safety Division whether the potential subdivision of the subject building is possible.
Find out more about Common Wall Subdivisions
Recording
After approval, but prior to the map or subdivision plat being recorded with the county, please contact the city to obtain the current electronic data format requirements. Applicants must provide a series of documents to the city. Commerce City will then file the information with the Adams County Clerk and Recorder's Office.