Useful Terms

Boundary Line Adjustment

Also called a lot of line adjustment, these are commonly used when a developer acquires a portion of a neighboring property adjacent to their own and adds that portion to his or her own parcel. Adding that portion of the neighbor’s property changes the property line location. In some cases, even a small boundary line adjustment can sometimes allow a developer to add several lots to a planned subdivision.

Aerobic Septic System

The advantage of this system is that it can be used on lots too small for traditional and mound systems and in locations with high water tables. It uses oxygen and bacteria to treat waste, which is then released into the drain field. Due to higher installation and maintenance costs, needing to use this system can reduce the value of a lot.

Frontage Improvements

The city or county requires improvements to the main street frontage when plats are created. This can involve moving power poles, creating sidewalks, paving additional street frontage, and adding landscaping – all at the developer’s cost. Required frontage improvements can also edge into the parcel, reducing its lot yield number or size of the lots.

Highest and Best Use

The best way to utilize a parcel is to make the most money or generate the highest investment with it. Zoning, buildability, and location are factors in determining the highest and best use.

Land Construction

Moving dirt, installing underground utilities, roads, sidewalks, and frontage improvements.

Lot

A legal parcel of land that is recorded with the governing county and contains its own tax ID number. Also known as a tax parcel.

Mitigation Fees

Fees are charged by the governing municipality to help mitigate the cost of the added population due to the subdivision of the property. These fees vary and usually cover schools, transportation, utilities, etc. Mitigation fees are usually charged on a per-lot basis, and developers factor them into the estimated development costs of a project. The planning department can tell you what these fees are currently, and they can go up before the project is completed, and the fees are due.

Mound Septic System

In locations that don’t percolate well, a mound septic system can be built instead. Because a mound system takes up a lot of space and is an actual mound of that dirt and substrate can be unsightly, a mound system can sometimes reduce the value of developable land. The amount of reduced value depends on whether the mound system adversely affects the buildable footprint of future homes and if its location mars the landscape of the yard. One benefit of a mound system is that it protects groundwater, so if the property requires a well for water service, a mound system may be required.

NGPA

This is shorthand for the Native Growth Protection Area. This is an area that was once wetlands and has been designated as unbuildable and inviolable by the governing body during the platting process. In some cases, the city or county may require that a developer install irrigation in this area to ensure plant life survives land construction.

Plat

Shorthand for short plat or subdivision.

Percolation Test

A percolation test is used during septic system planning to determine the permeability of the soil and is measured in water absorption rate.

Permit Application

If you are within city limits, the city is the governing body where you will apply for permits. If you are located in an unincorporated county, the county is the governing body in which you’ll file your permit. Don’t know if you are in the city or the unincorporated county? Google the city limits of your address town and see if you are inside or outside the boundary. City rules tend to be stricter than unincorporated county rules.

Raw Land

Unimproved (no usable buildings or approved permitting) property.

Recorded Plat Map

A map showing the location of lots, lot line measurements, roads, and wetland areas that is recorded with the county.

Reserve Drain Field

An area that is appropriate for a septic drain field is set aside as unbuildable in the event the intended drain field is compromised in the future and a new drain field needs to be installed.

Short Plat

A piece of land portioned out into not more than nine urban or four rural lots.

Stubbed Utilities

Utilities that have been brought from the street to the edge of the lot or developable property.

Subdivide

To break one parcel of land into smaller, separate parcels.