3 lots sold as one parcel?

Question

I'm looking at a house for sale in an old part of town. The county website states the legal description of the parcel as something like "subdivision blah blah blah lots 33, 34, and 36"

Three equal sized/shaped lots that forms an L shape where the house and garage are on two of the lots with frontage on "Oak" street and the third lot has no structures and its own frontage on "Maple" street.

What are my possibilities that I could purchase this property and separate out the third lot to either sell by itself or potentially build on? How does that work?

Thanks

Matt Devincenzo · Answer

This is very regional and regulated via 'The Subdivision Map Act' (or the equivalent)for each State...in CA those would be three legal lots, and even if non conforming today could (barring a few caveats) be segregated into their individual lots and built on with no additional review or approval required from the municipality. BUT in PA they have a specific criteria in their State that could render these as a single parcel even if there are multiple lots underlying.

I wouldn't pursue the municipal employee route...unless you talk to the City surveyor or someone equivalent then you're likely getting a new limited experience person who will not necessarily provide the best answer. I have had a similar issue with three City staff saying parcel's weren't legally dividable and I had to do chronological chain of title point paper to the City Surveyor for him to agree that my assessment was correct...I'd go to a surveyor or Land Use/Planning Civil...and you don't just want one that does good 'work' you want one that is experienced in the rules. There are quite a few surveyors that do expert witness testimony...those are the type of surveyors that know the nuances and subtleties of legal lot status.

Ronald Allen Barney · Answer

It's entirely possible and the plat form of legal description (with subdivisions and lots) was designed for making such a thing easier than ten paragraphs of survey compass directions and distances (called "Metes and Bounds").

Wayne Brooks · Answer

@Rich Bultema  Sounds like the lot would be guidance.  Tough to say what that person’s title would be, just tell them what you are trying to do......subdivide a parcel and verify the new lot/parcel can have a house built on it.  Subdividing is a specific process, usually requiring a surveyor to create the new boundaries and description, recording, application approved from your building/zoning dept, etc.  I’ve done it here and it was about $3700 all in, but yours may be simpler.   If it is now all one parcel, one tax ID number, you’d have to subdivide the parcel so the extra lot can be sold/financed on it’s own.

Rich Bultema · Answer

@Wayne Brooks the lot in question is the same size as all the other lots that already have houses on them but maybe rules have changed in 100 years?

What would be the job title of the person I should talking to in the building department?

Wayne Brooks · Answer

Homes are often on parcels containing multiple lots.  It doesn’t mean each lot can have it’s own house.  A quick talk with someone in your planning and zoning dept will tell you.  Not only do you need a minimum square footage but usually the problem is minimum setback back requirements for a house from each lot line (front, back, sides).

3 lots sold as one parcel?

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