Map Checking and Annexations

The Map Checking and Annexations Unit is the repository for various city and district maps within Orange County and is responsible for:

Checking the legal description and map for proposed annexations (city/district gains previously unclaimed land..i.e. unincorporated territory [in a city situation] or land not currently within a district).

Reorganizations (swap of land between 2 similar cities/districts)
Incorporations (when a new city is established)
Formations (when a new district is created)
De-annexations (when a city/district detaches land that is now being given to another city/district).

Annexation Procedures Overview:

A legal description and map exhibit of the property that is being annexed to a particular city or district and an accompanying map must be prepared and submitted to the County of Orange Geomatics/Land Information Systems (G.L.I.S.)/Boundary Unit.
Once the legal description has been submitted and the appropriate fees have been paid, the documents are checked for accuracy and compliance with government codes and regulations.

Note: The parcel needs to be immediately adjacent or contiguous to the principal city/district.
G.L.I.S. sends a letter to the Surveyor/Engineer of record for the project, indicating changes that need to be made, if any, to the legal description and map.
A formal application must be made with LAFCo. LAFCo assigns a permanent file number to the project which is noted on the original copies of the legal description, map and all correspondence. The County Surveyor will then approve the legal description and map, forward copies to LAFCo. LAFco then calendars the project for Commission approval.
After LAFCo approves, they will forward the project to the State Board of Equalization for acceptance.
Once accepted by the State Board, LAFCo notifies G.L.I.S., which then notifies the appropriate agencies and updates records with the change.

For a more detailed description of this process, view the Annexation Procedures Manual (1.6 Mb PDF)

Checking Fees for Annexations:

$2,016.00 (Deposit)

Deposits for map preparation to be determined on a case by case basis.

Most Annexations need to be approved by the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCo. LAFCo can be reached a t 714.834.2556, Website: www.oclafco.ca.gov

List of cities/districts under the jurisdiction of LAFCo:

All Cities
County Service Areas
Waterwroks Districts
Water Districts
Cemetery Districts
Community Service Districts
Irrigation Districts
Library Districts
Recreation and Park Districts
Sanitary Districts
County Sanitation Districts

Hints:

Have the legal description typed on line number paper
Make sure the Surveyor/Engineer signs and stamps/seals both the legal description and the map
The legal description and map must agree in all areas
Use existing bounday of city/district for control, where applicable (click here for more info)
Prepare the map at a scale that is reasonable for scanning & reproduction purposes
Check with the Boundary Unit for current research on existing boundaries
Newly created city/district boundary lines need to have bearings and distances described in the legal description and on the map

Subdivision Map Check Process

Map Checking Fees - Initial Deposits
Recording & Filing Fees
Digital Map Submission
Tract/Parcel Map Monument Inspection Fees

Required Prints for First Check

County Tracts or County Parcel Maps - 4 prints
City Tracts/City Parcel Maps - 2 prints
Records of Survey - 2 prints

Note: All maps must be signed and stamped with the preparer's seal.

View the Corner Record Checklist - From Section 8773.2(a) of the Professional Land Surveyors Act

Read the Subdivision Map Checking FAQ

Map Checking - Initial Deposits:

Make checks payable to County of Orange

Notes:

Each Tract/Parcel Map will be evaluated on an individual basis, therefore, an additional deposit may be requested.
Map Checking hourly rate is $126.00
The Title Company pays tract and Parcel Map recording fees at the time of recordation

Description:	DEPOSITS
Tract Number Issuance	$110.00
Parcel Map Number Issuance	$110.00
Description:	FEE
County Tracts : Anaheim, Brea, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Orange, Rancho Santa Margarita, Seal Beach, Stanton, Westminster and Unincorporated…	$2,268.00 deposit plus $126.00 per parcel

County Parcel Maps: Anaheim, Brea, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Orange, Rancho Santa Margarita, Seal Beach, Stanton, Westminster and Unincorporated…	$1,890.00 deposit plus $378.00 per parcel

City Maps for County Recorder Review: Irvine and Mission Viejo	$504.00 flat fee
City Tracts - other cities	$2,520.00 deposit
City Parcel Maps - other cities	$2,142.00 deposit
Aliso Viejo, Fullerton	City is Billed
Records of Survey (For Future Subdivision Purposes)	$2,142.00 deposit
Records of Survey (For Lot Line Adjustments)	$504.00 deposit plus $126.00 per parcel
Records of Survey (Prop. Line & Monument Replacement)	No Charge
Annexations	$2,016.00 deposit
Certificates of Compliance	$756.00 deposit
Amending Maps	$756.00 deposit

Lot Line Adjustments: Brea, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Paoint, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, La Habra, Lake Forest, Newport Beach (Newport Coast only), Stanton, Westminster, and Unincorporated. Note: Other cities as requested by the City Engineer.	$504.00 deposit plus $126.00 per parcel

Recording & Filing Fees:

(note: Tract & Parcel Map recording fees are paid by the title company at the time of recordation.)

Description:	Fee:
Records of Survey & Amending Maps	$7.00 for 1st sheet $3.00 each additional sheet

Certificates of Correction - 8.5x11	1st Sheet - $6.00 Each additional Sheet - $3.00
NOTE: Please submit 2 checks for $9 each (one check for Map Checking and one check for the County Recorder); both checks payable to "County of Orange".

Non-Standard Size	1st Sheet - $9.00 Each additional Sheet - $6.00

(Note: Tract & Parcel Map recording fees are paid by the title company at the time of recordation.)

Digital Map Submission

For any further iinformation please contact:
Doug Zeissner (714) 834-3872

Cities Requiring a Digital Map Prior to Recordation:

Anaheim	Fountain Valley	Garden Grove
Huntington Beach	Irvine	Laguna Hills
La Habra	Mission Viejo	Placentia
San Clemente	San Juan Capistrano	Stanton
Tustin	Yorba Linda	Unincorporated Territories

Notes: The Submittal Format is CD or E-mail

An acceptable digital map is required prior to recordation.

A digital submission is not required for records of surveys.

A digital submission reference guide is available.

Tract/Parcel Map Monument Inspection Fees:

Notes:

Monument inspection fees apply to tract and parcel map numbers issued after September 14, 1992 (Tr. 14762 & PM 92-231).
The Engineer/Surveyor will submit fee at the time they request the monument inspection.

Read the Monumentation Policy (PDF)