PROCEDURE FOR SUBDIVISION PROCESSING

DC Department of Buildings

Digital Document Standards

Preferred Method(s):

A PDF document of the plat drawing.

Note for design professionals only: A high-quality PDF can be exported

directly from the CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drawing software.

The document Never gets scanned and remains as a PDF

document throughout the ratification and recording process.

Note: If this can be achieved, the result is a flawless image that is recorded

in the same form that it was originated. This is the aim of the Office of the

Surveyor for all records within the capital city.

Allowed Method(s):

1. A direct 1:1 (at scale as drawn) scan into a PDF of the original CAD or

hand drawing. The document experiences very little degradation and

Must remain in that state throughout the ratification and recording

process.

Note: If this can be achieved, the result is a high-quality image that is

recorded at an acceptable resolution.

Disallowed Method(s):

A reduction of the original drawing by any means whatsoever. The

document is produced at a given length width, and scale and Must

remain that way throughout the entire ratification process.

A smartphone application that produces a PDF from a photo is not

acceptable.

A print at a reduced scale of the PDF that is then scanned is not

acceptable.

A photograph is not acceptable.

Submission of a physical mylar(s) is no longer accepted.

Processing of Digital/Virtual Documents (things to know and do):

Things to know:

Owners: The owner(s) in fee simple of the property must sign the plat

before a notary public and have two

(2) witnesses for each signature. The owner(s) in fee simple executing

the plat must remain the owner(s) in fee simple until the subdivision is

recorded. If the owner is a corporation, the plat must be signed by two

(2) officers who are designated by the corporation charter or by the

Board of Directors to act for the corporation. A Corporation seal is

required. The corporation seals must be firmly impressed to the plat and

be legible. Stick-on seals are not acceptable. If the owner is a

partnership, the plat must be signed by a general partner.

Trusts: If there is a mortgage(s) on any of the property involved in the

subdivision, the trustee(s) must sign the plat in the space provided.

Indicate the number of trusts in the space provided. The trustee(s)

signature(s) do not have to be witnessed or notarized.

Things to Do:

This is the most critical step: Only submit the document to one agency at a

time in the order listed below and wait until the document is received back

from each agency signed until submitting to the next one. This ensures that

there is only one document at the end of the process. This is very important!

DC GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WILL ONLY ACCEPT DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS

Steps (one at a time): OTR, then DOEE, then OP/HP, and Zoning. Once the

plat is fully signed, you can upload the Plat to make a Request for Recording

at this link (Recording Request).

1. OTR (The Office of Tax and Revenue) and Real Property Taxes: Agencies

will not review documents unless taxes are verified as being up to date.

The applicant must contact the Office of Tax and Revenue,

How to submit an Unrecorded Subdivision Certification request on

MyTax.DC.gov:

• From the homepage of MyTax.DC.gov, click Search Real Property.

• Enter at least one search item in the fields listed (SSL number or

property address).

• Click on the property’s SSL in the Search Results.

• Click on Applications and Actions.

• Under Property Maintenance, select Submit the Unrecorded

Subdivision/Condominium Plat Certification.

• Follow the Unrecorded Subdivision Plat Certification (this is where you

would add any additional lots).

• Complete the Application and Upload all Supporting Documentation

• A confirmation email will be sent to the email address provided in the

submission.

For questions, contact;

Oscar Berrios - Assessment Program Specialist

Office of the Chief Financial Officer - Office of Tax and Revenue - Real

Property Tax Administration

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 202-442-6378

2. NOTE: Remember to sign the tax Certificate Acknowledgement located

right under where the Tax Office signs off.

3. DOEE (Department of Energy & Environment): DOEE reviews all

subdivisions to determine whether the land, included in the subdivision

application is within a Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zone A or AE). All

DOEE reviews should be initiated through them at ([email protected])

Effective August 1, 2021, DOEE will charge a $100 fee for Flood Zone or

Flood Hazard Area Determination

on any subdivision application, pursuant to the revised Flood Hazard Rule

s (20 DCMR 3113), which became effective September 24, 2010. This fee

can be paid electronically with a credit card or in person at DCRA.

• If the land is within Zone X, DOEE will note the Zone X status (without

elevation) and sign off on a

subdivision plat.

• If the land is within Zone A or AE, DOEE at DCRA will direct the

applicant to DOEE HQ to obtain a flood zone and flood elevation

determination.

Note: Base Flood Elevation is the elevation of the 100-

year flood (the flood having a one percent) (1%)

chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given

year.

4. OP/HP (Office of Planning – Historic Preservation): HP will review

and sign off on the plat. All subdivision plats are to be sent to

the Historic Preservation Division for a determination concerning

the historic nature of the subdivision's location. They may be

contacted at ([email protected]).

5. ZONING (Office of the Zoning Administrator): The plat is then sent to

the Office of Zoning for certification as to compliance with Zoning

Regulations. They may be contacted at ([email protected]).

Note: Once the plat has been fully signed and approved by all of the

agencies listed above, a request for recording can be made by uploading the

PDF of the plat to (Recording Request).

6. Recording: Upon receipt of the Request for Recording, the subdivision

will be reviewed. If the document meets all requirements noted above,

the plat will be signed, given a new lot number and recorded at the

Office of the Surveyor within 3 business days.

7. Wall checks and C of O’s will not be approved by Zoning without a

recorded subdivision.

Example of an “At Scale” Subdivision Plat:

The overall sheet size is 24” x 36”. The plat is 18” x 26.5”.