Cadastral Mapping, Subdivision, and Platting
What this domain tests
Subdivision review, plat content, recording, and the difference between legal boundaries and cadastral maps. Maine's subdivision law is 30-A M.R.S. ch. 187; municipal planning boards administer most review.
Core rules
- A subdivision typically triggers planning-board review when land is divided into three or more lots within a five-year period; check the ordinance and statute for exceptions.
- A recorded plat should show lot lines, dimensions, bearings, monuments, setback and road information, and the surveyor's certificate.
- Plats are recorded in the county registry; recording does not cure a survey defect or replace a deed.
- Tax maps and GIS parcels are assessment and mapping tools, not legal descriptions.
- Sequential small divisions can still constitute a subdivision if they are part of one scheme.
Worked example
An owner divides a 10-acre parcel into four lots by three deeds over three years. Because the result is four lots within five years, the planning board likely treats it as a subdivision, even though each deed alone looks like a simple split. The surveyor should advise the client to obtain review before recording the deeds or plat.
Traps
Relying on a tax map to set a boundary; recording a plat without required approvals; assuming a 'lot' is exempt because it has its own deed; and omitting monument ties from the plat.