(A) This chapter applies to all subdivisions of land, located within the corporate limits of the city and within the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, as provided by law, and to all additions of land within the corporate limits of the city, except as expressly stated herein.
(B) The following types of subdivision do not require approval by the city; however, the city shall not extend utilities, provide access to public roads, or issue building permits for the development of any property which has not received final plat approval, except as otherwise provided by this chapter:
(1) The division of land into 2 or more parts where all parts are larger than 5 acres and where no new building or improvement is proposed and no required public improvement is to be dedicated;
(2) The creation of a remainder of a tract caused by the platting of a portion of the tract, provided the remainder is larger than 10 acres;
(3) The division of a tract or parcel for purposes of creating a dedication plat;
(4) The creation of a leasehold for a space within a commercial building site which does not abut a public street, or the division of property into such leaseholds, provided that the property is a part of an approved subdivision or addition and regulated in accordance with the platting requirements of the city, and the plat has been amended as may be required to add easements or otherwise serve the leasehold. For purposes of this section, a leasehold abuts a public street if it is immediately adjacent to a public street or if it is so close to a public street that no usable property lies between the leasehold and the public street; and
(5) The creation of a leasehold for agricultural use of the subject property, provided that the use does not involve the construction of a building(s) to be used as a residence or for any purpose not directly related to agricultural use of the land or crops or livestock raised thereon.
(C) A written request may be directed to the Commission for information concerning whether a plat is required under this chapter, in accordance with Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code, § 212.0115, as amended.
(D) The exclusion of these activities from this chapter does not waive any jurisdiction the city now exercises or may exercise over these matters.
(E) Except as provided above, no land may be subdivided or platted through the use of any legal description other than with reference to a plat approved by the Council in accordance with this chapter.
(F) Except as provided herein and for lots of record established prior to the effective date of the adoption of this chapter, no land shall be sold, leased, or transferred until the property owner has obtained approval of a final plat from the Council as required by this chapter.
(G) The city shall withhold all public improvements and utilities, including the maintenance of streets and the provision of wastewater disposal facilities (if any) and water service, from all tracts, lots, or additions, the platting of which has not been officially approved by the City Council and for which a certificate of compliance has not been issued pursuant to § 155.030(G).
(H) No building permit or certificate of occupancy shall be issued for any parcel or tract of land inside the city limits until that property has received final plat approval and is in substantial conformity with the provisions of this chapter, and no private improvements shall take place or be commenced except in conformity with this chapter.
(Ord. 487, passed 7-18-2000; Am. Ord. 737, passed 7-20-2016) Penalty, see § 155.999