Service Detail

Parcel Splits

Subdivision surveys and recorded plats that divide one tract into separate legal parcels.

What is a Parcel Split?

A parcel split (or subdivision) divides one tract of land into two or more separate legal parcels. It requires a survey to create new lot boundaries and a plat that must be approved by the local planning department and recorded with the county. Once recorded, each new parcel can be sold, deeded, mortgaged, and taxed independently of the land it came from.

Every parcel a split creates needs its own legal description, the written metes and bounds that define exactly what land is being conveyed. Each new parcel also has to satisfy the zoning and access requirements that apply where the property sits. Lot standards, road frontage, and how a parcel reaches a public right of way are set locally and differ by county and by zoning district, so we confirm the governing requirements with the local planning authority before any lines are drawn.

Understanding how to subdivide land in Georgia starts with the plat. A subdivision plat shows the parent tract, the proposed lot lines, bearings and distances, acreage, existing easements, and the monuments set at every new corner. Planning staff review it against the county's subdivision regulations, and once signed it becomes the document that deeds, closing attorneys, lenders, and the tax assessor rely on. Our guide on how to read a survey plat walks through what those lines and figures mean.

In Georgia, an approved plat is recorded through the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the land lies, which is when the new parcels enter the permanent land records. Owners request a lot split survey for a familiar set of reasons: selling a portion of a tract while keeping the balance, dividing family land among children or siblings, settling an estate among heirs, and opening ground up for development. If you need adjoining tracts merged instead, see our combining parcels service.

Who Needs a Parcel Split?

  • Owners selling a portion of a tract while keeping the rest of the land
  • Families dividing inherited property or deeding acreage to children
  • Executors and heirs settling an estate that must be split among beneficiaries
  • Owners creating buildable lots that meet county zoning and access standards
  • Anyone separating a home site and yard from surrounding farm or timber acreage
  • Developers laying out multiple lots for a residential or commercial project

Our Parcel Split Process

  1. Confirm county requirements and zoning. We start with the planning or zoning office for the county and district your property sits in, so the layout is drawn against the standards that govern your land rather than general rules of thumb.
  2. Research the parent tract. We pull the current deed, prior plats, adjoining deeds, and easements to establish what the existing tract legally contains before new lines are proposed.
  3. Field survey and boundary retracement. Our crew retraces the outer boundary of the parent tract, locates existing monuments, improvements, roads, and easements, and sets new monuments at the corners of each proposed parcel.
  4. Prepare the subdivision plat. We draft the plat showing the new lot lines, bearings, distances, acreage, and easements, and we write a separate legal description for every parcel the split creates.
  5. Submit for approval and recording. We submit the plat to the reviewing authority, respond to review comments, and provide the signed plat for recording with the Clerk of Superior Court.

Why Choose S&S Land Surveying

40+ Years Experience

Founder William "Bart" Sims brings over 40 years of surveying experience to every split.

Georgia Licensed

Licensed Georgia surveyor preparing plats and legal descriptions for county review.

4.9 Stars, 50+ Reviews

Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 50+ Google reviews from Georgia property owners.

Local Coverage

Serving Polk, Floyd, Bartow, Paulding, Carroll, Haralson, Douglas, and Gordon counties.

Parcel Split FAQ

How much does a parcel split cost?

Parcel split costs in Georgia vary with the number of lots, property size, and county requirements. The cost includes the survey, plat preparation, and coordination with the county planning department.

How many parcels can I split my land into?

That depends on the zoning district your land sits in and on how each proposed parcel would reach a public road. Minimum lot standards, frontage, and access rules are set by the county and differ by jurisdiction and zoning district, so we confirm the governing requirements with the local planning authority before laying out your split.

Do I need county approval to split my property in Georgia?

To split property in Georgia, you need a licensed land surveyor to prepare a subdivision plat showing the proposed new parcels. The plat must meet county subdivision regulations and be approved by the local planning department before recording.

How long does a parcel split take?

Fieldwork for a straightforward two-lot split on an open tract is usually quicker than a larger or heavily wooded property. Contact us for a timeframe specific to your parcel. Drafting the plat and writing the legal descriptions follows the fieldwork. The county review step is controlled by the reviewing authority rather than by our office, so we confirm their current process when we open your file.

What do I receive when the parcel split is finished?

You receive a signed subdivision plat showing every new parcel with bearings, distances, and acreage, a written legal description for each parcel created, and new monuments set in the ground at the new corners. Your closing attorney uses the legal descriptions to prepare deeds, and the recorded plat becomes the permanent public record of the division.

Related Services

A subdivision survey in Georgia is often paired with these services:

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