California Surveyors Forums

Has anyone ever encountered a recorded lot line adjustment that did not include perfecting deeds? I surveyed a parcel in the City of Rancho Cordova that had a lot line adjustment recorded in 2024 without perfecting deeds, which essentially makes it invalid per SMA 66412(d), but it's still somewhat of a cloud on title. In addition, the LLA is riddled with errors, including a 1.55' misclosure in one of the parcels. The LLA also includes more than 4 parcels. It's very odd, because the LLA includes a parent parcel (lot from a subdivision map) excluding 4 parcels that were previously deeded to various public agencies in 2005, 2007 & 2008, but those 4 parcels were also included in the LLA, 3 of which remained the same, and the 4th being adjusted with the remainder of the parent parcel.

We have been in contact with the city, and apparently the LLA was issued by Planning and never reviewed by Public Works. The city is now scratching their head trying to figure out how to rescind the LLA. Any input would be appreciated.

John E. Klamm, PLS 7375

This is an issue with agencies that do not include survey review. We are, after.all, authorized to perform planning duties associated with parcel configurations.
Planning's authority is to oversee land use consistency, but the use of an LLA needs to conform with SMA guidelines. Approval of an application is contingent on the recording of transfer of ownership of the newly adjusted parcels.
It may be that this approval is void as a matter of law, and needs to be rescinded. Was the approval recorded (as it should have been)?

Thanks Warren! The LLA approval, signed by planning, was recorded in 2024. The approval does contain the following statement: "the BLA will be recorded within 6 months of the approval date or become null and void". My opinion is that, with the absence of the perfecting deeds, the LLA is in fact null and void, but convincing the title company to remove the exception from title might be difficult.

Rancho Cordova contracts with Willdan for their survey review. I've done many LLAs in Rancho Cordova, and they have always gone through survey review, so I'm not sure how this one slipped through.

Certainly hope legal descriptions were not reviewed by unlicensed individuals as part of that process.