2005 California Government Code Sections 66499.11-66499.203@4 Article 1. Reversion to Acreage

66499.11.  Subdivided real property may be reverted to acreage
pursuant to the provisions of this article.
66499.12.  Proceedings for reversion to acreage may be initiated by
the legislative body on its own motion or by petition of all of the
owners of record of the real property within the subdivision.
66499.13.  The petition shall be in a form prescribed by the local
agency and shall contain the following:
   (a) Adequate evidence of title to the real property within the
subdivision.
   (b) Sufficient data to enable the legislative body to make all of
the determinations and findings required by this article.
   (c) A final map which delineates dedications which will not be
vacated and dedications which are a condition to reversion.
   (d) Such other pertinent information as may be required by the
local agency.
66499.14.  The legislative body may establish a fee for processing
reversions to acreage pursuant to this article in an amount which
will reimburse the local agency for all costs incurred in processing
such reversion to acreage.  Such fee shall be paid by the owners at
the time of filing the petition for reversion to acreage, or if the
proceedings for reversion to acreage are initiated by the legislative
body on its own motion shall be paid by the person or persons
requesting the legislative body to proceed pursuant to this article
before such initiation of proceedings.
66499.15.  A public hearing shall be held on the proposed reversion
to acreage.  Notice thereof shall be given in the time and manner
provided in Section 66451.3.
66499.16.  Subdivided real property may be reverted to acreage only
if the legislative body finds that:
   (a) Dedications or offers of dedication to be vacated or abandoned
by the reversion to acreage are unnecessary for present or
prospective public purposes; and
   (b) Either:
   (1) All owners of an interest in the real property within the
subdivision have consented to reversion; or
   (2) None of the improvements required to be made have been made
within two years from the date the final or parcel map was filed for
record, or within the time allowed by agreement for completion of the
improvements, whichever is the later; or
   (3) No lots shown on the final or parcel map have been sold within
five years from the date such map was filed for record.
66499.17.  As conditions of reversion the legislative body shall
require:
   (a) Dedications or offers of dedication necessary for the purposes
specified by local ordinance following reversion.
   (b) Retention of all previously paid fees if necessary to
accomplish the purposes of this division or local ordinance adopted
pursuant thereto.
   (c) Retention of any portion of required improvement security or
deposits if necessary to accomplish the purposes of this division of
local ordinance adopted pursuant thereto.
66499.18.  Reversion shall be effective upon the final map being
filed for record by the county recorder, and thereupon all
dedications and offers of dedication not shown thereon shall be of no
further force or effect.
66499.19.  When a reversion is effective, all fees and deposits
shall be returned to the current owner of the property and all
improvement security released, except those retained pursuant to
Section 66499.17.
66499.20.  A tax bond shall not be required in reversion
proceedings.
66499.201/4.  A city or county may, by ordinance, authorize a parcel
map to be filed under the provisions of this chapter for the purpose
of reverting to acreage land previously subdivided and consisting of
four or less contiguous parcels under the same ownership.  Any map
so submitted shall be accompanied by evidence of title and nonuse or
lack of necessity of any public streets or public easements which are
to be vacated or abandoned.  Any public streets or public easements
to be left in effect after the reversion shall be adequately
delineated on the map.  After approval of the reversion by the
governing body or advisory agency the map shall be delivered to the
county recorder.  The filing of the map shall constitute legal
reversion to acreage of the land affected thereby, and shall also
constitute abandonment of all public streets or public easements not
shown on the map, provided however that written notation of each
abandonment is listed by reference to the recording data creating
those public streets or public easements and certified to on the map
by the clerk of the legislative body or the designee of the
legislative body approving the map.  The filing of the map shall also
constitute a merger of the separate parcels into one parcel for
purposes of this chapter and shall thereafter be shown as such on the
assessment roll subject to the provisions of Section 66445.  Except
as provided in subdivision (f) of Section 66445, on any parcel map
used for reverting acreage, a certificate shall appear signed and
acknowledged by all parties having any record title interest in the
land being reverted, consenting to the preparation and filing of the
parcel map.
66499.201/2.  Subdivided lands may be merged and resubdivided
without reverting to acreage by complying with all the applicable
requirements for the subdivision of land as provided by this division
and any local ordinances adopted pursuant thereto.  The filing of
the final map or parcel map shall constitute legal merging of the
separate parcels into one parcel and the resubdivision of such
parcel, and the real property shall thereafter be shown with the new
lot or parcel boundaries on the assessment roll.  Any unused fees or
deposits previously made pursuant to this division pertaining to the
property shall be credited pro rata towards any requirements for the
same purposes which are applicable at the time of resubdivision.  Any
public streets or public easements to be left in effect after the
resubdivision shall be adequately delineated on the map.  After
approval of the merger and resubdivision by the governing body or
advisory agency the map shall be delivered to the county recorder.
The filing of the map shall constitute legal merger and resubdivision
of the land affected thereby, and shall also constitute abandonment
of all public streets and public easements not shown on the map,
provided that a written notation of each abandonment is listed by
reference to the recording data creating these public streets or
public easements, and certified to on the map by the clerk of the
legislative body or the designee of the legislative body approving
the map.
66499.203/4.  A city or county may, by ordinance, authorize the
merger of contiguous parcels under common ownership without reverting
to acreage.  Such ordinance shall require the recordation of an
instrument evidencing the merger.