2019 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 8 - Zoning, Planning, Housing and Economic and Community Development
Chapter 126 - Municipal Planning Commissions
Section 8-25 - Subdivision of land.

(a) No subdivision of land shall be made until a plan for such subdivision has been approved by the commission. Any person, firm or corporation making any subdivision of land without the approval of the commission shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars for each lot sold or offered for sale or so subdivided. Any plan for subdivision shall, upon approval, or when taken as approved by reason of the failure of the commission to act, be filed or recorded by the applicant in the office of the town clerk not later than ninety days after the expiration of the appeal period under section 8-8, or in the case of an appeal, not later than ninety days after the termination of such appeal by dismissal, withdrawal or judgment in favor of the applicant but, if it is a plan for subdivision wholly or partially within a district, it shall be filed in the offices of both the district clerk and the town clerk, and any plan not so filed or recorded within the prescribed time shall become null and void, except that the commission may extend the time for such filing for two additional periods of ninety days and the plan shall remain valid until the expiration of such extended time. All such plans shall be delivered to the applicant for filing or recording not more than thirty days after the time for taking an appeal from the action of the commission has elapsed or not more than thirty days after the date that plans modified in accordance with the commission's approval and that comply with section 7-31 are delivered to the commission, whichever is later, and in the event of an appeal, not more than thirty days after the termination of such appeal by dismissal, withdrawal or judgment in favor of the applicant or not more than thirty days after the date that plans modified in accordance with the commission's approval and that comply with section 7-31 are delivered to the commission, whichever is later. No such plan shall be recorded or filed by the town clerk or district clerk or other officer authorized to record or file plans until its approval has been endorsed thereon by the chairman or secretary of the commission, and the filing or recording of a subdivision plan without such approval shall be void. Before exercising the powers granted in this section, the commission shall adopt regulations covering the subdivision of land. No such regulations shall become effective until after a public hearing held in accordance with the provisions of section 8-7d. Such regulations shall provide that the land to be subdivided shall be of such character that it can be used for building purposes without danger to health or the public safety, that proper provision shall be made for water, sewerage and drainage, including the upgrading of any downstream ditch, culvert or other drainage structure which, through the introduction of additional drainage due to such subdivision, becomes undersized and creates the potential for flooding on a state highway, and, in areas contiguous to brooks, rivers or other bodies of water subject to flooding, including tidal flooding, that proper provision shall be made for protective flood control measures and that the proposed streets are in harmony with existing or proposed principal thoroughfares shown in the plan of conservation and development as described in section 8-23, especially in regard to safe intersections with such thoroughfares, and so arranged and of such width, as to provide an adequate and convenient system for present and prospective traffic needs. Such regulations shall also provide that the commission may require the provision of open spaces, parks and playgrounds when, and in places, deemed proper by the planning commission, which open spaces, parks and playgrounds shall be shown on the subdivision plan. Such regulations may, with the approval of the commission, authorize the applicant to pay a fee to the municipality or pay a fee to the municipality and transfer land to the municipality in lieu of any requirement to provide open spaces. Such payment or combination of payment and the fair market value of land transferred shall be equal to not more than ten per cent of the fair market value of the land to be subdivided prior to the approval of the subdivision. The fair market value shall be determined by an appraiser jointly selected by the commission and the applicant. A fraction of such payment the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the number of approved parcels in the subdivision shall be made at the time of the sale of each approved parcel of land in the subdivision and placed in a fund in accordance with the provisions of section 8-25b. The open space requirements of this section shall not apply if the transfer of all land in a subdivision of less than five parcels is to a parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle or first cousin for no consideration, or if the subdivision is to contain affordable housing, as defined in section 8-39a, equal to twenty per cent or more of the total housing to be constructed in such subdivision. Such regulations, on and after July 1, 1985, shall provide that proper provision be made for soil erosion and sediment control pursuant to section 22a-329. Such regulations shall not impose conditions and requirements on manufactured homes having as their narrowest dimension twenty-two feet or more and built in accordance with federal manufactured home construction and safety standards or on lots containing such manufactured homes which are substantially different from conditions and requirements imposed on single-family dwellings and lots containing single-family dwellings. Such regulations shall not impose conditions and requirements on developments to be occupied by manufactured homes having as their narrowest dimension twenty-two feet or more and built in accordance with federal manufactured home construction and safety standards which are substantially different from conditions and requirements imposed on multifamily dwellings, lots containing multifamily dwellings, cluster developments or planned unit developments. The commission may also prescribe the extent to which and the manner in which streets shall be graded and improved and public utilities and services provided and, in lieu of the completion of such work and installations previous to the final approval of a plan, the commission may accept a financial guarantee of such work and installations in an amount and with surety and conditions satisfactory to it securing to the municipality the actual construction, maintenance and installation of such public improvements and utilities within a period specified in the financial guarantee. Such regulations may provide, in lieu of the completion of the work and installations above referred to, previous to the final approval of a plan, for an assessment or other method whereby the municipality is put in an assured position to do such work and make such installations at the expense of the owners of the property within the subdivision. Such regulations may provide that in lieu of either the completion of the work or the furnishing of a financial guarantee as provided in this section, the commission may authorize the filing of a plan with a conditional approval endorsed thereon. Such approval shall be conditioned on (1) the actual construction, maintenance and installation of any improvements or utilities prescribed by the commission, or (2) the provision of a financial guarantee as provided in this section. Upon the occurrence of either of such events, the commission shall cause a final approval to be endorsed thereon in the manner provided by this section. Any such conditional approval shall lapse five years from the date it is granted, provided the applicant may apply for and the commission may, in its discretion, grant a renewal of such conditional approval for an additional period of five years at the end of any five-year period, except that the commission may, by regulation, provide for a shorter period of conditional approval or renewal of such approval. Any person who enters into a contract for the purchase of any lot subdivided pursuant to a conditional approval may rescind such contract by delivering a written notice of rescission to the seller not later than three days after receipt of written notice of final approval if such final approval has additional amendments or any conditions that were not included in the conditional approval and are unacceptable to the buyer. Any person, firm or corporation who, prior to such final approval, transfers title to any lot subdivided pursuant to a conditional approval shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars for each lot transferred. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the marketing of any lot prior to the granting of conditional approval or renewal of such conditional approval.

(b) The regulations adopted under subsection (a) of this section shall also encourage energy-efficient patterns of development and land use, the use of solar and other renewable forms of energy, and energy conservation. The regulations shall require any person submitting a plan for a subdivision to the commission under subsection (a) of this section to demonstrate to the commission that such person has considered, in developing the plan, using passive solar energy techniques which would not significantly increase the cost of the housing to the buyer, after tax credits, subsidies and exemptions. As used in this subsection and section 8-2, “passive solar energy techniques” means site design techniques which maximize solar heat gain, minimize heat loss and provide thermal storage within a building during the heating season and minimize heat gain and provide for natural ventilation during the cooling season. The site design techniques shall include, but not be limited to: (1) House orientation; (2) street and lot layout; (3) vegetation; (4) natural and man-made topographical features; and (5) protection of solar access within the development.

(c) The regulations adopted under subsection (a) of this section, may, to the extent consistent with soil types, terrain, infrastructure capacity and the plan of development for the community, provide for cluster development, and may provide for incentives for cluster development such as density bonuses, or may require cluster development.

(d) (1) To satisfy any financial guarantee requirement in this section, the commission may accept surety bonds and shall accept cash bonds, passbook or statement savings accounts and other financial guarantees other than surety bonds including, but not limited to, letters of credit, provided such financial guarantee is in a form acceptable to the commission and the financial institution or other entity issuing any letter of credit is acceptable to the commission. Such financial guarantee may, at the discretion of the person posting such financial guarantee, be posted at any time before all approved public improvements and utilities are completed, except that the commission may require a financial guarantee for erosion and sediment controls prior to the commencement of any improvements. No lot shall be transferred to a buyer before any required financial guarantee is posted or before the approved public improvements and utilities are completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the commission or its agent. For any subdivision that is approved for development in phases, the financial guarantee provisions of this section shall apply as if each phase was approved as a separate subdivision. Notwithstanding the provisions of any special act, municipal charter or ordinance, no commission shall (A) require a financial guarantee or payment to finance the maintenance of roads, streets, retention or detention basins or other improvements approved with such subdivision for more than one year after the date on which such improvements have been completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the commission or its agent or accepted by the municipality, or (B) require the establishment of a homeowners association or the placement of a deed restriction, easement or similar burden on property for the maintenance of approved public site improvements to be owned, operated or maintained by the municipality, except that the prohibition of this subparagraph shall not apply to the placement of a deed restriction, easement or similar burden necessary to grant a municipality access to such approved site improvements.

(2) If the person posting a financial guarantee under this section requests a release of all or a portion of such financial guarantee, the commission or its agent shall, not later than sixty-five days after receiving such request, (A) release or authorize the release of any such financial guarantee or portion thereof, provided the commission or its agent is reasonably satisfied that the improvements for which such financial guarantee or portion thereof was posted have been completed, or (B) provide the person posting such financial guarantee with a written explanation as to the additional improvements that must be completed before such financial guarantee or portion thereof may be released.

(1949 Rev., S. 858; November, 1955, S. N12; 1959, P.A. 577, S. 7; 669; 1971, P.A. 196; 862, S. 8; P.A. 75-131; P.A. 77-545, S. 2; P.A. 78-104, S. 5; 78-314, S. 4; P.A. 79-301; P.A. 81-254; 81-334, S. 1; P.A. 83-388, S. 8, 9; P.A. 85-91, S. 4, 5; P.A. 88-203, S. 2; 88-263; P.A. 90-239, S. 1; P.A. 91-395, S. 4, 11; P.A. 93-29; P.A. 95-335, S. 15, 26; P.A. 99-131; P.A. 01-52; P.A. 03-177, S. 6; P.A. 07-182, S. 1; P.A. 11-79, S. 2; P.A. 12-182, S. 2.)

History: 1959 acts added provision for filing of subdivision plans in case of a district and added provision regulations authorize commission to provide open spaces for parks and playgrounds; 1971 acts added provisions concerning extensions for filing subdivision plans, specified that applicant must do filing and that endorsement of approval must be made by chairman or secretary and changed notice requirement from publication at least seven days before hearing to publication “twice, at intervals of not less than two days, the first not more than fifteen days nor less than ten days and the last not less than two days” before hearing; P.A. 75-131 required that plans be delivered to applicant promptly for filing purposes after appeal deadline passed or after appeal terminated; P.A. 77-545 added provision that regulations made govern sedimentation and erosion control; P.A. 78-104 included “maintenance” of improvements and utilities in bond provision; P.A. 78-314 allowed encouragement of energy-efficient development, use of renewable forms of energy and energy conservation through regulations; P.A. 79-301 increased fine for making unapproved subdivision from $200 to $500; P.A. 81-254 allowed for conditional approval of plans; P.A. 81-334 moved provisions re regulations to encourage energy-efficient patterns of development, use of solar and other renewable forms of energy and energy conservation into new Subsec. (b) and outlined content of regulations; P.A. 83-388 amended Subsec. (a) to require that provision be made for soil erosion and sediment control, effective July 1, 1985; P.A. 85-91 amended Subsec. (a) to specify the date by which time provision for soil erosion and sediment control is required; P.A. 88-203 added provisions in Subsec. (a) re imposition of conditions and requirements on certain manufactured homes and developments to be occupied by certain manufactured homes; P.A. 88-263 substituted “shall” for “may” in Subsec. (b) to require that subdivision regulations encourage energy-efficient patterns of development and land use, the use of solar and other renewable forms of energy and energy conservation; P.A. 90-239 amended Subsec. (a) to allow the payment of a fee in lieu of the provision of open spaces and to exempt transfers of land to certain relatives from the open spaces requirements; P.A. 91-395 added Subsec. (c) concerning authorization for cluster development in regulations adopted under this section; P.A. 93-29 amended Subsec. (a) to change the time planning commissions have to deliver approved plans to subdivision applicants from “promptly” after the expiration of an appeal or termination in the applicant's favor to 30 days after either event and to change the date for filing of approved plans by a developer from 90 days after the time for appeal to 90 days after termination in the applicant's favor; P.A. 95-335 amended Subsec. (a) to change “plan of development” to “plan of conservation and development”, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-131 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring regulations covering the subdivision of land to include a provision for the “upgrading of any downstream ditch, culvert or other drainage structure which, through the introduction of additional drainage due to such subdivision, becomes undersized and creates the potential for flooding on a state highway”; P.A. 01-52 amended Subsec. (a) to change the time for delivery of approved subdivision plans from not less than 30 days to not more than 30 days and add provisions re modified plans and amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 03-177 replaced provisions in Subsec. (a) re publication of notice of time, place and purpose of public hearing with requirement that the public hearing be held in accordance with Sec. 8-7d, effective October 1, 2003, and applicable to applications filed on or after that date; P.A. 07-182 amended Subsec. (a) to allow a person who enters into a contract to purchase a subdivided lot pursuant to conditional approval to rescind such contract if such final approval has additional amendments or any conditions not included in the conditional approval that are unacceptable to the buyer, to provide that a fine of $1,000 be imposed on any person who, before final approval, transfers title to any lot subdivided pursuant to conditional approval for each lot transferred, deleting prior fine of $500 imposed on any person who sells or offers for sale any such lot, to require that nothing in subsection be construed to authorize the marketing of any lot before granting or renewal of conditional approval, and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 11-79 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “or other surety” re conditional approval and adding “public” re improvements secured by bond, and added Subsec. (d) re bond and surety requirements and release of same; P.A. 12-182 made extensive changes in Subsecs. (a) and (d) re posting and release of financial guarantees and re public improvements, effective June 15, 2012, and applicable to all approvals or extensions granted after that date.

See Sec. 8-2a re requirement that copies of zoning and subdivision regulations be available to public.

If plan complies with subdivision regulations, commission lacks authority to disapprove it. 146 C. 570. Cited. 148 C. 145, 299. Planning commission approves, disapproves, or modifies and approves, plans for claimed subdivisions; it is not part of its function to decide whether particular property is a subdivision; court should not dismiss complaint for declaratory judgment as to whether certain premises is a subdivision on ground that issue should first be decided by planning commission. 149 C. 627. Cited. 152 C. 304; Id., 520. Adoption of a “plan of development” pursuant to Sec. 8-23 is not a condition precedent to the enactment of valid subdivision regulations. 153 C. 193. Section held not to authorize town to adopt a subdivision regulation imposing a charge against a real estate developer as a condition for granting permission to proceed with an approved subdivision plan when such charge was purportedly to cover reasonable costs incurred by the town for engineering services to inspect work done on public improvements in the subdivision. Id., 236. Mere filing of subdivision maps does not necessarily immunize subject property from operative effect of subsequent subdivision regulations. 155 C. 183. Subdivision regulations construed as a whole, being within the purview of section and reasonably adequate and sufficient to guide commission and enable those affected to know their rights and obligations and precise to degree required by subject matter, held valid. Id., 669. Regulations of town which has adopted chapter must conform to requirements of section. 156 C. 540. Only action on subdivision plan and designation of and assessments for municipal improvements are binding actions of planning board. 159 C. 1. This section and Sec. 13a-71 may not be circumvented by claims of common law dedication. Id., 107. Authority granted under statute is not unpermitted exercise of police power where activity is directly attributable to subdivision activity; it does not amount to unconstitutional taking of private land for public use without compensation; held not unconstitutional for vagueness or lack of standards to implement it; constitutional validity established because all property is held subject to right of state to reasonably regulate use. 160 C. 109. Cited. 171 C. 89; 172 C. 156; 176 C. 581; 177 C. 527; 179 C. 650; 181 C. 533; 184 C. 1; 186 C. 466; 187 C. 232; 199 C. 575; 203 C. 109; 207 C. 67; 208 C. 431; 213 C. 604; 217 C. 103; 226 C. 684; 227 C. 71, 83; 228 C. 476. Sale of lots in approved subdivision not required for municipality to call performance bond. 254 C. 348.

Cited. 5 CA 520; 8 CA 556; 12 CA 153; 16 CA 303; 19 CA 334; 23 CA 115; Id., 460; 26 CA 17; 28 CA 780; 29 CA 18; Id., 28; 31 CA 643; 37 CA 303; 40 CA 75; 49 CA 452. Fact that a performance bond was provided pursuant to statute that protects municipalities from being left with inadequate resources to complete subdivision improvements, coupled with unambiguous language of the bond, clearly supports conclusion that the bond was available to plaintiff to complete the subdivision even though plaintiff had become a successor developer. 71 CA 715. Planning commission cannot enact subdivision regulation that effectively amends or alters a zoning ordinance because commission would be exceeding its statutory mandate. 76 CA 280. Plaintiff's case for declaratory judgment on constitutionality of a subdivision regulation was ripe for judicial consideration because it concerned his rights as a property owner and events that plaintiff was likely to confront. 85 CA 606.

Held constitutional exercise of power and land requirement in city regulations for subdivision plan within legislative authority, but provision for cash contribution in lieu of land requirement unconstitutional where moneys are not collected for direct benefit of subdivision. 27 CS 74. Cited. 31 CS 83; 43 CS 508.

Subsec. (a):

Commission's authority is limited to the “land to be subdivided” and commission lacks authority to require applicant to include off-site sidewalk installations in subdivision application. 292 C. 317. When there has been an appeal from subdivision approval, such subdivision becomes effective on date such appeal from approval is terminated. 297 C. 414. Section neither prohibits the mortgaging of a parcel in an unapproved subdivision nor prevents the court from ordering a foreclosure of any such parcel. 324 C. 680.

Provision that subdivided land be of such character that it can be used for building purposes without danger to health or public authority does not authorize regulations to provide that proposed streets connect with existing roads within town in which the subdivision is located. 97 CA 316.