• Owner(s) in Fee Simple: Must sign the plat before a notary and have two witnesses for EACH signature. The owner(s) in fee simple executing the plat must remain such until the subdivision is recorded.
• Owner Is a Corporation: The plat must be signed by two officers designated by the corporation charter or the Board of Directors to act for the corporation. A Corporation seal is required and must be firmly impressed to the plat and legible. Stick-on seals are unacceptable.
• Owner Is a Partnership: The plat must be signed by a general partner.

If a mortgage(s) is on any property involved in the subdivision, the trustee(s) must sign the plat in the space provided, indicating the number of trusts. The trustee(s) signature(s) do not have to be witnessed or notarized.

• The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) and Real Property Taxes: Agencies will not review documents unless taxes are verified as being up to date. The applicant must contact OTR.
  • How to submit an Unrecorded Subdivision Certification request: From MyTax.DC.gov, click Search Real Property.
    • Enter at least one search item in the fields listed (SSL number or property address).
    • Click on the property’s SSL in the Search Results.
    • Click on Applications and Actions.
    • Under Property Maintenance, select Submit the Unrecorded Subdivision/Condominium Plat Certification.
    • Follow the Unrecorded Subdivision Plat Certification (this is where you would add any additional lots).
    • Complete the Application and Upload all Supporting Documentation. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address provided in the submission. NOTE: Remember to sign the tax Certificate Acknowledgement located right under where the Tax Office signs off. 

The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and DOB reviews all subdivisions to determine whether the land in the subdivision application is within a Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zone A or AE). All DOEE reviews should be initiated on the 2nd Floor at 1100 4th Street SW.

1. If the land is within Zone X: DOEE will note the Zone X status (without elevation) and sign off a subdivision plat without collecting any fee.
2. If the land is within Zone A or AE: DOEE and DOB will direct the applicant to DOEE headquarters to obtain a flood zone and flood elevation determination.
   • DOEE headquarters will provide an official determination of a flood zone and flood elevation for a specific location for a fee of $100.
   • DOEE and DOB will sign off on the subdivision plat with a DOEE approved flood zone and Flood Plain Information Request Form.

DOEE requires, for review and approval for compliance with DCMR 20, Chapter 31 – Flood Hazard Rules, that any subdivision located in whole or in part in a Special Flood hazard (SFHA) that is greater than 50 lots or 5 acres, whichever in the lesser, shall provide Base Flood Elevation* (BFE) data with the subdivision application (see 20 DCMR 3104.5)

1. BFE data can be obtained from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for the District of Columbia, effective date September 27, 2010.
2. If BFE data is not available from the FIRM or FIS, the applicant shall develop BFE based on current accepted hydrologic and hydraulic engineering practices (see 20 DCMR 3104.8). When developed by the applicant, BFE data shall be certified by a District registered professional engineer (PE).

*BFE is the elevation of the 100-year flood (the flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year).

The plat is then taken to the Office of Planning's Historic Preservation Office (HPO) desk at the DOB Walk-in Center at 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor for review and sign off. All subdivision plats are to be taken to HPO for a determination on the historic nature of the subdivision's location.

The plat is then taken to the Office of Zoning Administration (OZA) at 1100 4th Street SW for certifying compliance with Zoning Regulations. Note: OZA will hold the subdivision for review and signature by the Zoning Administrator. Upon signature, OZA will forward the subdivision to the Surveyor’s Office for final processing. Contact OZA at (202) 671-3500 to confirm delivery to the Surveyor’s Office.

Upon receipt from OZA, the subdivision will be reviewed, signed, given a new lot number and record in the Surveyor’s Office within three business days.

The Zoning Administrator requires the following information in order to review and sign any subdivision plat for zoning compliance. The provisions of DCMR 10, Section 2703 require a preliminary sketch, drawn to scale and including but not limited to the following:

1. Boundary of the land to be divided (Plat showing how the land is currently configured before subdivision);
2. Provide a building location survey (Man made features, such as buildings, structures, walls, fences, culverts and sewers must be shown, be sure to indicate length and width dimensions, setbacks, and number of stories);
3. If you are subdividing Assessment and Taxation lot(s), provide the date the lot(s) were created (Subdivision history).

When submitting the original Mylar plat for approval by the Zoning Administrator, the scaled sketch showing the above items must be provided with the subdivision plat.