Code Section

66436.  

(a) A statement, signed and acknowledged by all parties having any record title interest in the subdivided real property, consenting to the preparation and recordation of the final map is required, except in the following circumstances:

(1) A lien for state, county, municipal, or local taxes or special assessments, a trust interest under bond indentures, or mechanics’ liens do not constitute a record title interest in land for the purpose of this chapter or any local ordinance.

(2) The signature of either the holder of beneficial interests under trust deeds or the trustee under the trust deeds, but not both, may be omitted. The signature of either shall constitute a full and complete subordination of the lien of the deed of trust to the map and any interest created by the map.

(3) Signatures of parties owning the following types of interests may be omitted if their names and the nature of their respective interests are stated on the final map:

(A) (i) Rights-of-way, easements or other interests which cannot ripen into a fee, except those owned by a public entity, public utility, or subsidiary of a public utility for conveyance to the public utility for rights-of-way. If, however, the legislative body or advisory agency determines that division and development of the property in the manner set forth on the approved or conditionally approved tentative map will not unreasonably interfere with the free and complete exercise of the public entity or public utility right-of-way or easement, the signature of the public entity or public utility may be omitted. Where that determination is made, the subdivider shall send, by certified mail, a sketch of the proposed final map, together with a copy of this section, to any public entity or public utility which has previously acquired a right-of-way or easement.

(ii) If the public entity or utility objects to either recording the final map without its signature or the determination of the legislative body or advisory agency that the division and development of the property will not unreasonably interfere with the full and complete exercise of its right-of-way or easement, it shall so notify the subdivider and the legislative body or advisory agency within 30 days after receipt of the materials from the subdivider.

(iii) If the public entity or utility objects to recording the final map without its signature, the public entity or utility so objecting may affix its signature to the final map within 30 days of filing its objection with the legislative body or advisory agency.

(iv) If the public entity or utility either does not file an objection with the legislative body or advisory agency or fails to affix its signature within 30 days of filing its objection to recording the map without its signature, the local agency may record the final map without the signature.

(v) If the public entity or utility files an objection to the determination of the legislative body or advisory agency that the division and development of the property will not unreasonably interfere with the exercise of its right-of-way or easement, the legislative body or advisory agency shall set the matter for public hearing to be held not less than 10 nor more than 30 days of receipt of the objection. At the hearing, the public entity or public utility shall present evidence in support of its position that the division and development of the property will unreasonably interfere with the free and complete exercise of the objector’s right-of-way or easement.

(vi) If the legislative body or advisory agency finds, following the hearing, that the development and division will in fact unreasonably interfere with the free and complete exercise of the objector’s right-of-way or easement, it shall set forth those conditions whereby the unreasonable interference will be eliminated and upon compliance with those conditions by the subdivider, the final map may be recorded with or without the signature of the objector. If the legislative body or advisory agency finds that the development and division will in fact not unreasonably interfere with the free and complete exercise of the objector’s right-of-way or easement, the final map may be recorded without the signature of the objector, notwithstanding the objections.

(vii) Failure of the public entity or public utility to file an objection pursuant to this section shall in no way affect its rights under a right-of-way or easement.

(viii) No fee shall be charged by a public entity, public utility, subsidiary of a public utility, or objector for signing, omitting a signature, or objecting pursuant to this section.

(B) Rights-of-way, easements, or reversions, which by reason of changed conditions, long disuse, or laches appear to be no longer of practical use or value and signatures are impossible or impractical to obtain. A statement of the circumstances preventing the procurement of the signatures shall also be stated on the map.

(C) Interests in, or rights to, minerals, including but not limited to, oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon substances.

(4) Real property originally patented by the United States or by the State of California, which original patent reserved interest to either or both of those entities, may be included in the final map without the consent of the United States or the State of California to the map or to dedications made by it.

(b) No monetary liability shall be incurred by, and no cause of action shall arise against, a local agency, a party, the subdivider, the subdivider’s agent, or the engineer or land surveyor who prepared the map, on account of the omission of any signature, which omission is authorized by this section.

(c) A notary acknowledgment shall be deemed complete for recording without the official seal of the notary, so long as the name of the notary, the county of the notary’s principal place of business, and the notary’s commission expiration date are typed or printed below or immediately adjacent to the notary’s signature in the acknowledgment.