Pinal County Lot Split Guide: Minor Land Division in Arizona
Splitting a parcel in Pinal County is one of the most common surveying requests we handle at AZGPS. Whether you’re a landowner wanting to sell off a portion of your property, a developer creating a small subdivision, or a family dividing acreage between heirs, the process follows a specific county approval path — and a licensed land surveyor is required at every critical step.
This guide walks through the Pinal County minor land division process, what the surveyor’s role is, and what to expect in terms of timeline and cost.
What Is a Minor Land Division in Arizona?
Under Arizona law (ARS Title 9 and Title 11), a minor land division (MLD) is the division of land into six or fewer parcels. For Pinal County, the process is governed by the Pinal County Subdivision Regulations and requires approval from the county Development Services department before any new parcels can be recorded or sold separately.
If you’re dividing into more than six parcels, the project triggers full subdivision requirements — a more complex, time-consuming, and expensive process. Most residential lot splits in Florence, Casa Grande, and unincorporated Pinal County fall under the minor land division process.
Pinal County Lot Split — Step by Step
Step 1 — Confirm Zoning Eligibility
Before ordering a survey, verify that your parcel’s zoning allows the split you’re planning. Minimum lot sizes vary by zoning district. Check the Pinal County Assessor for current parcel data and contact Pinal County Development Services to confirm setbacks and minimum area requirements for the proposed new parcels.
Step 2 — Commission a Boundary Survey
A licensed Arizona RLS must survey the existing parcel boundary and locate all existing monuments before any division can be proposed. This establishes a reliable legal baseline for the new parcel configurations. AZGPS performs this fieldwork using Trimble GNSS RTK equipment, providing centimeter-level accuracy across Pinal County.
Step 3 — Prepare the Minor Land Division Plat
The surveyor drafts the MLD plat showing the proposed new parcel boundaries, dimensions, areas, easements, and access. The plat must meet Pinal County formatting requirements including title block, signature blocks for the RLS and county officials, and references to the parent parcel’s recorded data.
Step 4 — Prepare Legal Descriptions
A new legal description is required for each proposed parcel. These are drafted by the surveyor and must be consistent with the plat. Title companies and the county recorder require these descriptions to create new parcel records.
Step 5 — County Submittal and Review
The plat, legal descriptions, and application materials are submitted to Pinal County Development Services for review. The county checks for compliance with zoning, access requirements, and utility easements. Review periods vary — currently running 4–8 weeks in most cases — and the county may request revisions before approval.
Step 6 — Recording
Once approved, the plat is recorded with the Pinal County Recorder. New APNs are issued by the Assessor after recording. At this point the parcels exist as separate legal entities and can be sold, financed, or developed independently.
Typical Timeline and Cost
From initial survey authorization to recorded plat, expect 6 – 12 weeks total for a straightforward Pinal County minor land division. Most of that time is county review — the survey and drafting work itself typically takes 2–3 weeks.
Survey costs for a Pinal County MLD typically range from $1,500 – $5,000+ depending on parcel size, complexity, number of new parcels, and existing monument conditions. County recording fees are separate and vary by document length.
AZGPS Handles Pinal County Lot Splits
AZGPS is based in Florence, Arizona and handles minor land division surveys throughout Pinal County. We’re familiar with Pinal County Development Services’ requirements and submittal process, which helps avoid common revision cycles that slow projects down.