Which statement best describes the relationship between the Subdivision Map Act and the Subdivided Lands Act?

• A. They are the same.
• B. Subdivision Map Act applies to five lots or more.
• C. Subdivided Lands Act applies to two or more parcels.
• D. The Subdivision Map Act governs map filings for subdivisions; the Subdivided Lands Act governs subdivisions of five lots or more.

Answer: (D)

The Subdivision Map Act and the Subdivided Lands Act serve different functions in the subdivision process. The Subdivision Map Act governs how a subdivision map is prepared, processed, and recorded—essentially the official map and the approval steps that shape the layout and public improvements of the project. The Subdivided Lands Act, on the other hand, governs the sale of subdivided lands and focuses on protections for buyers, applying when there are five or more parcels involved. So the map act handles map filings for subdivisions, while the subdivided lands act handles the sale and disclosures for subdivisions of five or more lots. In practice, a larger subdivision would typically need compliance with both: map filing under the Map Act and sale/disclosure requirements under the Subdivided Lands Act.