Dividing land into lots in Ogden is governed by Title 14 of the Ogden City Code, Subdivision Regulations, which may be cited as the “Subdivision Ordinance of Ogden City” (14-1-1). This page walks through who decides, the steps, where to watch and what each approval means. The ordinance text controls.

In 2023 the Utah Legislature passed S.B. 174, Local Land Use and Development Revisions. As enacted, it required cities to name an administrative land use authority, which may not be the city council or a council member, to review subdivision applications for single-family homes, two-family homes and townhomes, and it limited cities to four review cycles. State law has been amended since; the current text is in Utah Code Title 10, Chapter 20, Part 8 (the land use act was renumbered from Chapter 9a in 2025).

Who decides

For a standard subdivision, the ordinance assigns the preliminary decision to the Planning Commission. Section 14-2-5(E) states the Commission “may approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove the preliminary subdivision plan” after reviewing staff reports and comments from a public meeting. Final plats are handled administratively: the planning manager, the City Engineer and the City Attorney each review and sign, and the Mayor signs a certificate of acceptance before recording (14-2-6(D) and (G)).

Small subdivisions of ten or fewer lots that need no street dedication follow Chapter 4; the ordinance states these “may be approved by the mayor without recording of a plat” when the listed conditions are met (14-4-1). Lot line adjustments and lot combinations have their own administrative chapters (Chapters 7 and 8). Appeals of a final plat disapproval go to the Board of Zoning Adjustment within 30 days (14-2-6(E)).

Chapter 2 was amended by Ord. 2024-1 (January 9, 2024). It refers to “limited residential subdivisions” with a 15-business-day initial review (14-2-5(C)(3)) and to a “fourth review cycle, as defined and required by Utah law” (14-2-5(I)(3)).

The steps

  1. Pre-application. Section 14-2-2 says an applicant “may” meet with the planning manager before filing. Separately, the city offers a free Concept Review Team (CRT) meeting on Wednesday mornings; the city describes it as advisory only, with no decisions made.
  2. Concept plan. Required only inside the Sensitive Area Overlay Zone, where the Planning Commission grants conceptual approval under 14-2-4 (which points to 15-27-6 of the zoning title).
  3. Preliminary subdivision plan (14-2-5). The planning manager checks completeness, circulates the plan to the City Engineer, utilities, fire, police, the school district and others, and returns comments. Unless it is a small subdivision, the Planning Commission then reviews it at a public meeting; notice is mailed at least seven days ahead to owners within 300 feet (14-2-5(D)). Preliminary approval is valid for 18 months, with one six-month extension available from the planning manager (14-2-5(H)).
  4. Improvement plans. Before a final plat, the City Engineer reviews public improvement plans (14-2-5(I)).
  5. Final plat (14-2-6). Staff, the City Engineer and the City Attorney check conformity with the preliminary approval; the financial guarantee is posted; the Mayor accepts the plat.
  6. Recording. The ordinance states a final plat “shall be recorded within one month after final approval” or the approval is void (14-2-6(J)). Lots cannot be sold, and building cannot begin, until the plat is recorded with the Weber County Recorder (14-2-5(J), 14-2-6(H)).

Ogden’s Planning Commission has considered a proposed unified development code that could reorganize the city’s land use titles. Check the current code before relying on section numbers.

Where to find the agenda and how to comment

The city’s Planning Division page states the Planning Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 5:00 p.m., with a work session the third Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., at the Ogden Municipal Building. Agendas, staff reports and minutes are in the city’s Agenda Center under Planning Commission, and meetings are also posted on the Utah Public Notice Website.

Preliminary plans are considered at a public meeting, not a public hearing. Under 14-2-5(E) the Commission considers “any comments or exhibits submitted at the public meeting,” so written comments delivered to the Planning Division (planning@ogdencity.com) before the meeting become part of the record. Mailed notice goes only to owners within 300 feet; everyone else should watch the posted agenda.

What preliminary approval does and does not mean

Preliminary approval means the Planning Commission found the layout consistent with the ordinance criteria in 14-2-5(E), possibly with conditions. It is not a recorded plat, it does not create lots and it does not authorize building. An agenda item is not a final approval, and a final plat still has to pass engineering, legal and mayoral sign-off and then be recorded within a month.

Timelines and fees

The ordinance sets a 15-business-day initial review for limited residential subdivisions, an 18-month life for preliminary approval and a one-month recording window after final approval. Ogden’s published “Land Use Application Fees Effective 7/1/2026” sheet lists:

ApplicationFee
Subdivision, preliminary$1,155.49 + $173.32 per lot or unit
Subdivision, final$519.97 + $11.55 per lot
Small subdivision$577.75 + $173.32 per lot or unit
Lot or parcel line adjustment$288.87

The CRT meeting is free. Confirm current amounts with the Planning Division before filing.

Related data

Frequently asked questions

Who approves a preliminary subdivision plan in Ogden?

The Planning Commission. Section 14-2-5(E) of the Ogden City Code states the Commission may approve, conditionally approve or disapprove the preliminary subdivision plan after a public meeting. Final plats are reviewed by staff, the City Engineer and the City Attorney, and accepted by the Mayor.

How long is an Ogden preliminary subdivision approval valid?

Preliminary approval is valid for 18 months, with one six-month extension available from the planning manager (Section 14-2-5(H)).

How soon must an Ogden final plat be recorded?

Section 14-2-6(J) states a final plat shall be recorded within one month after final approval, or the approval is void.

Sources

Last reviewed October 2026.