In the various jurisdictions I’ve worked, I have seen several “norms” when it comes to subdivisions.
In west TN, a surveyor would have to submit a preliminary plat for engineering / zoning / counsel review. If everyone accepted the preliminary, the surveyor would submit the FINAL PLAT for signature and recording, all before the ground was broken for the first improvement. The recorded final plat, with restrictions & covenants, were always the legally binding documents, even before construction. If there were significant differences between what was already recorded and what was built, the surveyor had to amend/revise his final plat.
In most parts of MS, the final plat is authorized only AFTER the infrastructure has been installed and inspected, with the exception of the final lift of asphalt. In all of the projects I’ve been involved with, the developer must provide a security bond to cover the cost of repairs and the final lift of asphalt before he/she is granted the exception.Â
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