Subdivision is a familiar, but perhaps not fully understood term, commonly used to denote land development. When used in that context, it denotes a parcel of land divided into five or more lots, for either commercial or residential development. Included in the subdivision are streets, or access roads, and all utilities.

The private sector is the usual developer of subdivisions. However, in recent years the City of Cincinnati has assisted in infrastructure costs, for select types of developments, in an effort to encourage private housing. Assistance is typically through the Departments of Economic Development and Neighborhood Services.

The City has had a long-standing policy of encouraging residential housing and commercial development. In consideration of construction of a subdivision, complete with streets and utilities constructed to City standards, the City will accept the streets as 'Public' i.e. part of the City maintenance responsibility.

Since 1950, there has been extensive development within the city limits, greatly expanding the amount of housing, and the number of streets. In the last half-century, there have been over 500 subdivisions built within the City of Cincinnati With an average of two streets per subdivision, over a thousand streets have been added to the street-grid.

During the 1950's & 60's, it was common for twenty or more subdivisions a year to be constructed. The 1990's rate of development has shrunk to an average of five per year. All of the easily developable land within the city limits is gone; only marginally buildable land, mostly on hillsides, remains. Therefore, developers have had to become more creative in their efforts, in order to build on land ignored in the past.

The subdivision review & approval process involves Community Development and Planning, the Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering, Cincinnati Water Works, and Metropolitan Sewer District. Typically, the review & approval process can take three months, or longer, depending on numerous variables.

There is a well-defined submission, review and approval process, starting with consultation with a City Planner. The Department of Transportation and Engineering has a manual available, at nominal cost, detailing the process, from concept plan to acceptance of the streets as public. This manual can be purchased at the Right-of-Way Management Section Permit Counter, Room 420.