How do I check if lot numbers have changed due to re-subdivision or re-recording since the original plat? – North Carolina

Short Answer

In North Carolina, changes to lot numbers normally show up on later subdivision or recombination plats recorded in the county Register of Deeds, often alongside updated parcel numbers in the county tax/GIS system. To see if a lot’s designation has changed, start with the legal description in the most recent deed, pull every referenced plat, and then search the plat books and GIS for any later re-plats, recombinations, or vacations affecting that same land. If the subdivision is in a registered (Torrens) tract, the register of deeds can also issue new certificates of title for subdivided lots. When in doubt, a North Carolina real estate attorney or land surveyor can help reconcile conflicting lot numbers.

Understanding the Problem

The question here is narrow: under North Carolina real estate law, how can someone determine whether the lot number on an original recorded plat has changed because of a later re-subdivision, recombination, or re-recording of that plat. This comes up when a deed describes “Lot 10, Block B” by reference to an old subdivision map, but the county’s current records and tax bills appear to show a different lot number, a different block, or even a different subdivision name. The core concern is how to track the official, current lot designation that controls in the chain of title and in land use records, using the Register of Deeds, plat books, and local subdivision review process in North Carolina.

Apply the Law

Under North Carolina law, subdivision plats and any later amendments or re-subdivisions must be properly prepared, approved (if subject to local subdivision regulations), and recorded in the Register of Deeds to be effective. Once recorded, deeds can legally describe land either by metes and bounds or by reference to those plats, and lot changes typically occur through new or amended plats rather than by deed alone. In counties using the land registration (Torrens) system, registered estates can be subdivided by application and issuance of new certificates of title describing each new lot with reference to a plat.

Key Requirements

Recorded plat control: A current, properly recorded subdivision or recombination plat in the Register of Deeds is the controlling reference for lot layout, numbering, and boundaries.
Local approval before recording: Where a county or city has subdivision regulations, any new or amended plat that creates or alters lots usually must be approved by the local government (or its review officer) before it can be recorded.
Chain of title consistency: Deeds and, in Torrens tracts, certificates of title must be updated to refer to the revised plat or new lot numbers for the change to be reflected in the ownership chain.

What the Statutes Say

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47-30 (Plats and subdivisions) – Sets statewide requirements for how plats must be prepared, certified, and recorded, including subdivision mapping standards.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47-30.1 (Alternative plat recording in some counties) – Provides an alternative method of plat recording in certain counties where the main plat statute does not apply.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-803 (Review and recording of subdivision plats) – Requires local governments with subdivision regulations to review and approve plats before they are recorded.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 43-34 (Subdivision of registered estate) – Allows subdivision of land under the Torrens system and issuance of new certificates of title for each new lot shown on a plat.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: With no specific facts given, consider a common situation: an original 1970s plat shows “Lot 12” in a subdivision, but later the owner recombined Lot 12 with part of Lot 13 and a new plat was recorded showing “Lot 12R.” Under the rules above, the most recent recorded plat controls, so the current legal description should now refer to “Lot 12R” by that later plat reference. In another variation, a city-approved minor re-subdivision might renumber several lots; even if older deeds still reference the original numbers, the current plat, once properly recorded, reflects the official lot configuration and numbering for future conveyances.

Process & Timing

Who files: Typically the landowner or developer (through a surveyor). Where: The county Register of Deeds in the North Carolina county where the land lies. What: Subdivision, recombination, or re-subdivision plat that meets the technical requirements of § 47-30, along with any local approval certificates required under § 160D-803. When: Before lot changes can be relied on in deeds or development approvals.
Once the new or amended plat is approved and recorded, the Register of Deeds indexes it by subdivision name, grantor/grantee, and plat book/page. County tax and GIS staff then typically update parcel identifiers and may cross-reference old and new lot numbers over the next few weeks or months.
Going forward, deeds conveying the affected land should describe it by reference to the new plat and lot number (and, in Torrens counties, new certificates of title may be issued under § 43-34), creating a clear record of the current lot designation.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

Some counties or municipalities exempt very small boundary shifts or recombinations from full subdivision review; in those cases, the plat may still need signatures from a review officer even if no planning board hearing occurs.
A common mistake is to assume the tax office’s parcel number or GIS label alone changes the legal lot number; the controlling change must appear on a recorded plat and, ideally, in the deed’s legal description.
Older plats may have been recorded in different formats or books, and some were validated by statute even if not recorded under current standards, so a thorough search of plat books, index entries, and cross-references is important.

Conclusion

Under North Carolina law, lot numbers change through recorded subdivision, recombination, or re-subdivision plats that have been properly approved and filed with the county Register of Deeds, and any subdivision of registered land can also trigger new Torrens certificates of title. To confirm whether an original lot number has changed, the key step is to trace the legal description through the most recent deeds, pull every referenced plat, and then check for later recorded plats affecting the same land, using plat indexes and local GIS as cross-checks.

Talk to a Real Estate Attorney

If there is confusion over whether a North Carolina lot has been renumbered, recombined, or re-subdivided, our firm has experienced real estate attorneys who can help untangle the plats, deeds, and local approvals. Call us today at (919) 341-7055.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.