Merge parcels

You can create new parcels by merging existing parcels in the parcel fabric. Adjacent parcels can be merged to create a single parcel, and disjoint parcels can be merged to create multipart parcels.

Parcels are merged in a record-driven workflow when an active record exists in the map. When parcels are merged, parcel attribute data is updated as follows:

  • The merged parcel is associated with the active record, which is the parcel record that created it.

    The Created By Record field of the new parcel is populated with the GlobalID of the active parcel record.

  • The original parcels that were merged become historic.

    The Retired By Record field of the original parcels is populated with the GlobalID of the active record, which is the record that created the merged parcel.

  • If the parcels being merged have Stated Area values, the Stated Area value of the merged parcel is populated with the sum of these stated areas.

Parcel features are updated as follows:

  • Parcel lines that are no longer used by other adjacent parcels are retired as historic. These are often boundary lines between adjacent parcels being merged.
  • Parcel lines that partially define the parcels being merged and are in use by other adjacent parcels are retired as historic. New split boundaries are created for the merged parcels.
  • Shared boundaries that were not altered by the merge remain unchanged and associated with the original record that created them.
  • If parcels from different parcel types are merged, the original parcel features remain current and unchanged. The merged parcel is added to the parcel type layer chosen in the Merge pane.

Merge parcels
Shared boundary lines are updated when merging parcels 2 and 3.

Merge collinear parcel lines

After merging parcels, you may want to merge collinear parcel lines into single lines. Parcel lines can be merged into a single line if they are collinear and have the same COGO directions in the Direction field.

When parcel lines are merged in a record-driven workflow (there is an active record in the map), data is updated as follows:

  • The COGO Distance field of the merged line is populated with the sum of the COGO distances of the original lines. The COGO Type field is set to Computed.
  • The original lines are retired as historic.
  • The points between the merged lines are retired as historic if there are no current lines connected to them.

Merge parcels in a record-driven workflow

To merge parcels in a record-driven workflow, the general steps are as follows:

  1. Create the parcel record and set it as active in the map.
  2. Select the parcels you want to merge and click Merge Merge in the Tools gallery on the Parcels ribbon.
  3. Merge the parcels to create a new feature.
  4. Add attributes to the new parcel.
  5. Merge collinear parcel lines if necessary.

    Tip:
    You can also use the Copy Lines To tool to construct a new parcel from existing parcels. Select the parcels and click the Copy Lines To tool Copy Lines To to copy the boundary lines to the active record for construction. Add or modify boundaries to construct the merged parcel. Create a seed and build the parcels.

Merge into an existing feature

In a record-driven workflow, parcels are merged to create a new feature. The original parcels are saved as historic.

Merge parcels into an existing feature when you want new parcels to be created and assigned to the active record without saving the original parcels as historic. For example, merge parcels into a single subdivision parcel; then change the parcel type of the merged parcel to the subdivision parcel type.

Merge parcels outside of a record

In the parcel fabric, parcels can be merged with or without an active record in the map. If you're merging parcels without an active record, parcel history is not tracked and parcels are not associated with the records that created or retired them. Merge parcel features outside of a record when you are doing data cleanup and data-quality related edits on your parcel fabric. In these cases, turn off the active record, and merge parcels and parcel features into existing features.

Learn more about the Merge tool