You can create new parcels by splitting existing parcels in the parcel fabric. There are various different ways of splitting parcels in a record-driven workflow and they are dependent on the information given on the legal record.
The different workflows for splitting parcels are as follows:
- Use construction lines and parcel seeds.
- Use the traverse tool and a metes and bounds description.
- Use the Divide tool and an area description.
- Interactively use split lines or existing features.
Interactively split parcels using split lines or existing features
You can use the Split tool 
to interactively split parcels using a split line or an existing feature. When using a split line, you can either digitize a line or create a two-point line with a COGO direction (dynamic constraints). When a parcel is interactively split in a record-driven workflow, the original parcel is saved as historic and COGO dimensions on parcel lines are updated.
Parcels are split in a record-driven workflow when an active record exists in the map.
Interactively split a parcel using a split line
To interactively split a parcel using a split line, follow these steps:
- Create a parcel record for the split.
When you create a record, it is automatically set as active in the map. If the record already exists, search for it and set it as active in the map.
- Select the parcels to split and click Split in the Tools gallery on the Records tab.
The Split tool is located under Divide in the Tools gallery.
- To specify a COGO direction for the split line, ensure that Dynamic Constraints is turned on in the map.
- Draw or digitize a line that splits the selected parcels. If using dynamic constraints, provide a COGO direction for the line.
The Line tool is active by default.
- Click Finish
or press F2 to finish drawing the line and split the parcel.
Interactively split a parcel using a feature
You can use the Split tool to split a parcel using an existing feature as a split line. For example, a river line that crosses over a parcel can be used to split the parcel. Another example is an easement line that crosses over a parcel can be used to split the parcel.
When splitting parcels with existing features, choose By Feature in the tool pane. Select the line feature to use as the split line for Input Features and select the parcels to split for Target Features.
Updated data
When parcels are split by a split line or existing feature, parcel attribute data is updated as follows:
- The new split parcels are associated with the active record, which is the parcel record that created them.
The Created By Record field of the new parcels is populated with the Global ID of the active parcel record.
- The original parcels that were split become historic.
The Retired By Record field of the original parcels is populated with the Global ID of the active record, which is the record that created the split parcels.
- If the original parcels have Stated Area values, the Stated Area values of the new split parcels are updated to reflect the split areas.
- If the original parcel lines have COGO attributes, the lines of the new split parcels have updated COGO distances. The COGO distance values are updated to reflect the distances of the split lines.
- The COGO attributes of parcel lines between the new split parcels are null.
Parcel features are updated as follows:
- Original parcel lines that are no longer used by other adjacent parcels are retired as historic.
- New split lines are created for the new split parcel.
- Boundaries that were not altered by the split remain unchanged and associated with the original record that created them.
