What is a “Form A” division of land and how does it differ from a Subdivision of Land?

Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 41, Section 81L, defines a “Subdivision” of Land, as follows:

[Subdivision] shall mean the division of a tract of land into two or more lots and shall include re-subdivision, and, when appropriate to the context, shall relate to the process of subdivision or the land or territory subdivided; provided, however, that the division of a tract of land into two or more lots shall not be deemed to constitute a subdivision within the meaning of the subdivision control law if, at the time when it is made, every lot within the tract so divided has frontage on (a) a public way or way which the clerk of the city or town certifies is maintained and used as a public way, or (b) a way shown on the plan theretofore approved and endorsed in accordance with the subdivision control law, or (c) a way in existence when the subdivision control law became effective in the city or town in which the land lies, having, in the opinion of the planning board, sufficient width, suitable grades, and adequate construction to provide for the needs of vehicular traffic in relation to the proposed use of the land abutting thereon or served thereby, and for the installation of municipal services to serve such land and the buildings erected or to be erected thereon.

In layman terms, a subdivision is the division of a property (or parcel of land) into two or more lots, with each new lot satisfying the zoning requirements for frontage and lot area, as well as having sufficient access to accommodate the number of buildable lots proposed; the installation of utility services; and the level of vehicular traffic to be generated by the proposed use of the land.                                            

A Form A division of land, also known as an Approval Not Required (ANR) plan, is the division of a property into two or more lots, whereby every new lot created within the tract of land (a) has frontage on an acceptable way as specified in MGL Ch. 41, S. 81L; (b) meets the minimum frontage requirements of the zoning district; and (c) has been determined by the Planning Board to have vital access to the buildable portion of the lots.