What term describes the process when a subdivider turns over the streets in a subdivision to the local town?

The correct term for the process in which a subdivider turns over the streets in a subdivision to the local town is "dedication." In the context of real estate and land development, dedication refers specifically to the act of an owner formally giving up their rights to a piece of property for public use. This is commonly seen in subdivisions where the developer will dedicate streets, sidewalks, and other common areas to the local municipality, allowing for public use and maintenance by the town.

Dedication can occur in various forms, usually either through express dedication, where the subdivision plat shows the intended public use, or implied dedication, which happens through actions that suggest the land is meant for public use. This process is crucial for ensuring that the infrastructure in new developments is maintained properly and that access is granted to the general public.

While transfer, assignment, and complete cession could imply some sort of change in ownership or rights, they lack the specific legal meaning and context associated with dedicating land for public use. Thus, dedication is the term that precisely encompasses the intended action of relinquishing control over land to a public entity.