Planning and zoning terms, in plain words

• Annexation

  Brings unincorporated county land into a city, so city zoning, services, and taxes apply.

• Board of adjustment

  Appointed board that decides zoning variances, appeals of staff decisions, and sometimes special exceptions.

• City council approval

  The elected council's final vote on rezonings, annexations, plan amendments, and development agreements.

• Comprehensive plan

  A city or county's long-range growth policy, with a future land use map.

• Comprehensive plan amendment

  Changes the long-range plan, most often the future land use map for one property.

• Concept plan

  An early, rough project layout a city reviews before formal applications.

• Conditional use permit

  Allows a use the zoning permits only after case-by-case review, often with conditions.

• Density bonus

  Lets a developer build more than zoning allows in exchange for a public benefit.

• Design review

  Checks a building's looks, materials, height, and landscaping against design standards.

• Development agreement

  A contract between a city or county and a developer on rules, timing, and improvements.

• Easement

  A right to use part of another owner's land, such as for a utility line.

• Entitlement

  Getting the government approvals needed to develop land, from rezonings to variances.

• Final plat

  The approved subdivision map, recorded with the county, that creates lots that can be sold.

• Impact fee

  A one-time charge on new development to help pay for roads, parks, water, or schools.

• Lot split

  Divides one lot into a few new lots through a shorter review than a subdivision.

• Master-planned community

  A large development built in phases under one plan, with homes, roads, and parks.

• Overlay district

  Extra rules layered on the base zoning in a mapped area, like downtown design standards.

• Planned unit development

  A custom zoning district for one project, with its own rules for uses and density.

• Planning commission

  Appointed board that reviews development requests and long-range plans, and advises or decides.

• Plat

  A surveyed map dividing land into lots, streets, and easements, recorded once approved.

• Preliminary plat

  The first detailed subdivision layout, showing lots, streets, and utilities before the final plat.

• Public hearing

  A meeting where anyone can speak on a proposal before the board or council decides.

• Rezoning

  Changes the zoning district on land, which changes what can be built there and how much.

• Right-of-way vacation

  A city or county gives up a street, alley, or easement it no longer needs.

• Setback

  The minimum distance a building must sit from a property line or street.

• Site plan

  A drawing of a project on its lot: buildings, parking, access, landscaping, and utilities.

• Special district

  A local government unit that funds or runs services like water and roads for one area.

• Specific plan

  Detailed rules for one area or large project, used mainly in California and the West.

• Staff report

  Planning staff's written analysis of a request, with site facts and a recommendation.

• Subdivision

  Dividing land into lots for sale or development, approved through plats.

• Tax increment financing

  Uses future property tax growth from new development to pay for improvements in that area.

• Zoning text amendment

  Changes the written rules of the zoning code rather than the zoning map.

• Zoning variance

  Lets one property depart from a zoning rule, like a setback, to avoid a hardship.

Rules vary by state, county, and city. These pages describe common practice, not legal advice.