Planned unit development
A planned unit development, or PUD, is a custom zoning district for one project, with its own rules for uses and density.
Also called PUD, planned development, or PD district.
What it tells you
A PUD usually signals a large or phased project with housing types, commercial pads, roads, and open space mapped out. It often lists homes and acres, and its phases feed plats and site plans for years.
How it moves through a city or county
- The developer submits a PUD plan, often after a concept plan.
- Staff review it and negotiate conditions.
- The planning commission holds a hearing and recommends.
- The council or county commission approves it, usually as a rezoning.
- Later phases come back as plats and site plans that must match the PUD.
Some places treat a PUD as a rezoning, others as an overlay or a special permit. Approval may come in one step or as a preliminary plan followed by a final plan.
Recent planned unit developments
From public filings in Colorado, Texas, and Utah.
| Project | Location | Developer | Type | Size | Stage | Latest meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 135-Unit Mixed-Use Development on 4.38 Acres | Louisville, CO | Live Forward Development | Homes and businesses | 135 units4.38 acres | Approved | |
| 32-Unit Single-Family Cluster Subdivision on 5.73 Acres | Brenham, TX | Chelsea Build, LLC. | Single-family | 32 homes5.73 acres | Approved | |
| 36-Unit Residential Development on 16.5 Acres | Midway, UT | Toll Southwest, LLC | Single-family | 36 homes16.5 acres | Approved |
As of How we count
Common questions
- Is a PUD the same as a homeowners association?
- No, in zoning a PUD is the approval that sets the rules for a whole project. Mortgage lenders also use "PUD" for a home in a community with shared areas run by an association, a different meaning.
- Can a PUD be changed after approval?
- Yes, a PUD can be amended after approval, and developers often ask when plans change, such as more homes or a new use. Minor changes may be approved by staff; major ones usually go back through public hearings.
Rules vary by state, county, and city. These pages describe common practice, not legal advice.
See planned unit developments near you.
Pick Planned Unit Development under Application Type on the Boardwalk map.