In real estate and land use planning, a planned unit development, often abbreviated as PUD, is a type of planned development that is not subject to conventional zoning standards. It is a planning and zoning concept designed to allow flexibility in land use and site design.
A planned unit development permits features such as clustered residences, mixed uses, or variations from standard zoning requirements in order to achieve more efficient land use or enhanced design. In exchange for this flexibility, the project is typically reviewed as a whole and must meet specific approval criteria established by the local governing authority.
