Concepts Definitions

• Planning Commission: This is a local government agency or department, required by California law for every city and county, responsible for monitoring, maintaining, and supervising community development. It is typically composed of local residents and design professionals, usually in odd numbers (e.g., 5, 7, or 9 members).
• Zoning: This refers to the primary method used by cities and counties to regulate, manage, and control land use, by dividing areas into designations such as residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, or mixed-use. Zoning is considered an exercise of police power.
• General Plan / Master Plan: A long-term, comprehensive plan that outlines a community’s goals for development and dictates public policy regarding land use, recreation, utilities, transportation, and real estate construction. Planning commissions are responsible for creating and supervising these plans.
• Police Power: The government’s inherent authority to enact and enforce laws to safeguard public health, order, safety, and general welfare. In real estate, this power encompasses control over zoning, building codes, rent, and taxation of properties.

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