Legal Definitions - special use

Special use refers to a type of allowance in a zoning ordinance that permits certain uses of land or property that are considered essential and not fundamentally incompatible with the original zoning regulations.

For example, a city may have a zoning ordinance that only allows for residential properties in a certain area. However, if a business owner wants to open a daycare center in that area, they may be able to apply for a special use permit to operate their business in that location.

Special use permits are granted on a case-by-case basis and typically require the applicant to meet certain criteria or conditions before being approved.