property

planned unit development

A planned unit development (PUD) is a community designed as a single project that often mixes housing types, open space, and sometimes commercial uses, with more flexible density and setback rules than standard zoning allows. Owners typically hold fee title to their individual lot and home, while common areas such as parks, pools, and roads are owned by a homeowners association that charges dues and enforces covenants.

Exam tip
Contrast with a condominium: in a PUD the owner owns the land under the home; in a condo the owner holds title to a unit plus an undivided share of the common elements.
Example
A buyer purchases a townhouse and the lot beneath it in a PUD, and pays monthly HOA dues for the shared clubhouse and walking trails.

Related terms & state variants

Sources

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Last verified: 2026-10-23