Entitlements
Entitlements are the government approvals — zoning confirmation, permits, variances, subdivision maps — that give a landowner legal permission to develop or use a parcel in a specific way before construction can begin.
The process typically runs through pre-application review, environmental review (CEQA in California), public hearings, and final map approval, and can take anywhere from months to several years depending on jurisdiction and project scope.
CEQA review is often the single biggest driver of entitlement timelines and cost across Northern California counties, and requirements differ significantly between an infill lot inside city limits and rural acreage under county jurisdiction.
Land with entitlements already secured is worth substantially more than raw, unentitled land, but many owners of undeveloped parcels don't want to fund or wait out that process themselves. Selling as-is lets a developer take on that risk and timeline instead.
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