Answer-ready definitions
California land glossary
Plain-English definitions of the zoning, flood, fire, soils, and parcel terms that show up in California due diligence — written for search and answer engines, and linked back to official sources.
Updated 2026-08-29 · 109 terms
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- Accessory Dwelling Unit Accessory Dwelling Unit is an independent residential unit located on the same legal parcel as a proposed or e…
- Agricultural Zoning Agricultural Zoning is a local district intended to preserve farming, grazing, and related uses while limiting…
- ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey is a detailed survey prepared to national minimum standards for land-title transac…
- Annexation Annexation moves land into a city or district. Pre-annexation zoning and post-annexation services can change d…
- As-Built Survey An as-built survey documents constructed conditions. It helps resolve boundary, setback, and improvement quest…
- Assessor Map Assessor maps show tax parcels for assessment. They are widely used for APN lookup but are not always identica…
- Assessor's Parcel Number Assessor's Parcel Number is a county-assigned identifier used to locate and assess property for taxation. An A…
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- Base Flood Elevation Base Flood Elevation is the computed water-surface elevation of the flood with a 1% chance of being equaled or…
- Buildable Area Buildable area is the portion of a lot remaining after setbacks, easements, hazards, and resource buffers. It …
- Building Envelope Building Envelope is the portion of a parcel where construction could fit after applying setbacks, easements, …
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- CEQA CEQA is California’s environmental review law for many public agency approvals. Parcel screening can flag mapp…
- Certificate of Compliance A certificate of compliance is a local determination that a parcel was created lawfully. Unclear creation hist…
- Change in Ownership California property-tax rules treat many transfers as changes in ownership that can trigger reassessment. Conf…
- Coastal Zone California’s Coastal Zone is the mapped area where the Coastal Act and local coastal programs can add permit a…
- Conditional Use Permit A CUP allows a use that is not by-right in the zone if findings and conditions are met. GIS can show the zone;…
- Contour Lines Contour lines connect equal elevations on a topographic map. Closer lines mean steeper ground. Contours are a …
- Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions are recorded private rules that can limit land use, design, constructi…
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- Earthquake Fault Zone Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones are mapped corridors where surface fault rupture hazard triggers special…
- Easement Easement is a nonpossessory legal right to use another person's land for a defined purpose, such as access, ut…
- Elevation Certificate Elevation Certificate is FEMA's standardized form for documenting a building's elevations, flood-zone informat…
- Encroachment Permit An encroachment permit allows work in a public right-of-way—driveway aprons, utilities, or sidewalks. Legal ac…
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- FEMA Flood Zones FEMA Flood Zones classify mapped flood risk for insurance and floodplain-management purposes. In California, t…
- FEMA Zone A FEMA Zone A is a 1%-annual-chance Special Flood Hazard Area where detailed base flood elevations have not been…
- FEMA Zone AE FEMA Zone AE is a Special Flood Hazard Area with a 1% annual chance of flooding and published base flood eleva…
- FEMA Zone AO FEMA Zone AO is a Special Flood Hazard Area subject to shallow flooding, usually sheet flow, with average dept…
- FEMA Zone VE FEMA Zone VE is a coastal Special Flood Hazard Area exposed to high-velocity wave action during the base flood…
- FEMA Zone X FEMA Zone X generally identifies land outside the 1%-annual-chance Special Flood Hazard Area. Shaded Zone X ca…
- FHSZ Abbreviation FHSZ means Fire Hazard Severity Zone—California’s mapped wildfire hazard classification used for building and …
- Fire Hazard Severity Zone Fire Hazard Severity Zone is a California classification of wildfire hazard based on factors such as fuels, te…
- Flag Lot A flag lot has a narrow access strip (the “pole”) leading to a wider body. Access width, utilities, and fire d…
- Floodplain Floodplain is land adjacent to or influenced by a watercourse or other flood source that can be inundated. In …
- Floodway A floodway is the channel of a river plus adjacent areas that must be kept free of encroachment to convey the …
- Floor Area Ratio Floor Area Ratio is the ratio of counted building floor area to lot area. California local codes define which …
- FMMP Farmland Mapping California’s Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program classifies agricultural land quality. It informs planning…
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- General Plan General Plan is a California city or county's long-range policy document for land use, circulation, housing, s…
- Geotechnical Report A geotechnical report evaluates soils and foundation conditions for design. SSURGO and landslide maps are scre…
- Grading Permit A grading permit authorizes cut/fill work under local code. Steep parcels often need grading before building p…
- Groundwater Protection Area Some California areas map groundwater protection or recharge zones that can affect septic, wells, and certain …
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- HCD (Housing & Community Development) California HCD oversees many statewide housing laws and technical standards that can affect local zoning, ADUs…
- HOA / Common Interest A homeowners association or common-interest development can add CC&Rs, design review, and assessments beyond z…
- Home Hardening Home hardening means building and retrofit measures that make structures more ignition-resistant—materials, ve…
- Housing Element The housing element is the required general-plan chapter that plans for housing need. It influences zoning cap…
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- LAFCO Local Agency Formation Commissions oversee city/district boundaries, annexations, and spheres of influence in …
- Land Conservation Contract A Williamson Act land conservation contract restricts land to agricultural or open-space uses in exchange for …
- Landslide Landslide is the downslope movement of soil, rock, or debris under gravity. California landslide susceptibilit…
- Legal Access Legal Access is an enforceable right for a parcel to reach a public road, usually through frontage, an easemen…
- Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) A LOMR officially revises an effective FEMA flood map based on new study or fill. Always check Letters of Map …
- Liquefaction Liquefaction is the earthquake-induced loss of strength in loose, saturated granular soil. California Seismic …
- Local Coastal Program A Local Coastal Program (LCP) is the certified local plan and ordinances that implement Coastal Act policies i…
- Local Responsibility Area (LRA) LRA is land where local government has primary wildfire protection responsibility. Very High FHSZ mapping also…
- Lot Coverage Lot Coverage is the portion of a lot occupied by buildings or other covered features as defined by the local z…
- Lot Line Adjustment Lot Line Adjustment is a California local approval that relocates boundaries among adjoining parcels without c…
- Lot Split Lot Split is the legal division of one parcel into two or more parcels through an applicable California subdiv…
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- Mello-Roos / CFD Mello-Roos community facilities districts can add special taxes for infrastructure. Check tax bills and title—…
- Metes and Bounds Metes-and-bounds descriptions define parcels by distances and bearings. Mapped GIS polygons approximate—not re…
- Mine Hazard / ARMR Former mines and mapped mineral lands can leave shafts, adits, or contamination risk. Screen historic mining m…
- Minimum Lot Size Minimum lot size is the smallest parcel area a zone typically allows for new lots or certain uses. It affects …
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- Panhandle Lot A panhandle lot is another name for a flag-shaped lot with a slender access stem. Confirm recorded access and …
- Parcel Parcel is a defined area of land represented in deeds, recorded maps, assessment records, or GIS systems. In C…
- Parcel Map Parcel Map is a recorded California subdivision map generally used for subdivisions of four or fewer parcels, …
- Parcel Merger A merger combines contiguous parcels under local procedures. It can change setbacks and development potential.
- Parcel Split “Parcel split” is informal language for dividing land—often a lot split, parcel map, or subdivision map under …
- Percent Slope Percent slope equals rise over run × 100. A 100% slope is a 45° angle. Local codes often set cut/fill and driv…
- Percolation Test A percolation (perc) test measures how quickly soil absorbs water and is commonly required for septic suitabil…
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment A Phase I ESA is a professional review of contamination risk history. Parcel View hazard layers are not a Phas…
- Planned Unit Development Planned Unit Development is a coordinated development approved under a local plan or permit that may customize…
- Preliminary Title Report A preliminary title report lists recorded exceptions—easements, liens, CC&Rs, and exceptions to coverage. It i…
- Prescriptive Easement A prescriptive easement can arise from long, open, adverse use. It is a title/legal issue—not something a parc…
- Prime Farmland Prime Farmland is an FMMP class describing soils with the best combination of physical and chemical features f…
- Proposition 13 Basis Proposition 13 limits assessed-value growth until change in ownership or new construction. Purchase price ofte…
- Public Right-of-Way Public Right-of-Way is land or an easement dedicated or acquired for public travel, utilities, drainage, or re…
- Public Trust Doctrine California’s public trust doctrine can affect tidelands, navigable waters, and certain shoreline uses. Coastal…
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- Residential Density Residential density is usually expressed as units per acre or as a lot-size equivalent. Mapped general-plan de…
- Riparian Corridor Riparian corridors are streamside areas that may be protected by setbacks, buffers, or resource ordinances bey…
- Road Maintenance Agreement Private roads often rely on recorded road maintenance agreements among owners. Access that looks clear on a ma…
- Rural Residential Rural Residential is a local land-use or zoning designation generally intended for low-density homes on larger…
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- Seismic Hazard Zone California seismic hazard zones can identify areas of liquefaction or landslide susceptibility requiring geolo…
- Septic System Septic System is an onsite wastewater treatment system that treats and disperses sewage where a public sewer c…
- Setback Setback is the required minimum distance between a building, structure, or use and a property line, road, wate…
- SFHA Abbreviation SFHA means Special Flood Hazard Area—the land subject to inundation by the 1%-annual-chance flood as mapped by…
- SGMA SGMA is California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. It can affect water availability and land-use exp…
- Site Plan A site plan shows proposed buildings, access, grading, and utilities on a parcel. Screening GIS informs the si…
- Slope Slope is the steepness of ground, often expressed as percent grade. High slope can affect grading, access, fir…
- Special Flood Hazard Area Special Flood Hazard Area is FEMA's mapped area with at least a 1% annual chance of flooding, commonly shown a…
- Specific Plan A specific plan is a detailed local plan that can override or refine base zoning inside a mapped area. Always …
- Sphere of Influence A sphere of influence is a LAFCO-adopted boundary of probable future city or district service. It affects anne…
- SSURGO SSURGO is the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service's detailed digital soil survey database for many are…
- State Responsibility Area (SRA) SRA is land where the state has primary financial responsibility for wildfire protection. SRA status interacts…
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- Tax Rate Area A tax rate area identifies the mix of taxing agencies for a parcel. It affects property tax but not zoning by …
- Tidelands Tidelands are lands between certain tidal elevations and may involve public trust or state ownership issues on…
- Topography Topography describes landform—hills, valleys, ridgelines, and drainages. It drives drainage, views, access, an…
- Tsunami Hazard Area Mapped tsunami hazard areas identify coastal inundation risk from distant or local sources. Rules and disclosu…
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- Water Well A private well is a groundwater source serving a parcel. Yield, quality, and setbacks from septic systems are …
- Wetlands Wetlands are areas with hydrology, soils, and vegetation characteristics that may bring them under federal, Ca…
- Wildland-Urban Interface Wildland-Urban Interface is the area where buildings meet or intermingle with wildland vegetation and wildfire…
- Will-Serve Letter A will-serve letter indicates a utility’s willingness to provide service, subject to capacity and conditions. …
- Williamson Act Williamson Act is California's program allowing local governments to contract with landowners to restrict land…
- WUI Abbreviation WUI means Wildland-Urban Interface—areas where structures and wildland fuels intermix or interface, often with…
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