Zoning & entitlements
Specific plan
A statutory master plan for a defined area (Gov. Code §§ 65450–65457) detailing uses, standards, and infrastructure — and able to pre-clear CEQA.
Definition
A specific plan implements the general plan for a defined district under Government Code §§ 65450–65457, fixing land use distribution, development standards, infrastructure sizing and financing in one adopted document. Zoning, subdivisions and public works inside the area must be consistent with it.
Section 65457 is the payoff for housing: a residential project consistent with a specific plan for which an EIR was certified is exempt from further CEQA review, unless a statutory trigger requires supplemental analysis.
Why it matters in an underwrite
In a specific-plan area, much of the entitlement is pre-bought: standards tend to be objective, infrastructure is programmed, and the § 65457 exemption can delete a year or more of CEQA schedule plus six-figure study budgets. Diligence the plan's remaining unit capacity, the age and mitigation load of its EIR, and any plan-specific impact fees before assuming the fast lane is open.
Sources & related guides
See also
See the term in the law itself
Read the controlling text in the Code Library, or ask the AI how it applies to your project.
Last reviewed 2026-07-29. General information, not legal advice.