conditional use permit

conditional use permit (CUP)

(pronounced “cup”) A permit granted to a property owner to make use of real property in a manner allowed under current zoning regulations, but only in accordance with conditions to be applied by the zoning authority. Houses of worship may be allowed in areas zoned for residential use,but the applicant may be required to obtain a conditional use permit that can be predicated on size, off-street parking availability, indirect nighttime lighting, and other such factors determined on a case-by-case basis. Contrast with variance, in which the property owner is given permission to use the property in a manner inconsistent with current zoning regulations.