A planned unit development (PUD) is 1 or a group of specified uses, such as residential, resort, commercial, or industrial, to be planned and constructed as a unit within an Urban Growth Area.

Zoning and subdivision regulations related to lot size, building area, etc. may be varied to allow design innovations and special features in exchange for additional and/or superior site amenities or community benefits. 

PUDs are typically processed with subdivision, binding site plans or conditional use permit applications and will be processed in accordance with the underlying permit, except that for a PUD the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner will make a recommendation for approval or denial to the Whatcom County Council for final decision.