Some see a Conditional Use Permit as a way of being able to bypass current zoning regulations. But, some municipalities require that a Conditional Use Permit be used as a way of changing the use of a specific property within allowable constraints. Regardless of the way some view it, let’s look at the precise terms in reverse order:

Permit – the means whereby an Authority Having Jurisdiction allows you to do something on a given property – this is ‘Police Power’ that the state or city has to keep the peace and protect Life, Health, Safety and Well-being

Use – The capability of doing anything to achieve a specific result

Conditional  – A dependent state – where prior requirements must be met before another event is allowed to occur.

Take these three together, we now arrive at the meaning: A police action the City or other AHJ takes, in order to preserve Life, Health, Safety or well-being while facilitating the use of a property to be that which the owner wants it to be, which requires the individuals to meet the conditions prior to their desires being carried out.