Entitlement refers to the existing or granted right to use property for specific types and quantities of land uses. It is a legal process that confirms a developer's rights to develop property in a specific way, in accordance with zoning and land-use regulations. Entitlement is an essential step in the development process, as it determines what can legally be built on a property and ensures that the proposed land uses align with local planning requirements. Building permits, development agreements, and certificates of occupancy are different stages of the construction and development process but do not provide the broad land-use rights that entitlements do.