Sellers of commercial property may also agree to make improvements to the land, such as grading off uneven spots or clearing out unwanted trees. A professional developer may purchase huge swatches of commercial property simply to guarantee its availability for later projects.

Cities often use zoning laws to prevent conflicts between residential homeowners and businesses. Land designated as commercial property is rarely located in the middle of residential zones. City planners encourage commercial businesses to congregate along busier streets and central downtown areas. This helps to keep traffic to these sites manageable. Some areas of the city may be designated for 'mixed usage', which means some commercial property may be used for residential purposes. A quaint downtown shopping area with apartments would be an example of mixed usage.

Commercial property definitions may include industrial usage as well, although zoning laws still regulate the level of industry permitted. Heavier industries often purchase property on the fringes of cities or in unincorporated areas. Some commercial property zones in the city do allow for light industrial usage, usually smaller factories with minimal emissions and transportation needs.