A Business improvement district (BID) is very similar to a residential community association. These are associations of property owners, usually mandatory and forced through legislation, which have what is sometimes referred to as a private government. BIDs typically provide services such as street and sidewalk cleaning and repair, auxiliary police, parking, beautification, lighting, and various development projects. BIDs are commonly funded through taxation.

There are 53 BIDs in New York State.

See also: off-budget enterprise, political science, residential community association