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This paper describes privatization of land use regulation in Irvine, California as a descendant of the technique of using private companies to undertake the government function of colonization. It argues that privatization of land use decision-making originated far earlier than the 20th century, and asserts that The Irvine Company is able to exercise tremendous control over the city of Irvine in large part because of the strong foundation of private ownership established under the Spanish colonial regime.