Zoning & Building Code Glossary
Plain-English definitions of common zoning, land use, and building code terms. Click any term for a detailed explanation with examples.
A
B
Base Flood Elevation
The computed elevation to which floodwater is expected to rise during a 100-year flood event, as determined by FEMA, used as the baseline for floodplain construction requirements.
Building Code
A set of regulations that establish minimum standards for the design, construction, alteration, and maintenance of buildings to protect public health, safety, and welfare.
Building Envelope
The building envelope is the three-dimensional space on a lot within which a structure is allowed to be built, defined by setbacks, height limits, and other dimensional standards.
Building Permit
An official authorization issued by a local government that allows construction, renovation, or demolition of a structure after plans have been reviewed for compliance with building codes and zoning regulations.
C
CC&R
Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) are the recorded legal documents that establish the rules and obligations for properties within a subdivision or planned community, typically enforced by a homeowners association.
Certificate of Occupancy
An official document issued by the local building department confirming that a building complies with all applicable codes and regulations and is approved for occupancy or use.
Comprehensive Plan
A comprehensive plan is a long-range planning document adopted by a municipality that guides future land use, development, transportation, housing, and public services across the entire community.
Condemnation
The legal process by which a government takes private property for public use through eminent domain, or the official declaration that a building is unsafe or unfit for occupancy.
Conditional Use Permit
A conditional use permit (CUP) is an approval that allows a specific land use in a zoning district where that use is permitted only if certain conditions are met, such as limiting hours of operation or providing extra parking.
Covenant
A legally binding agreement or restriction written into a property's deed that controls how the land or buildings may be used, often imposed by a developer or previous owner.
D
Deed Restriction
A deed restriction is a private limitation written into a property's deed that controls how the property can be used or developed, separate from and in addition to government zoning rules.
Density
A measure of the intensity of land use, typically expressed as the number of dwelling units per acre or the ratio of building floor area to lot area.
Downzoning
A change in zoning classification that reduces the allowed density or intensity of development on a property, such as changing from multi-family to single-family residential.
E
Easement
An easement is a legal right allowing someone other than the property owner to use a specific portion of the property for a defined purpose, such as utility access or a shared driveway.
Eminent Domain
The power of a government to take private property for public use, provided the owner receives just compensation as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Encumbrance
Any claim, lien, easement, or restriction on a property that may affect its use, transferability, or value, without necessarily preventing ownership.
F
FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is the U.S. government agency responsible for mapping flood hazard areas, administering the National Flood Insurance Program, and coordinating disaster response and recovery.
Flood Zone
A geographic area identified by FEMA on a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that indicates the level of flood risk, which affects building requirements, insurance obligations, and development restrictions.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
Floor Area Ratio is the total building floor area divided by the lot area, controlling how much total space you can build on a given parcel.
Freeboard
An additional height requirement above the Base Flood Elevation that a community adopts to provide an extra margin of safety for buildings in flood-prone areas.
Frontage
Frontage is the length of a property's boundary that faces a public street or road, which affects building placement, access, and minimum lot requirements.
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H
I
Impact Fee
A one-time charge levied by a local government on new development to help pay for the public infrastructure and services — such as roads, schools, parks, and utilities — needed to serve that development.
Impervious Surface
An impervious surface is any hard surface that prevents rainwater from soaking into the ground, including rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, and paved patios.
Inspection
An official examination of a construction project by a local building inspector at various stages to verify that the work complies with approved plans, building codes, and zoning requirements.
L
Land Use
The way a parcel of land is utilized or occupied, such as residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural, as regulated by zoning ordinances and comprehensive plans.
Lien
A legal claim against a property that serves as security for a debt or obligation, which must typically be satisfied before the property can be sold or transferred with clear title.
Lot Coverage
Lot coverage is the percentage of a lot area that is occupied by buildings and structures, limiting how much of the ground a building footprint can cover.
M
Mixed-Use
A type of development or zoning district that combines two or more land use categories, such as residential, commercial, and office, within the same building or site.
Moratorium
A temporary halt on new development, building permits, or rezoning applications imposed by a local government, typically while new regulations or plans are being prepared.
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O
P
Permitted Use
A land use that is allowed by right in a particular zoning district without the need for special approval, public hearing, or discretionary review.
Planned Unit Development
A type of development approval that allows a developer to design a project as a unified whole with flexible zoning standards, often mixing housing types, commercial uses, and open space in a single plan.
Plat
A scaled map or drawing of a subdivision or land parcel that shows lot boundaries, dimensions, easements, streets, and other features, recorded as a legal document with the county.
R
Rezoning
Rezoning is the legislative process of changing a property's zoning district designation, altering what uses are permitted and what development standards apply.
Right-of-Way
A right-of-way is a strip of land reserved for public use, typically for roads, sidewalks, and utilities, that may technically be part of a private lot but is controlled by the government.
S
Setback
A setback is the minimum required distance between a building and a property line, street, or other reference point, ensuring space between structures.
Site Plan
A scaled drawing that shows the layout of a property, including building placement, setbacks, parking, landscaping, and other site features, submitted as part of a development or building permit application.
Special Exception
A land use that is permitted in a zoning district only after review and approval by the zoning board or hearing body, based on specific criteria established in the zoning ordinance.
Spot Zoning
The rezoning of a single parcel or small area to a classification that is inconsistent with the surrounding zoning and the community's comprehensive plan, often considered legally suspect.
Stormwater
Rainwater or snowmelt that runs off roofs, driveways, parking lots, and other surfaces rather than soaking into the ground, which local governments regulate to prevent flooding and water pollution.
Subdivision
The division of a single parcel of land into two or more lots, typically for the purpose of sale or development, subject to local regulations governing lot design, infrastructure, and public improvements.
Survey
A precise measurement and mapping of a property's boundaries, dimensions, and physical features, performed by a licensed surveyor and used to establish legal property lines.
T
Title Search
An examination of public records to verify a property's legal ownership and identify any liens, encumbrances, easements, or other claims that may affect the title.
Transfer of Development Rights
A zoning tool that allows property owners in designated preservation areas to sell their unused development rights to owners in designated growth areas, effectively shifting density from one location to another.
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V
Z
Zoning Board
A local government body, often called the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), that hears and decides requests for variances, special exceptions, and appeals of zoning decisions made by administrative officials.
Zoning District
A zoning district is a defined area within a municipality where specific land use rules apply, such as residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed-use designations.