For the purpose of this Ordinance, certain terms are defined as indicated in this section. These definitions and all other provisions of this Ordinance are subject to the following rules of interpretation:

A. The present tense includes the past and future tenses and the future tense includes the present, unless stated otherwise.

B. The singular number includes the plural number and vice-versa.

C. The word "shall" is mandatory.

D. The word "building As defined in the North Carolina Building Code, as amended, or the North Carolina Residential Code for One and Two-Family Dwellings, as amended, as applicable." includes the word "structure A walled or roofed constructed object that is principally above ground; vertical projections meeting the definition of antenna-supporting or wireless support structures; or, when used in reference to Sec. 8.4, Floodplain and Flood Damage Protection Standards, a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground. Included in this definition are extensions or additions which are covered by a roof supported by walls or columns, such as but not limited to porte cocheres, carports, covered or screened porches, and breezeways.."

E. Any term not herein defined shall be as defined elsewhere in the County or City Code or, if not defined elsewhere in the County or City Code, as defined in Webster's New International Dictionary, most recent edition, unless the result does not effectuate the intent of the governing bodies, leads to absurd or illogical results, or is inconsistent with the surrounding textual context.

F. The time within which any act required by this Ordinance is to be performed shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day, unless the last day is a Saturday or Sunday or a holiday declared by the United States Congress or the State of North Carolina, in which event it shall also be excluded.

G. The word "person Any individual, partnership, firm, association, joint venture, public or private corporation, trust, estate, commission, board, public or private institution, utility, cooperative, interstate body, or other legal entity." or “applicant” includes individuals, firms, partnerships, joint ventures, trusts, trustees, estates, corporations, associations and any other similar entities.

H. In case of any difference of meaning or implication between the text of this Code and any caption, illustration or table, the text shall control.

BFE: Base Flood The flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year based on current conditions hydrology. Elevation

BMP: Best Management Practices

BOA: Board of Adjustment

CC: Commercial Center

CD: Compact Design

CD-C: Compact Design – Core

CD-P: Compact Design – Pedestrian Business

CD-S1: Compact Design – Support 1

CD-S2: Compact Design – Support 2

CG: General Commercial

CI: Commercial Infill

CLOMR: Conditional Letter of Map Revision

CN: Neighborhood Commercial

CSD: Compact Suburban Design

CSD-C: Compact Suburban Design-Core

CSD-S1: Compact Suburban Design-Support 1

CSD-S2: Compact Suburban Design-Support 2

dbh: Diameter at breast height

DD: Downtown Design

DD-C: Downtown Design – Core

DD-S1: Downtown Design – Support 1

DD-S2: Downtown Design – Support 2

DENR: North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources

DEQ: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

DOST: Durham Open Space Areas of a development that allow for light, air, wildlife habitat, and for scenic and recreational use. Also included are areas designed to enhance the privacy or general appearance of a development. Private open space is open space that is owned by a corporation, individual, or house owners association. Public open space is open space owned by a governmental jurisdiction. and Trails Commission

DWR or Division: North Carolina Division of Water Resources

FAR: Floor Area Area of enclosed (i.e. roofed and walled) built space, excluding any unfinished area used exclusively for storage or mechanical elements. Ratio

Fc: Foot-candles

FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency A sales or service establishment dealing in services or intangible commodities, or commodities not on site, such as a broker's office, travel agency, temporary employee agency, etc.

FIRM: Flood Insurance The insurance coverage provided under the National Flood Insurance Program. Rate Map

FIS: Flood Insurance The insurance coverage provided under the National Flood Insurance Program. Study

GIS: Geographic Information System

(-H): Historic District Overlay

HAG: Highest Adjacent Property abutting directly on the boundary of, touching, or sharing a common point. Grade A land disturbing activity that modifies the contours of the land.

HPC: Historic Preservation Commission

HQW: High Quality Water Those classified as such in Title 15A NCAC 2B.0101(e)(5) general procedures, which is incorporated herein by reference to include further amendments pursuant to NCGS § 150b-14(c).

I: Industrial

IL: Light Industrial

IP: Industrial Park

JCCPC: Joint City-County Planning Committee

L: Permitted Subject to Limitations

LAG: Lowest Adjacent Property abutting directly on the boundary of, touching, or sharing a common point. Grade A land disturbing activity that modifies the contours of the land.

Ldn: Day-night average sound level The average noise level over a 24-hour period, weighted by 10 dB between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

LOMR: Letter of Map Revision

m or M: Minor or Major Special Use The purpose for which a building, structure, or area of land may be arranged or occupied or the activity conducted or proposed in a building, structure, or on an area of land. Permit, respectively

MU: Mixed Use The purpose for which a building, structure, or area of land may be arranged or occupied or the activity conducted or proposed in a building, structure, or on an area of land.

MUTCD: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

NCDOT: North Carolina Department of Transportation

NCGS: North Carolina General Statute

NRCS: Natural Resource Conservation Service

NFIP: National Flood Insurance The insurance coverage provided under the National Flood Insurance Program. Program

NGVD: National Geodetic Vertical Datum

OI: Office A room, group of rooms, or building whose primary use is the conduct of a business, professional service, or governmental activity of a non-retail nature; including administration, record keeping, clerical work, and similar functions. This definition is not meant to include manufacturing, processing, repair, or storage of materials or products. Institutional

P: Permitted Use The purpose for which a building, structure, or area of land may be arranged or occupied or the activity conducted or proposed in a building, structure, or on an area of land.

PDR: Planned Density The number of dwelling units per gross acre, excluding accessory residences or dwelling units, or any other exclusion within this Ordinance. Residential

RC: Residential Compact

ROW: Right-of-way A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a street, trail, rail corridor, or public utility.

RR: Residential Rural

RS: Residential Suburban

RU: Residential Urban

SARA: Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act

SFHA: Special Flood Hazard Area

SRP: Science Research Park

SRP-C: Science Research Park – Center

SUP: Special Use The purpose for which a building, structure, or area of land may be arranged or occupied or the activity conducted or proposed in a building, structure, or on an area of land. Permit

TDM: Transportation Demand Management

TIA: Traffic Impact Analysis

TUA: Transitional Use The purpose for which a building, structure, or area of land may be arranged or occupied or the activity conducted or proposed in a building, structure, or on an area of land. Areas

UC: University and College

UDO: Unified Development Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land. Ordinance

USDA: United States Department of Agriculture

USGS: United States Geologic Survey

WSE: Water Surface Elevation

(-A60, -A65): Airport A place where aircraft can takeoff and land, be repaired, take on or discharge passengers or cargo, be stored or refueled. Overlay

(-MTC): Major Transportation Corridor Overlay

(-P): Neighborhood Protection Overlay

(-TO): Transitional Office A room, group of rooms, or building whose primary use is the conduct of a business, professional service, or governmental activity of a non-retail nature; including administration, record keeping, clerical work, and similar functions. This definition is not meant to include manufacturing, processing, repair, or storage of materials or products. Overlay