B Definitions
Banquet Hall: See “Event Venue.”
Bar: An establishment that is primarily engaged in the business of selling alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. A bar shall not include a brewery, winery, or distillery.
Base Flood: The flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year based on current conditions hydrology.
Base Flood Elevation (BFE): The water surface elevations for the Base Flood as published in the Flood Insurance Study. When the BFE has not been provided in a Special Flood Hazard Area, it may be obtained from engineering studies available from a Federal, State, or other source using FEMA-approved engineering methodologies. This elevation, when combined with the Freeboard, establishes the Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation in Special Flood Hazard Areas.
Base Station: A structure or equipment at a fixed location that enables FCC-licensed or authorized wireless communications between user equipment and a communication network. The term does not encompass a wireless support structure as defined in this section or any equipment associated with a tower.
Basement: The lowest level or story which has its floor sub-grade on at least one side.
Bed and Breakfast: A state-regulated facility for overnight accommodations as defined under NCGS § 130A-247.
Being Conducted: A land-disturbing activity has been initiated and permanent stabilization of the site has not been completed.
Best Management Practice or BMP: Stormwater and runoff pollution control practices designed to reduce the amount of flow or pollutants contained in discharges to the stormwater conveyance system and receiving waters.
Bicycle Parking, Long-Term: Bicycle parking that is not required to be publicly accessible, but provided for the use of residents, employees, and visitors to a site for long periods of time during a day or overnight.
Bicycle Parking, Short-Term: Bicycle parking that is publicly and readily accessible, and visible, with the intention to be used for short periods of time.
Block: A usually rectangular space enclosed by right-of-way and occupied by or intended for buildings.
Block Face: One side of a right-of-way between two consecutive intersecting or intercepting rights-of-way, natural barrier, or between a cross-street and the end of a dead end street or cul-de-sac. Where a street curves so that any two adjacent 100-foot chords thereof form an angle of 120 degrees or less, measured along the centerline of the street, such curve shall be construed as an intersecting street.
Block Perimeter: The continuous line forming the boundary of a street block.
Borrow: Fill material which is required for on-site construction and is obtained from other locations.
Boulevard: Major streets with a median and two or more lanes that are identified and further described on the adopted Comprehensive Transportation Plan, as amended.
Brewery: A brewery that produces 15,000 or more US beer barrels (460,000 US gallons) per year.
Brewery, Winery, and/or Distillery: An establishment that is primarily engaged in the business of producing and selling alcoholic beverages for consumption, either on site or for consumption off site. A brewery, winery, and/or distillery may contain a bar if it meets the definition of “bar” found in Sec. 17.3.
Broadcast Antennae, TV/HDTV/AM/FM Broadcast Facility: Broadcast antenna-supporting structures and/or towers, including replacements, which contain antennae/towers that transmit signals for television and radio communications.
Buffer: A portion of property designated to mitigate impacts between land uses or transportation routes, or to protect water features from pollutants.
Buffer Zone: The strip of land adjacent to a lake or natural watercourse.
Build-To Line: The line a set distance from the back of curb establishing the required building location. Build-to lines shall be measured from the predominant curbline (not including bulb outs) or future curbline where no curb currently exists.
Build-To, Percent of Frontage: The percent of the principal structure’s frontage that shall be constructed to a fixed line designed to pull structures forward on a lot. The required minimum build-to is set out as a percentage of the frontage.
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.
Building Articulation: See Articulation.
Building Base: The lower level(s) of the building podium specifically designed and articulated as the base or plinth of the building.
Building Coverage: The horizontal area within the outside of the exterior walls of the ground floor of all principal and accessory buildings. Building coverage is set forth as a percentage of the total lot area.
Building Elevation: One of the exterior vertical faces of a building.
Building Envelope: The area between all required setbacks within which a structure can be located.
Building Front: The side of the building closest to and most nearly parallel with the street which provides access to the lot. In the case of a corner lot or through lot, either side abutting a street may be considered to be the front.
Building Line: The primary edge of a building closest to the street, side, and rear property lines, and extending from the physical edge of the building.
Building Permit: A permit issued by the Inspections Department in conformance with the State Building Code.
Building, Primary or Principal: A building which contains the principal use(s). In a residential district, any primary dwelling shall be deemed to be a primary building on the lot on which it is situated.
Building Podium: See Podium.
Building Separation: The required separation between primary buildings.
Bulk Storage: Storage material in containers or tanks for sale to retail dealers, distributors, or outlets or for storage prior to disposal.
Build-to Zone: In Design Districts, the area parallel to the street where a street-facing façade or forecourt is required to be located.