Glossary · General construction

Zoning

Definition

Local laws governing how land may be used and what can be built where, including size, height, and setback limits. Additions and footprint changes often require zoning review.

Source: Cornell Law LII — Zoning

Where this comes up on this site

  • Setback

    The minimum required distance between a structure and the property line, street, or other features. Setbacks constrain where additions, d…

  • VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)

    Gases emitted by some paints, finishes, and adhesives that affect indoor air quality. Low- and zero-VOC products are widely available and…

  • Veneer

    A thin layer of a finish material bonded to a cheaper substrate — wood veneer on cabinet panels, stone or brick veneer on walls — deliver…

  • Variance

    Official permission to deviate from a zoning requirement (e.g., to build closer to a property line than the setback allows). Requires app…

  • Vapor Barrier

    A material that limits moisture diffusion through an assembly to control condensation. Correct placement is climate-dependent — wrong-sid…

  • Value Engineering

    Reviewing the design to find lower-cost ways to achieve the same function and quality — substituting materials or methods to bring a proj…

  • Takeoff

    The process of measuring quantities of materials and labor from the drawings to build an estimate. Accurate takeoffs are the foundation o…

  • Superintendent

    The on-site supervisor who runs the field operation — directing crews, sequencing trades, and enforcing safety and quality at the job site.

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