The definition of technical terms used in this Zoning Ordinance shall carry the same meaning given to them in already approved codes and regulations, such as but not limited to the National Building Code, Water Code, Philippine Environmental Code and other Implementing Rules and Regulations, promulgated by the HLRB.
The words, terms and phrases enumerated hereunder shall be understood to have corresponding meaning indicated as follows:
1. Accessoria – A house of not more than two storeys, composed of a row of dwelling units entirely separated from one another by party wall or walls and with an independent entrance for each dwelling units.
2. Accessory Building – A building subordinate to the main building on the same lot and used for purposes customarily incidental to those of the main building such as servants quarters, garage, pump house laundry, etc.
3. Addition – Any new construction which increases the height or area of an existing building structures.
4. Agricultural Zone (AGZ) – an area WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY INTENDED for cultivation/fishing and pastoral activities e.g. fish, farming, cultivation of crops, goat/cattle raising, etc.
5. Agro-Industrial Zone (AIZ) – an area WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY INTENDED primarily for livestock production like piggery, poultry, ranch, etc. and operation of slaughterhouse.
6. Alley – Any public space or thoroughfare which has been dedicated or deeded to the public or public use as a passage-way with a width of not more than three meters.
7. Alteration – Construction in a building/structure involving changes in the materials used, partitioning, location/size of openings, structural parts, existing utilities and equipment but does not increase the overall area thereof.
8. Apartment – A room or suite of two or more rooms, designed and intended for, or occupies by one family for living, sleeping, and cooking purposes.
9. Apartment House – Any building or portion thereof, which is designed, built, rented, lease, let or hired out to be occupied, or which is occupied as the home or residence of three or more families.
10. Assembly Building or Hall – A building or a portion of building used for the gathering together of fifty or more persons for such purposes as deliberation, workshop, entertainment, amusement, or awaiting transportation or of a hundred or more persons in drinking and dining establishments.
11. Beerhouse – Any building or structure used to sell intoxicating liquors.
12. Boarding House – A house with five or more sleeping rooms where boarders are provided with lodging, and meals for a fixed sum paid by month or week, in accordance with previous arrangement.
13. Boiler Room – Any room containing a steam or hot water boiler.
14. Botanical Garden – A tract of land used for the culture and study of plants, collected and grown for scientific and display purposes.
15. Buffer Area – these are YARDS, PARKS OR open spaces INTENDED to separate incompatible elements or uses to control pollution/nuisance and for identifying and defining development areas or zones where NO PERMANENT STRUCTURES ARE ALLOWED.
16. Built-Up Area – a contiguous grouping of ten (10) or more stuctures.
17. Building – Any structure built for support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or property of any kind.
18. Building Height – The vertical distance from the established grade elevation to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof, to the average height of the highest gable or a pitch or hip roof, or to the top of the parapet if the roof is provided with parapet. In case of sloping round, the average ground level of the buildable area shall be considered the established grade elevation.
19. Building Length – Its general linear dimensions usually measured in the direction of the bearing wall for girders.
20. Building Width – Its shortest linear dimensions usually measured in the direction of the floor, beams or joists.
21. Bus Terminal – A station or designated place where public utility buses are repaired and maintained.
22. Central Business District – shall refer to areas designated principally for trade, services and business purposes (Commercial 1 Zone).
23. Certificate of Non-Conformance – certificate issued TO OWNERS OF all uses existing prior to the approval of Zoning Ordinance which do not conform in a zone as per provision of the said Ordinance.
24. Compatible Use – uses or land activities capable of existing together harmoniously e..g. residential use and parks and playground.
25. COMPONENT CITIES/MUNICIPALITIES – CITIES WHICH DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES SHALL BE CONSIDERED COMPONENT CITIES OF THE PROVINCE IN WHICH THEY ARE LOCATED.
26. Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) – a document embodying specific proposals for guiding, regulating growth and/or development. The main components of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan in this usage are the sectoral studies i.e. Demography, Socio-Economic, Infrastructure and Utilities, Local Administration and Land Use.
27. Conflicting Uses – uses or land activities with contrasting characteristics sited adjacent to each other e.g. residential units adjacent to industrial plants.
28. Conforming Use – a use which is in ACCORDANCE with the zone classification as provided for in the Ordinance.
29. Cottage Industry- Any establishment or firm which conforms to the standard set forth by the National Cottage Industry Development Authority (NACIDA).
30. Court – An occupied space between the building lines and lot lines other than a yard; free, open and unobstructed by appendages from the ground upward.
31. Dormitory – A building where many persons are provided with board and lodging facilities in common halls for a compensation.
32. Dwelling – Any building or any portion thereof which is not an “apartment house,” “lodging house,” or a
“hotel” which contains one or two “dwelling units” or “guests rooms,” used, intended or designed to be built, used, rented, leased, let or hired out to be occupied or which are occupied for living purposes.
33. Dwelling Indigenous Family – A dwelling intended for the use and occupancy by the family of the owner only. It is one constructed with native materials such as bamboo, nipa, logs, or lumber, the total cost of which does not exceed fifteen thousand pesos.
34. Dwelling, One-Family, Semi-Detached – A one-family dwelling with one side yard and a party wall.
35. Dwelling, One-Family, Detached – A one-family dwelling having two side yards.
36. Dwelling, Two-Family, Detached – A house or structure divided into two separate and independent living quarters by a wall extending from the floor to the ceiling and provided with two side yards. Each portion provides complete living facilities for one household.
37. Dwelling, Two-Family, Semi-Detached – A two-family dwelling as above defined except that it is provided with one side yard and a party wall.
38. Dwelling, Multi-Family – A building used as a home or residence of three or more families living independently from one another, each occupying one or more rooms as a single housekeeping units.
39. Dwelling Unit – One or more habitable rooms which are intended or designed to be occupied by one family with facilities for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.
40. Easement – open space imposed on any land use/activities cited along waterways, road-right-of-ways, cemeteries/memorial parks and utilities.
41. ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL AREAS – REFERS TO THOSE AREAS WHICH ARE
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND ARE LISTED IN PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 2146 DATED DECEMBER 14, 1981. (REFER TO ANNEX A)
42. ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL PROJECTS – REFERS TO THOSE PROJECTS WHICH HAVE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND ARE LISTED IN PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION 2146 DATED DECEMBER 14, 1981. (REFER TO ANNEX A)
43. Exception – a device which grants a property owner relief from certain provisions of a Zoning Ordinance where because of the specific use would result in a particular hardship upon the owner as distinguished from a mere inconvenience or a desire to make more money.
44. Family – A group of individuals related by blood, living under one roof and considered as part of a single household unit.
45. Filling Station – A retail station servicing automobiles and other motor vehicles with gasoline and oil only.
46. FLOOR AREA RATIO OR “FAR” – IS THE RATIO BETWEEN THE GROSS FLOOR AREA OF A BUILDING AND THE AREA OF THE LOT ON WHICH IT STANDS, DETERMINED BY DIVIDING THE GROSS FLOOR AREA OF THE BUILDING AND THE AREA OF THE LOT. THE GROSS FLOOR AREA OF ANY BUILDING SHOULD NOT EXCEED THE PRESCRIBED FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR) MULTIPLIED BY THE LOT AREA. THE FAR OF ANY ZONE SHOULD BE BASED ON ITS CAPACITY TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF THE ABSOLUTE LEVEL OF DENSITY THAT THE TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER UTILITY NETWORK CAN SUPPORT. (REFER TO ANNEXES B-E).
47. Garage – A building or portion thereof in which motor vehicle/s is/are stored, repaired, or kept.
48. Garage, Commercial – A garage where automobiles and other motor vehicles are housed, maintained, equipped, repaired, or kept for renumerations, hire or sale.
49. Garage, Private – A building or a portion of a building in which only motor vehicles used by the tenant of the building or buildings on the premises are stored or kept.
50. General Commercial Zone (GCZ) – an area within a city or municipality for trading/service/business Purposes.
51. General Institution Zone (GIZ) – an area within a city or municipality principally for general type of
institutional establishments e.g. government offices, schools, hospitals/clinics, academic/research, convention centers.
52. General Zoning Maps – a duly authenticated map delineating the different zones in which the whole city/municipality is divided.
53. Grade (Adjacent Ground Elevation) – The lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground between the exterior wall of a building and a point 1.50 meter distance from said wall, or the lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground between the exterior wall of a building and a property line if it is less than 1.50 meter distance from said wall.
54. GROSS FLOOR AREA (GFA) – THE GFA OF A BUILDING IS THE TOTAL FLOOR SPACE WITHIN THE PERIMETER EXTERNAL BUILDING WALLS, OCCUPIED BY:
OFFICE AREAS;
RESIDENTIAL AREAS;
CORRIDORS;
LOBBIES;
MEZZANINE;
VERTICAL PENETRATIONS, WHICH SHALL MEAN STAIRS, FIRE ESCAPES, ELEVATOR SHAFTS, FLUES, PIPE SHAFTS, VERTICAL DUCTS, AND THE LIKE, AND THEIR ENCLOSING WALLS;
REST ROOMS OR TOILETS;
MACHINE ROOMS AND CLOSETS;
STORAGE ROOMS AND CLOSETS;
COVERED BALCONIES AND TERRACES;
INTERIOR WALLS AND COLUMNS, AND OTHER INTERIOR FEATURES;