Glossary Building permit A building permit is governmental permission for the construction of an improvement on land within its jurisdiction. Permits are issued for new construction, installation of factory-built housing, remodeling, substantial repair, or demolition. Each building department has its own requirements for plans, reports, surveys, engineering, tests, other permits, and so forth. During construction, the building department performs a series of inspections. There may be a limit as to how much time may pass before beginning construction, or between inspections. CC&R's (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) CC&R's is the name given to an agreement between two or more property owners, which is recorded on the deed of each property. A covenant is a binding agreement. A condition is a statement of what is required as part of an agreement A restriction is a principle that limits the extent of something. Examples of CC&R's: Building standards, such as exterior style and materials Landscaping Parking of recreational vehicles or boats Outbuildings and fences Noise standards Preservation of other property owners' views Conditional use Conditional use is a use for a property that is not allowed outright by zoning regulations, but may be allowed on a case-by-case basis, if certain conditions are met. The zoning regulations for the property include a list of the conditional uses possible. The planning department makes the determination. Deckscape DeckscapeSM  is landscaping using decks, steps, stairs, railings, walkways, bridges, planters, plantings, benches, tables, lamps, gates and fences, all custom designed for the individual home and yard. Our material of choice is western red cedar, which, when weathered to a beautiful silver color, compliments the natural surroundings. Our clients find that Deckscape brings the outdoors in, extends living space, reduces yard maintenance, and adds to the beauty of their homes. Deckscape is a registered service mark of Peter Asher. View photos of decks. Easement An easement is a right to make limited use of another's real property. It is recorded on the deed, and survives any sale of the property. It may be in favor of the public, such as a utility easement. Or it may be in favor of a neighboring property, in which case, it survives any sale of the neighboring property. Examples of types of easements: Right of way: the right to cross a property to get to another property. Utility: the right of utility companies to enter upon or cross a property to install or maintain utility infrastructure, for the benefit of the public. Recreational use: the right of the public or of owners of a particular property to enter upon a property and use it for recreational purposes. Library Plan A library plan is a home design plan that was originally created by an architect or building designer for a particular client. House plans are protected by copyright. If for sale, they may be sold as-is, or with modifications by the architect or building designer. A library plan is differentiated from a stock plan in that it wascustom designed, drawn to the specifications of a person or family, rather than only from the experience of the architect or designer himself. Lien A lien is an encumbrance (legal hold) against a property as security for the payment of a debt. Examples of debts that may be secured by a property lien: For work done on the property. For materials delivered to the property. A mortgage. Taxes. A court judgment. Liens are recorded against the deed of a property, as a title search will discover. Moratorium A moratorium is the suspension of construction in a certain area, by a state or local planning department or land use agency, until studies are complete or until conditions have improved. An example would be a building or water meter moratorium due to long-term drought conditions. Permit plans Permit plans are those required by government agencies for permission (permits) to build various things. Examples of permits are: building, septic, grading, bed and breakfast, health dept, spa, road approach, rip-rap, variance, conditional use, etc. Rip-rap Rip-rap is a popular name given to a retaining wall composed of large loose stones and set at the base of a sand dune or bluff. Usually, no mortar is used in the construction. The purpose is to prevent erosion of the toe of the dune, thus preventing a collapse of the upper part of the dune to protect the house built there. There is controversy over rip-rap, particularly about the effect on neighboring properties. The Parks Department is often the issuing authority. Road approach A road approach is the junction of a public road with a driveway or private road. The permit is issued by the authority who maintains the public road, be it the county, the state or another jurisdiction. The requirements of the permit cover such things as the size, shape, slope, material and construction method of the approach. Septic System A septic system is a sewage system, in which waste is drained from a building through pipes into a septic tank, where solids settle and liquids exit into a drain field. A septic tank is an underground sewage disposal tank, in which a continuous flow of waste material is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria into liquids or gases and released into a drain field. A drain field is a system of pipes and gravel used to dispose of the waste draining from a septic tank. The percolating qualities of the soil determine the extent and specifications of the field needed. For more information Click here. Site Plan A site plan is a two-dimensional bird's eye view of the property, with all known features and boundaries. At the very least, it is a drawing of the property outline, with dimensions. In addition, it may include topographical features and elevations, easements, commonly owned areas, areas controlled by CC&R's, existing natural features, adjacent streets and roads, legal setback lines, approved septic or well areas, utilities, lines of restriction due to geo-tech or other official reports or tests, known corner monuments, known buried objects, unbuildable areas, fill, wetlands, bodies of water, drainways, and existing improvements. Stock Plan A stock plan is a home design plan that was originally created by an architect or building designer from his own experience, not as a custom design for a client. House plans are protected by copyright. If for sale, they may be sold as-is, or with modifications by the architect or building designer. A stock plan is differentiated from a library plan in that it was not custom designed for a particular person or family. Topographical Survey A topographical survey is the measurement of a property with regard to the contour of the land surface, with the grades measured in relation to sea level. Variance A variance is permission to engage in an act contrary to a usual rule. A property owner might request a variance regarding the use of the land, setbacks, height limitations, or the percent of the property to be covered by structure. A hearing is held by the planning department to determine if a variance will be granted. Owners of neighboring properties are invited to express their views. Each planning department has their own criteria. As an example, the applicant might be expected to explain how one or more of these factors apply: That the applicant would be deprived of the reasonable use of the land or building, if the zoning code were strictly applied. That there are unique circumstances, different from the general conditions of the neighborhood. That the variance sought would not alter the essential character of the locality. That it would not be contrary to the intent and purpose of the zoning code. Wetland A wetland is a lowland area that, in its normal condition, is saturated with moisture and therefore provides the natural habitat for certain wildlife. Examples of wetlands are marshes, swamps, and bogs. There are often state or county rules regarding building on property containing wetlands. The state or county may have its own legal definition of what constitutes a wetland, for the purpose of restricting building rights. Zoning regulations Zoning regulations limit the uses of property and the structures that may be built. Each property is assigned to one of the zones defined by the regulating authority (a county or city or other jurisdiction). Zoning determines the use of land, lot sizes, types of structure permitted, building heights, setbacks, and density (the ratio of land area to improvement area). Information about zoning may be obtained from the planning department.

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Deckscape^SM is a Service Mark of Peter Asher and is used with permission.