(1) 
When used in this chapter as well as throughout the text, the following words shall have these meanings.
(2) 
Where definitions are divided into classifications or categories of activities or uses, each classification or category shall be considered a different activity or use requiring separate application of the provisions of this chapter. Each line on the permitted use table in § 375-302 represents a separate and distinct use.
(3) 
Whenever the application of a standard or provision in this USDO to a development application results in a fraction of a whole number, fractions less than 0.5 shall be rounded down to the next whole number, and fractions of 0.5 or greater shall be rounded up to the next whole number.
(4) 
Words, phrases, and terms not defined in this USDO shall have the definitions of those words, phrases, and terms in the latest draft of the International Building Code and/or International Residential Code, as adopted by the State of New York, if such a definition exists.
ABANDON
To cease or discontinue a use or activity of a property for other than short periods associated with vacations, seasonal closure, remodeling or substantial maintenance.
ABUT or ADJOIN
To share a common lot line or zone lot line.
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT
A residential unit that is located on the same lot as a single-unit dwelling, either internal to or attached to the dwelling structure or in a detached structure. The accessory dwelling unit is a complete housekeeping unit with a shared or separate entrance, and separate kitchen, sleeping area, closet space, and sanitation facilities.
ACCESSORY USE OR STRUCTURE
A structure or use that:
(1) 
Is subordinate to and serves a principal building or principal use;
(2) 
Is subordinate in area, extent and purpose to the principal structure or principal use served;
(3) 
Contributes to the comfort, convenience and/or necessity of the principal use; and
(4) 
Is located on the same lot as the principal structure or principal use served, except as otherwise expressly authorized by provisions stated in this USDO.
ADDITION
Any construction that increases the size of a building or structure in terms of site coverage, height, or gross floor area.
ADJACENT
Physically abutting directly or diagonally across the street. In those cases where a boundary is drawn through a portion of a block along the side lot lines, the properties which continue on the remainder of the block to the next cross street will be considered "adjacent." Also defined as sharing a zone lot line or being separated only by an alley.
ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENT
A development approval authorizing limited deviations from certain of this USDO's dimensional or development standards as described in 375-504(5)(e) (Staff approval of administrative adjustments).
ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL
A manual containing details on the mechanics of the development review processes, information for potential applicants, fee schedules, design standards, and application forms.
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
An establishment consisting of, including, or having the characteristics of any or all of the following:
(1) 
ADULT CABARETAn establishment devoted to adult entertainment either with or without a liquor license, presenting material distinguished or characterized by its emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to sexual activities or anatomical genital areas.
(2) 
ADULT MOTION PICTUREAn enclosed building used for presenting material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to sexual activities or anatomical genital areas.
ADULT RETAIL
An establishment having as a substantial or significant portion of its stock-in-trade instruments, devices, materials or paraphernalia, other than prophylactics, that are designed for use in connection with specified sexual activities, books, magazines, publications, tapes or films that are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to sexual activities or anatomical genital areas.
AGRICULTURE, URBAN
The raising, keeping or production of fruit, vegetable, flower, and other crops; composting; and the processing of those agricultural products, but not including backyard gardens, abattoirs, commercial feedlots, and stockyards. This use includes the ordinary accessory uses and structures for preparing, treating, and storing agricultural products, equipment and machinery, but does not include fat rendering, meatpacking, or tanning, cutting, curing, cleaning or storing of green hides or skins, slaughtering or meatpacking, or poultry dressing of animals.
ALLEY
A public or private right-of-way, less than 20 feet in width, generally designed to provide a secondary means of vehicular access to abutting property and not intended for general traffic circulation.
ALTERATION
(1) 
Generally, a modification of or addition to a structure other than normal maintenance or repairs.
(2) 
For purposes of historic resource regulations, any act or process, other than demolition or preventative maintenance, that changes the exterior appearance of significant historical or architectural features, or the historic context of a designated landmark, including, but not limited to, exterior changes, additions, new construction, erection, reconstruction, or removal of the building or structure, or grading.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY GENERATING EQUIPMENT
Equipment for the collection of solar, wind, or geothermal energy or its conversion to electrical energy for use on the same property or nearby properties, or for incidental sale to a public utility, when that equipment is accessory to a principal use of the property.
AMENDMENT TO USDO TEXT
A change to the text of this USDO, reviewed and decided by the Common Council under § 375-505(20).
AMENDMENT TO ZONING MAP
A change to the official Zoning Map, reviewed and decided by the Common Council under § 375-505(20).
ANTENNA
Any apparatus outside of a structure for sending and/or receiving electromagnetic waves.
APPLICANT
A person who submits an application authorized by this USDO.
ARCADE
A gallery that has habitable space on the second story.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISTRICT
An area with defined boundaries so designated by the Common Council that possesses a significant concentration, linkage or continuity of archaeological sites, structures or objects united historically by past events or united aesthetically by plan or development. An archaeological district may also comprise individual elements, separated geographically, but linked by association or history.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
Any archaeological site on, or eligible for inclusion on, the National Register of Historic Places, or any site that contains archaeological objects and the contextual associations of the archaeological objects, located on land, including, but not limited to, submerged and submersible lands, and the bed of any river, creek, or streamlet within the City's jurisdiction. Examples of archaeological sites include, but are not limited to: lithic quarries, camps, burial sites, lithic scatters, fortifications, house sites, and road beds.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE
A feature contributing to the general arrangement of the exterior of a structure, including but not limited to, the surface texture, building materials, roof shape, eaves, awnings, arcades, pilasters, cornices, wall offsets, and other building articulations.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
The quality of a building or structure based on its date of erection, style and scarcity of same, quality of design, present condition and appearance or other characteristics that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction.
AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AMI)
Income limits established by HUD based on household size and the percentage of the area's income defined as "extremely low income" (30% of area median income), "very low income" (50% of area median income), and "low-income" (80% of area median income).
AREA OF DISTURBANCE
An area in which the natural vegetative soil cover has been removed or altered and, therefore, is susceptible to erosion.
ARTICULATION
Emphasis given to architectural elements on a building (windows, balconies, and entries) that create a variety of patterns or rhythms, dividing a large structure into smaller, identifiable pieces.
ARTISAN MANUFACTURING
Application, teaching, making, or fabrication of crafts or products by an artist, artisan or craftsperson, either by hand or with minimal automation, and may include direct sales to consumers from the same location. This definition includes uses such as small-scale fabrication, manufacturing, and other industrial uses and processes typically not permitted in nonindustrial zoning districts such as welding and sculpting, as well as small volume production of craft alcohol as defined by the State of New York, as amended from time to time with a production cap of 100,000 gallons.
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
A residential establishment or institution other than a hospital that provides living accommodations and medical services primarily to individuals who, due to illness or disability, require assistance with medical care or daily living functions. Services like transportation, housekeeping, dietary supervision, and recreational activities may also be offered. This use also includes any establishment licensed by the State of New York that provides twenty-four-hour skilled nursing or rehabilitation services to elderly residents and those with a disability or handicap as defined by the Federal Fair Housing Act.
ATTIC
That portion of a building between the ceiling of the top full story and the roof and not used for living purposes.
AUCTION HOUSE
A place where the property of others, such as objects of art, furniture, and other goods (except livestock), are offered by a broker or auctioneer for sale to persons who bid on the items in competition with each other at scheduled sales periods or events. See also "retail, general."
AUDITORIUM
A hall or seating area, generally enclosed, where an audience views a musical or theatrical performance, concert, or other entertainment event. See also "stadium or arena."
AUTOMOBILE WASH
Any building or premises, or portion of a building or premises, devoted to the business of washing automobiles, whether by automated or manual means.
AWNING
A cloth or vinyl roof-like cover extending over or in front of a place as a shelter.
BALCONY
An open habitable portion of an upper story extending beyond a building's exterior wall that is not supported from below by vertical columns or piers but is instead supported by either a cantilever or brackets.
BANQUET FACILITY
A building or part of a building in which the principal function is hosting special occasion events, parties, banquets, receptions, and that serves food and drink prepared elsewhere to groups of people on the premises, but that does not meet the definition of a bar or tavern or a cannabis consumption site. This use may have facilities for refrigeration or heating of food, but generally does not have facilities to prepare the food it serves on the premises. See also "restaurant."
[Amended 11-25-2023 by Ord. No. 29.71.23]
BAR or TAVERN
An establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises, and where any sale of food is secondary to the sale of alcoholic beverages. This definition includes but is not limited to a bar, grill, saloon, pub, public house, beer garden, brewpub, or similar establishment, but does not include a banquet facility.
BARBERSHOP
Any location providing barbering services that requires a license pursuant to New York State General Business Law Article 28, including, but not limited to, shaving, trimming or cutting of hair, shampooing, facial massages, application of cosmetic preparations, powders, oils or lotions to the scalp, face or neck. See also “ beauty salon or spa."
BAY WINDOW
A window structure that projects from the wall of a building.
BEAUTY SALON or SPA
Any location providing appearance enhancement services that require a license pursuant to New York State General Business Law Article 27, including, but not limited to, natural hair styling, braiding, hair weaving, hair dying or curling, cosmetology, shaving, waxing, esthetics, or nail specialty services.
BED-AND-BREAKFAST
A residential lodging facility typically occupying a structure initially constructed as a single-unit or two-unit dwelling offering bedrooms without a kitchen, but may include kitchen privileges, and housing transient guests for periods not to exceed 14 consecutive days, serving breakfast.
BLOCK
A tract of land within a subdivision bounded by streets, streams, railroads, the exterior boundaries of the subdivision, or any combination thereof.
BLOOD PLASMA CENTER
A facility used for the extraction of blood, blood plasma, or blood components from human beings for commercial for-profit purpose and that is not an accessory to a medical clinic or hospital.
BLUE ROOF
A nonvegetated roof design that is intended to detain rainfall or snowmelt, typically to manage stormwater or store and reuse water. See also "green roof."
BOAT LAUNCH
A sloping platform, ramp, walkway, or driveway for launching small pleasure craft or fishing boats into the water.
BUFFERING
Whenever this term is used, it shall refer to any landscaping, screening, buffering, fencing or other barrier as required by this USDO.
BUILDING
Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls, either wholly or partially enclosed within exterior walls or within exterior or party walls, intended to be used for the shelter or enclosure of persons, animals or property.
BUILDING CODE
The current New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
BUILDING ENVELOPE
The maximum three-dimensional space on a lot within which a structure can be built, as permitted by applicable height, setback and yard controls.
BUILDING FOOTPRINT
The outline of the total horizontal area that is covered by a building's perimeter at the ground level.
BUILDING MASS
The three-dimensional bulk of a building: height, width, and depth.
BUILDING MATERIALS
The physical characteristics that create the aesthetic and structural appearance of the building, including, but not limited to, the texture and style of the components and their combinations, such as glass, brick, stone, steel, metal, concrete or stucco.
BUILDING PERMIT
An official document or certification that is issued by the Chief Building Official pursuant to the Building Code and authorizes the construction, alteration, enlargement, conversion, reconstruction, remodeling, rehabilitation, erection, demolition, moving, or repair of a building or structure as being in compliance with Building Code standards.
BUILDING, ATTACHED
A building that abuts two side lot lines or is one of a row of abutting buildings.
BUILDING, DETACHED
A freestanding building that does not abut any other building and where all sides of the building are surrounded by yards or open areas within the lot.
BUILDING, SEMIDETACHED
A building that abuts or shares a wall, on a side lot line, with another building on an adjoining lot and where the remaining sides of the building are surrounded by open areas or street lines.
BUILDING-INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC (BIPV) SYSTEMS
A solar energy system that consists of integrating photovoltaic modules into the building envelope, such as the roof or the facade.
BUILD-TO LINE
The setback from a front lot line that the building's façade shall be built to.
BUILD-TO ZONE
A range of allowable distances from a lot line that the building's principal façade shall be built to in order to create a moderately uniform line of buildings along the street.
CABARET
Any room, place or space in the City in which any musical entertainment, singing, dancing or other form of entertainment is permitted in connection with a catering establishment, tavern or restaurant business or an establishment directly or indirectly selling to the public food or drink, except eating or drinking places that provide incidental musical entertainment performed by fewer than three people with no amplification, or through a central audio system, including the use of a jukebox. Cabaret shall also include:
(1) 
A membership corporation, club, association or society that permits musical entertainment, singing, dancing or other form of entertainment in premises wherein food or drink is directly or indirectly sold to its members, or their guests, or to the public;
(2) 
A premises owned or occupied by a religious or educational institution that permits musical entertainment, singing, dancing or other forms of entertainment in said premises that do not coincide with a religious or educational service or do not arise directly from the eleemosynary purposes of such institution; or
(3) 
A ship, boat or barge moored or tied to a dock, pier or shore and that contains a cabaret in use while so moored or tied.
CANNABIS CONSUMPTION SITE
An establishment that is registered or licensed by the State of New York Office of Cannabis Management where cannabis products are sold to be consumed on the premises.
[Added 11-25-2023 by Ord. No. 29.71.23]
CANNABIS DISPENSARY
A business that is registered or licensed by the State of New York Office of Cannabis Management that sells or otherwise distributes cannabis for consumption off-premises.
[Added 11-25-2023 by Ord. No. 29.71.23]
CANOPY
A permanent, roof-like shelter that extends from part or all of a building face and is constructed of nonrigid material, except for the supporting framework.
CAP
The protective top layer of a masonry structure exposed to weather from above, such as a wall, parapet, or chimney.
CELLAR
A floor area of a building where the finished grade of the floor is four feet or greater below the average grade along the front of a building. It shall not be considered a story, whether occupied or not.
CEMETERY
An area of land and related facilities used for the interment of the dead. This definition includes columbaria and mausoleums.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A certificate issued to permit construction, alteration, or modification or other actions to or near a landmark structure or a structure in a historic district.
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
A document issued by the Chief Building Official pursuant to the Building Code that allows the occupancy and use of building(s) and structure(s) and certifying that said building(s) and structure(s) and use(s) have been constructed and will be used in compliance with all applicable municipal codes.
CHAIN-LINK FENCING
A fence composed of wire mesh, typically forming woven diamonds approximately two inches in width.
CHANGE OF USE
A change in the use of a structure or premises from one land use to another land use, as set forth in Table 375.302.1 (Permitted Use Table).
CHARACTER
This term is defined by form, proportion, structure, plan, style or material. General character refers to ideas of design and construction such as basic plan or form. Specific character refers to precise ways of combining particular kinds of materials.
CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL
The person so designated by the Mayor, which is generally the Commissioner of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance, or, in the absence of such Commissioner, the Director of the Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance.
CHIEF PLANNING OFFICIAL
The person so designated by the Mayor, which is generally the Commissioner of Planning and Development, or, in the absence of such Commissioner, the Director of Planning and Development.
CHIMNEY
A vertical structure attached to a building that contains a flue for drawing off smoke from a furnace, water heater, or fireplace.
CITY
The City of Albany, New York.
CLEAR-CUTTING
The cutting or removal of trees or other vegetation where more than 50% of the existing trees or vegetation per acre is removed over any five-year cutting cycle.
CLUB
A facility operated by a corporation, association or group of people for the social, educational or recreational intent of the dues-paying members and their guests, but not primarily for profit nor to render a service that customarily is carried on as a business. This definition includes lodges as defined herein.
CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT
A planned development in which lots are plotted that have less than the minimum lot size and setback requirements but that have access to common open space that is part of the overall development plan approved by the Planning Board. However, not more than the maximum density of dwelling units permitted by this chapter shall be allowed.
COMBINED SEWER
A sewer designed to receive and transport both surface runoff and sewage.
COMMERCIAL FOOD PREPARATION
A facility in which food is processed or otherwise prepared, primarily for off-site consumption and/or sales. Facilities may be shared among various food processors, producers, or preparers. Uses may include, but are not limited to: commissary kitchen, ghost kitchen, cloud kitchen and catering.
[Added 8-5-2024 by Ord. No. 10.42.24]
COMMON COUNCIL
The elected legislative governing body of the City of Albany.
COMMUNITY CENTER
A not-for-profit or publicly owned facility providing recreational programs and meeting rooms that are open to the public and designed to accommodate and serve significant segments of the community.
COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL FACILITY
Any building, structure, home, facility or place operated by person(s) other than the residents themselves, in which persons reside for a period of more than 24 hours, and that is used or intended to be used for the purpose of letting rooms, providing meals and/or providing personal assistance, personal services, personal care and protective care to persons meeting the definition of a person with a handicap or another person protected against housing discrimination under the Federal Fair Housing Act and court decisions interpreting that Act. For purposes of this definition, the term "person with a handicap" does not include persons currently using or addicted to alcohol or controlled substances who are not in a recognized recovery program, nor shall it include halfway houses for individuals in the criminal justice system, or residential facilities to divert persons from the criminal justice system.
COMPOSTING
The process of accelerated biodegradation and stabilization of organic material under controlled conditions to yield a product that can safely be used to enrich soil nutrients.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
That Comprehensive Plan for the City of Albany, approved by the Common Council, as amended or replaced by action of the Common Council from time to time.
CONDITIONAL USE
A use requiring a conditional use permit to operate within specified zones.
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
An authorization of a particular land use which is permitted in a zoning ordinance or local law, subject to requirements imposed by such zoning ordinance or local law to assure that the proposed use is in harmony with such zoning ordinance or local law and will not adversely affect the neighborhood if such requirements are met. See New York State General City Law § 27-b and § 375-505(6) of this USDO.
CONFORMING USE
Any lawful use of a building, structure, or parcel of land that complies with the provisions of this USDO.
CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE
For the purposes of this USDO, a building, structure, site, feature, or object within a locally designated historic district that contributes to the historic character of the district, was built during the district’s period of significance, and retains its appearance from that time.
CONSTRUCTION
Building a new principal or accessory structure, an addition to an existing structure or building, or any ground disturbance associated with conducting or preparing for those activities, including installation of utilities and/or construction of parking facilities.
CONTEXTUAL
Relating to buildings and development in the nearby or surrounding area or block face. Several development standards in this USDO vary to allow new development, buildings and additions and modifications to buildings to be similar to the height, size, width, setback, and location of development and buildings in the nearby or surrounding area.
CONTRACTOR SHOP AND YARD
A lot or portion of a lot or parcel used to store and maintain construction equipment and other materials and facilities customarily required in the building trade by a construction contractor. This definition includes architects', engineers', and surveyors' construction offices and shops, real estate sign placement service, and showroom and shops for the display and sale of electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, sheet metal and other material in connection with contracting services. See also "heavy commercial services."
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE DISPENSARY
A business that is registered to operate in the State of New York that sells or otherwise distributes drugs, goods, or materials that are listed as controlled substances under the Federal Controlled Substances Act or the New York State Public Health Law[1] to persons, and under conditions, authorized by the State of New York. This use includes a methadone dispensary, but shall not include a cannabis dispensary.
[Amended 11-25-2023 by Ord. No. 29.71.23]
CONVERSION
A change of a building or property’s use to another use or a change in the building to accommodate a change in use.
CORNER LOT
A platted lot with frontage on two public or approved private street rights-of-way that intersect at a corner point of that lot.
CORNICES
A horizontal member, structural or nonstructural, of any building, projecting outward from the exterior walls at the roofline, including eaves and other roof overhang.
CORPORATION COUNSEL
The Legal Department of the City of Albany.
CREMATORIUM
A facility or portion of a building in which the remains of deceased human beings or animals are processed by cremation.
CUL-DE-SAC
A local street which is a single continuous stretch of road one end of which is closed and terminated by a circular turnaround.
CULTURAL FACILITY
An establishment used for the purposes of preserving, exhibiting, demonstrating or interpreting art, history, culture or nature or scientific objects or ideas. Cultural facilities shall be interpreted to include, but not be limited to, museums, libraries, zoos, art galleries, aquariums, planetariums, botanical gardens and nature centers.
CULTURAL RESOURCES INVESTIGATION
That study defined by the Standards for Cultural Resource Investigations and Curation of Archaeological Collections in New York State promulgated by the New York State Archaeological Council.
CUSTOMARY ACCESSORY USE AND RELATED STRUCTURES
A use of land or use of a structure, together with that structure, that is incidental and subordinate to a principal use of land or an approved conditional use of land on the same lot, and that is customarily or frequently found in connection with that principal or accessory use, as determined by the Chief Planning Official, that is not listed separately in Table 375.302.1 (Permitted Use Table).
DAY-CARE CENTER
A facility providing supervised care, preschool, and/or activities other than in an occupied dwelling to three or more individuals for more than three hours a day. Any facility providing day care for three or more children must be licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
DAY-CARE HOME
A program providing day care to no more than the maximum number of individuals allowed under the New York State Social Services Law in an occupied dwelling. The day-care provider is not required to reside in the house, as long as someone occupies it as a dwelling. Any day-care program to which this definition does not apply in every respect shall be considered a day-care center. Any facility providing day care for three or more children must be licensed by or registered with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
DELIVERY SERVICE
Any business supplying delivery service via company or employee vehicles.
DEMOLITION
Any intentional defacement, destruction, and/or other action that would cause partial or total destruction of the physical elements of a structure.
DESIGN CAPACITY OR OCCUPANCY
The maximum number of people that the Fire Code will allow to occupy a structure.
DEVELOPABLE LOT
A lot or parcel of land that has the required minimum area, width and depth as established by the zoning district in which it is located.
DEVELOPER
Any person, entity, or governmental agency, undertaking development.
DEVELOPMENT
The construction, redevelopment, structural alteration, relocation, or enlargement of any structure, any mining, excavation, landfill or land disturbance, or any alteration or extension of the use of land.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
A graphic representation which depicts the nature and character of the development proposed for a specific land area. Information such as topography, location and size of proposed structures, location of streets, trails, utilities, and storm drainage are generally included on a development plan. A development plan is referred to as a "site plan" in the New York State General City Law.
DIMENSIONAL STANDARD
The lot area, lot width, setbacks, build-to lines, building standards, and impervious coverage standards applicable to a development, area, or zoning district.
DISPATCH SERVICE
A building or a portion of a building from which vehicles are dispatched to perform services, including, but not limited to, couriers, deliveries, security services, locksmiths, and taxis.
[Amended 8-5-2024 by Ord. No. 10.42.24]
DISTRICT
A portion of the City of Albany within which certain regulations and requirements apply under the provisions of this chapter.
DISTURBANCE
Any activity that changes the physical condition of land forms, vegetation and hydrology, creates bare soil or otherwise may cause erosion or sedimentation.
DORMITORY
A publicly or privately owned and operated building devoted exclusively to living facilities and associated programming, in which each person residing in each unit shall be a duly registered student in any accredited school, college, or university, the spouse of such student, or a management employee, or an employee or trainee of a medical or technical institution.
DRIVE-IN OR DRIVE-THROUGH FACILITY
A use that, by design of facilities or procedures, encourages or permits customers to receive service or obtain products while remaining in their vehicles, and/or a portion of an establishment or service that allows a customer to receive a product or service without leaving their vehicle.
DRIVEWAY
A vehicular accessway providing ingress and egress to a use or development from a public street, private street, or vehicular use area associated with another use.
DWELLING STRUCTURE
A detached or attached building designated for residential occupancy and containing one or more primary dwelling units
(1) 
DWELLING, SINGLE-UNIT DETACHEDA detached building, designated for or occupied exclusively by one household and containing not more than one dwelling unit.
(2) 
DWELLING, TWO-UNIT DETACHEDA detached or semidetached building with not more than two dwelling units that are entirely separated by vertical walls or horizontal floors, unpierced except for access to the outside or to a common hallway or cellar. Side-by-side or duplex dwellings are considered "two-unit dwellings" regardless of individual ownership of either half of its structure, provided that they are on the same zoned lot of record.
(3) 
DWELLING, THREE-UNIT DETACHEDA detached or semidetached building with not more than three dwelling units that are entirely separated by vertical walls or horizontal floors, unpierced except for access to the outside or to a common hallway or cellar.
(4) 
DWELLING, TOWNHOUSEA dwelling structure containing three or fewer dwelling units, constructed side-by-side with another dwelling structure, and either 1) connected by vertical walls that extend from grade level or below to the top of the structure, or 2) separated from a similar structure on an adjacent lot by no more than four feet between the two dwelling structure's sidewalls, each of which has entrances to its dwelling unit(s) from outside on the ground or first story, whether located on a single lot or on individual lots.
(5) 
DWELLING, MULTI-UNITA building containing three or more dwelling units located side to side, or above and below, and accessed by common hallways or walkways, that does not meet the definition of a "dwelling, townhouse."
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms, including a kitchen or kitchenette, and sanitary facilities in a dwelling structure, designed as a unit for occupancy by not more than one household for living and sleeping purposes.
DWELLING, LIVE-WORK
A residential dwelling unit that includes a dedicated work space that is accessible from the living area or from the outside, reserved for and regularly used by one or more residents of the dwelling unit, and in which the type or size of the work performed is larger or more extensive than that permitted as a home occupation.
EASEMENT
The right of a person, government agency, or public utility company to use public or private land owned by another for a specific purpose.
EAVES
The projecting lower edges of a roof that overhangs the wall of a building.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION
A facility or area at which electric powered or hybrid powered motor vehicles can obtain electrical current to recharge batteries.
ENCROACHMENT
The extension or placement of any structure, or a component of such, into a required setback or right-of-way.
ENLARGEMENT
The expansion of a building, structure or use in volume, size, area, height, length, width, depth, capacity, ground coverage, or in number.
EXCAVATION
Any act by which earth, sand, rock or any other similar material is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated or bulldozed and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
EXPLORATION
Geologic or geophysical activities related to the search for natural gas or other subsurface hydrocarbons, including prospecting, geophysical and geologic seismic surveying and sampling techniques, that include but are not limited to core or rotary drilling or making an excavation in the search and evaluation of natural gas deposits.
EXPRESSION LINE
A horizontal line, expressed by a material change or by a continuous projection not less than two inches nor more than one foot deep.
EXTENSION
A wall or other structure which is connected to and extended from a building.
EXTERIOR
The architectural style, design, general arrangement and components of the outer surfaces of an improvement, as distinguished from the interior surfaces enclosed by said outer surfaces, including but not limited to the kind or texture of building materials and the type and style of windows, doors, lights, signs, sidewalks, landscaping and other such exterior fixtures.
EXTERIOR FURNACE DEVICE
Any contrivance, apparatus or part thereof, including a boiler, fire box, exchanger, grate, fuel gun, fuel nozzle, chimney, smoke pipe, exhaust conduit and like devices used for the burning of combustible fuels for the creation of heat or energy from an exterior location into an interior location.
EXTERIOR WALL
Any wall that defines the exterior boundaries of a building or structure.
FACADE
The exterior wall of a building not including stoops, porches, or other attached architectural features.
FARMERS' MARKET
An area, which may or may not be in a completely enclosed building, where, on designated days and times, groups of individual sellers, such as growers of horticultural and agricultural products, artisans of craft products, and food and beverage providers, offer these items for sale, directly to the public, from on-site booths.
FENCE or WALL
An artificially constructed barrier of wood, masonry, stone, wire, metal, or other manufactured material or combination of materials erected to enclose, screen, or separate areas of land.
FENESTRATION
The openings in a structure, including windows and doors, but not including loading berths and entries for parking. Fenestration includes frames, mullions, muntins, vents, and other elements integral to a window or door unit.
FILLING
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar material is deposited, placed, pushed, pulled or transported to a place other than the place from which it was excavated, and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
FIXTURE
The assembly that holds the lamp (bulb) in a lighting system. It includes elements designed to give light output control, such as a reflector (mirror) or refractor (lens), the ballast, housing, and the attachment parts.
FLOOR AREA, GROSS
The sum of the gross horizontal areas of all floors of a building or structure expressed in square feet and measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls, or in the case of a common wall separating two buildings, from the center line of such common wall. It does not include cellars, unenclosed porches, or attics not used for human occupancy, or floor space intended and designed for the parking of vehicles. It shall include the horizontal area at each floor level devoted to stairwells and elevator shafts.
FREIGHT TRUCK TERMINAL
An area or building where trucks load and unload cargo and freight that may be broken down or aggregated into smaller or larger loads for transfer to other vehicles or modes of transportation. The terminal facility may include storage areas for trucks and buildings or areas for the repair of trucks associated with the terminal.
FRONTAGE
The limiting front lot line on a street, or on a corner lot in which case frontage is along more than a single street.
FRONTAGE BUILD-OUT
Frontage build-out is the percentage of the width of a lot along a street that is required to be occupied by its building's facade. Up to 50% of the width of the facade may be counted as meeting the frontage percentage requirement even though it may be set back up to 10 feet farther from the lot line than the wall plane. The location of the wall plane is not changed by facade extensions such as bay windows, awnings, porches, balconies, stoops, colonnades, or arcades, or by upper stories that are closer to or farther from the lot line.
FRONTAGE ELEMENTS
Building elements that are located in the area between the primary facade and the lot line. Frontage elements create the transition between the public building and the private or commercial buildings. Frontage elements establish the physical and functional relationship between the street and the private lot.
FUNERAL HOME
A building or portion of a building devoted to or used for the care and preparation of a body of a deceased person for disposition and for mourning or funeral ceremonial purposes.
GALLERY
A frontage element typically used in retail applications where the facade is aligned close to the frontage line with an attached cantilevered shed or a lightweight colonnade overlapping the sidewalk, with no enclosed habitable space above.
GARAGE SALE
A garage, porch, lawn or estate sale herein is defined as the sale(s) of new and/or used goods open to the public either by announcement, invitation or roadside advertisement. See also "temporary/seasonal sales."
GENERAL CITY LAW
The General City Law of the State of New York.
GLARE
A sensation of brightness within the visual field that causes annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and/or visibility.
GRADE, FINISHED
Natural surface of the ground, or surface of the ground after completion of any change in contour, abutting building or premises.
GRADING
Altering surfaces to specified elevations, dimensions, and/or slopes; includes stripping, cutting, filling, stockpiling and shaping or any combination thereof. An excavation or fill or any combination thereof and shall include the conditions resulting from any excavation or fill.
GREEN
An open space consisting of lawn and informally arranged trees and shrubs, typically furnished with paths, benches, and open shelters. Greens are spatially defined by abutting streets.
GREEN ROOF
A vegetated roof design that is explicitly designed to absorb rainfall or snowmelt, typically to manage stormwater, mitigate the heat island effect, provide habitat for urban wildlife, or offer leisure and recreational space for building occupants.
GROUND-MOUNTED
Directly installed in the ground and not attached or affixed to an existing structure.
GROUP LIVING, OTHER
A place of residence in which a group of persons who do not meet the definition of a family live together in rooms or areas that do not constitute individual dwelling units, and that does not meet the definition of a hotel, rooming house, dormitory, or community residential facility. This use includes but is not limited to fraternity and sorority houses, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and halfway houses.
HABITABLE SPACE
Building space whose use involves human presence. Habitable space excludes parking garages and display windows separated from retail activity.
HAZARDOUS WASTE
Any substance so defined and in quantities so proscribed by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.) or Article 27 of the Environmental Conservation Law or any rule or regulation promulgated under any of those laws. This term also includes any nuclear or radioactive waste as defined by either federal or state law, rule or regulation.
HEADER
The horizontal member (or assembly of members) visibly spanning the top of an opening (often referred to as a "lintel").
HEAVY COMMERCIAL SERVICES
An establishment that provides semi-industrial, more intrusive types of commercial services, larger in scale or with more intensive impacts than common household commercial services, including but not limited to laundry services, lumberyards, sign painting shops, tree and landscaping services, and contractor shop and yard.
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
Large vehicles used in construction, farming or for industrial purposes, e.g., tractors, bulldozers, cherry pickers, steamrollers, farm equipment, etc.
HEAVY MANUFACTURING
The assembly, fabrication, or processing of goods and materials using processes that ordinarily have greater than average impacts on the environment, or that ordinarily have significant impacts on the use and enjoyment of other properties in terms of noise, smoke, fumes, odors, glare, or health or safety hazards. Examples include, but are not limited to: scrap metal processing facilities, battery, chemicals, machinery, plastics manufacture, and mining not otherwise prohibited in the City. Prohibited uses include but are not limited to, the reprocessing of used petroleum products for transshipment, natural gas exploration, and the storage, disposal, or treatment of natural gas exploration and production wastes. See also § 375-301(5) (Prohibited uses).
HEAVY VEHICLE EQUIPMENT SALES, RENTAL, AND SERVICING
Sales of any motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 14,000 pounds, and sales of mechanical or electrical equipment stored or displayed outside, and/or the general repair, rebuilding, or reconditioning of engines, motor vehicles, power equipment, or trailers, such as collision services, body repair and frame straightening, painting and upholstering, vehicle steam cleaning and undercoating.
HEIGHT, BUILDING
The vertical distance from the established grade at the center of the front of the building to the highest point of the roof surface if a flat roof, to the deck line for mansard roofs, and to the mean height level between eaves and ridge for gabled, hip, and gambrel roofs.
HEIGHT, SIGN
The height of a sign measured from the grade of the nearest abutting street at the point where that street is closest to the sign.
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION
An institution, other than a trade school, that provides full-time or part-time education beyond high school, including but not limited to colleges and universities. Accessory or related facilities can include but are not limited to sports fields, dormitories, eating facilities, health facilities for students and staff, offices for administration and campus activities, recordkeeping facilities, and storage and maintenance facilities for equipment, furniture, supplies, vehicles or equipment owned, leased, or providing services to the institution.
HISTORIC DISTRICT
An area with defined boundaries so designated by the Common Council that possesses a significant concentration, linkage or continuity of sites, buildings, structures or objects united historically by past events or united aesthetically by plan or development. A historic district may also comprise individual elements, separated geographically, but linked by association or history.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
(1) 
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of the Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register;
(2) 
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
(3) 
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs that have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
(4) 
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either by an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, or directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE, CONTRIBUTING
A contributing structure is one which is typically older than 50 years and adds to the historic or architectural value of the district.
HOME OCCUPATION
A business, profession, occupation or trade conducted by the occupant of a dwelling unit or accessory structure and that is incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling unit.
HOSPITAL
An establishment that provides diagnosis and treatment, both surgical and nonsurgical, for patients who have any of a variety of medical conditions through an organized medical staff and permanent facilities that include inpatient beds, medical services, and continuous licensed professional nursing services. This definition includes any facility licensed by the state as a general, limited, or special hospital. Accessory uses can include helipads licensed by the State of New York.
HOSTEL
A place of transient lodging for travelers that provides dormitory-style sleeping accommodations and common communal areas, including a kitchen for use by guests.
HOTEL
A building or adjacent buildings designed for occupancy as a temporary residence of individuals who are lodged with or without meals and in which no provision is made for cooking in any individual room or suite, including hostels. This use includes related services and ancillary facilities such as restaurants, conference rooms, and the sale of convenience goods.
HOUSEHOLD
(1) 
Shall mean:
(a) 
One, two, or three persons occupying a dwelling unit (related or unrelated); or
(b) 
Four or more related persons occupying a dwelling unit as a household or the functional equivalent.
(c) 
Four or more persons occupying a dwelling unit whose right to live together is protected by the Federal Fair Housing Act, as amended and interpreted by the courts.
(2) 
It shall be presumptive evidence that four or more unrelated persons living in a single dwelling unit do not constitute the functional equivalent of a traditional "household."
(3) 
In determining whether individuals are living together as the functional equivalent of a household, the Chief Planning Official, or their designee, shall consider factors reasonably related to whether or not the group is the functional equivalent of a household.
IMPERVIOUS LOT COVERAGE
The total area of any lot or parcel occupied by all of the following:
(1) 
The footprint of the principal building (but excluding the surface area of any green roof);
(2) 
The footprints of all accessory buildings, parking garages, carports, utility and storage sheds (but excluding the surface area of any green roof);
(3) 
All areas or areas otherwise covered with materials impervious to water, including parking areas and driveways (but not including parking areas and driveways with pervious or semipervious paving materials); and
(4) 
All areas occupied by aboveground swimming pools (but not in-ground pools).
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
Any constructed hard surface that either prevents or impedes the entry of water into the soil. Examples include but are not limited to building roofs, sidewalks, driveways, and other paved surfaces.
IMPROVEMENT
A building, structure, pavement, parking facility, fence, gate, wall, sign, awning, work of art or object constructed or erected by humans or equipment operated by humans.
INDOOR RECREATION OR ENTERTAINMENT
A facility for indoor participation or observation of sports, games, fitness, arts, or culture activities that do not meet the definition for another use in this chapter. This use includes but is not limited to billiard parlors, game rooms, skating rinks, bowling alleys, gymnasiums not accessory to an education institution, racket clubs, sports arenas, and similar uses. Indoor recreation or entertainment can also refer to a building, room or area designed or used primarily for the presentation to the general public of live theater, dance performance, music, or cinema. This use does not include an indoor stadium or arena.
INFILL
New development that takes place on undeveloped lots within areas containing existing structures.
INFILTRATION
The process of percolating stormwater into the subsoil.
INTERIOR LANDMARK
A landmark noted for the portions of its interior that are open to the public.
INTERIOR LOT
A lot other than a corner lot with frontage on only one street.
INTERNAL RENOVATIONS
The process of changing the interior of a building or structure, including but not limited to changes in tenant finish, relocation of non-load-bearing walls. Internal renovations may include the replacement of existing windows and doors that have an incidental impact on the external appearance of the building.
LABORATORY or RESEARCH FACILITY
A facility where research and development is conducted in industries, including, but are not limited to, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical instrumentation or supplies, communication and information technology, electronics and instrumentation, and computer hardware and software. A research/laboratory facility does not involve the manufacture, fabrication, processing, or sale of products, with the exception of prototype development.
LAND
The earth, water, and air, above, below, or on the surface, and including any improvements or structures customarily regarded as land.
LANDFILL
Any site, location, tract of land, area, building or premises authorized by the City to be used for the disposal of refuse or demolition debris. Accessory uses include but are not limited to landfill gas recovery systems or facilities.
LANDMARK
All or any part of an object or structure or property designated as a landmark structure or site pursuant to this USDO.
LANDSCAPING
Any combination of vegetation, such as trees, shrubs, ground cover, thickets or grasses, that are planted, preserved, transplanted, maintained and groomed to develop, articulate and enhance the aesthetic quality of the area as well as provide erosion, drainage and wind control.
LEED, LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
A green building certification program created by the United States Green Building Council that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.
LIGHT MANUFACTURING
The assembly, fabrication, or processing of goods and materials using processes that ordinarily do not create noise, smoke, fumes, odors, glare, or health or safety hazards discernible outside of the building or lot where such assembly, fabrication, or processing takes place, and that do not require frequent rail or truck traffic to deliver goods or remove materials or waste, and where such processes are housed entirely within a building. This shall not include a blood plasma center.
LIGHT VEHICLE SALES OR RENTAL
The sale, display, lease, rental, or storage of motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds, including automobiles, vans, light trucks, light trailers, boats, and recreational vehicles minor vehicle repair and maintenance activities, such as engine tune-ups, oil change and lubrication, brake and muffler repair, tire rotation, glass replacement, and other limited repairs customarily done in service stations, but not including vehicle bodywork or painting, or major engine or transmission repairs. This use shall not include salvage operations, scrap operations, vehicle impound yards, or commercial parking lots available for short-term use.
LIGHT VEHICLE SERVICING
Minor vehicle repair and maintenance activities, such as engine tune-ups, oil change and lubrication, brake and muffler repair, tire rotation, glass replacement, and other limited repairs customarily done in service stations, but not including vehicle bodywork or painting, or major engine or transmission repairs. This use shall not include salvage operations, scrap operations, vehicle impound yards, or commercial parking lots available for short-term use.
LINER BUILDING
A building specifically designed to mask a parking lot or a parking garage from a street or open space.
LITTLE LIBRARY or LITTLE PANTRY
An enclosed structure containing no more than six cubic feet of space and designed to contain books or food items, with an opening front surface to allow individuals to place books and food items into the structure or to remove them from the structure, located so that the bottom surface of the enclosed structure is between two and three feet above grade.
LODGE
A structure used for meetings and activities by social, service or community organization. Examples are Elks, VFW, Kiwanis, Junior League, Masonic Lodge, Rotary and University Club.
LOT AREA
The amount of horizontal land area contained inside the lot lines of a lot or site.
LOT DEPTH
The average horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines or on a corner lot, the average horizontal distance between the primary street facing frontage and the side lot line opposite that frontage.
LOT LINE
A line bounding a lot that divides one lot from another lot or from a street or any other public or private space.
(1) 
LOT LINE, FRONTThat boundary of a lot measured along the edge of the right-of-way of a dedicated street, private street or road easement that abuts that line. In the case of a corner lot, all lines that meet this description are front lot lines.
(2) 
LOT LINE, REARThat boundary of a lot that is most parallel to the front lot line and does not intersect the front lot line. In the case of a triangular lot, the rear lot line is a line 20 feet in length within the lot parallel to and at the maximum distance from the front lot line.
(3) 
LOT LINE, SIDEThat boundary of a lot that is neither a front nor rear lot line.
LOT OF RECORD
A lot whose existence, location, and dimensions have been legally recorded in a deed or on a plat in the office of the Albany County Recorder of Deeds.
LOT or PARCEL
A designated parcel or lot of record established by a plat or as otherwise permitted by law, to be used or developed.
LOT WIDTH
The average horizontal distance between side lot lines, or on a corner lot, the average horizontal distance between the secondary street facing frontage and the side lot line opposite that frontage.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A transportable, factory-built structure that is designed to be used as a single dwelling unit, that was manufactured after 1976 or otherwise complies with the construction standards in the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. § 5401).[2]
MARINA
A small boat harbor or boat basin providing dockage, supplies and services for small pleasure craft.
MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE
No feasible or practical alternative exists, as determined by the Chief Planning Official, and all possible efforts to comply with the standards or regulation or minimize potential harmful or adverse impacts have been undertaken by the applicant. Economic considerations may be taken into account but shall not be the overriding factor determining maximum extent practicable.
MEDICAL CLINIC
A facility for physicians, dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists, or other licensed health care practitioners to examine and treat persons on an outpatient basis.
METHADONE DISPENSARY
A business that is registered to operate in the State of New York that sells or otherwise distributed methadone as part of a methadone maintenance treatment program to persons and under conditions that comply with state law.
MINING
Removal or extraction of mineral, sand, gravel, or aggregate resources from the ground for off-site use, including but not limited to those activities regulated by Chapter 211, Article III (Mining Operations) of the City Code. Examples include quarrying or dredging for sand, gravel or other aggregate materials; and mineral extraction.
MINOR RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE
An accessory structure commonly associated with a residential use and not listed separately in Table 375.401.4 (Exceptions and Encroachments).
MIXED-USE
The incorporation of more than one principal land use type within a single structure (i.e., a building with retail uses on the ground story, and offices or residential on the upper stories), or a similar set of uses organized in close proximity and planned as a unified complementary whole on a single site (horizontal mixed use).
MOBILE HOME
A transportable, factory-built structure that is designed to be used as a single dwelling unit that was manufactured before 1976 or otherwise does not comply with the construction standards in the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. § 5401). This definition does not include a recreational vehicle or travel trailer or other similar vehicles. Mobile homes are considered nonconforming and are therefore prohibited within the limits of the City of Albany.
MOBILE VENDOR
A self-contained mobile unit, independent with respect to water, sewer, and power utilities, capable of moving or being moved, consisting of an enclosed truck, enclosed trailer or similar mounted unit that contains equipment used for the preparation and/or sale of food products or other products and is closed up when not in operation. This use applies to mobile units when located on private property, and does not apply to vendors parked on public streets, which are subject to police regulations.
MODULAR HOME
Multiple sectional housing manufactured after June 15, 1976, to standards established by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. A standardized factory-fabricated transportable building module not having a chassis or wheels of its own, designed and constructed in accordance with all applicable local building codes and intended to be placed on a permanent foundation, by itself or incorporated with similar units on the building site. The structure or building module is transportable in one or more sections on a temporary chassis or other conveyance device, and is designed to be used as a permanent building (dwelling, office, etc.) when installed on its required permanent foundation system. Utilities are installed and connected as in conventional housing.
MUSEUM
A facility open to the public, with or without charge, for the collection and display of paintings, sculpture, textiles, antiquities, other works of art, or similar items.
NATURAL AREA OR PRESERVE
An area of land and/or water that has a predominantly undeveloped character. Natural areas may be pristine, or may have been affected by human activity such as vegetation removal, agriculture, grading or drainage if such areas retain significant natural characteristics, or have recovered to the extent that they contribute to the City's natural systems, including hydrology, vegetation, or wildlife habitat. The purpose of natural areas is to provide a scenic, aesthetic appearance and/or to protect natural processes, to provide passive recreational uses, and/or to maintain natural vegetation.
NATURAL GAS
Any gaseous substance, either combustible or noncombustible, that is produced in a natural state from the earth and that maintains a gaseous or rarified state at standard temperature or pressure conditions, and/or gaseous components or vapors occurring in or derived from petroleum or other hydrocarbons.
NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION WASTES
Any garbage, refuse, sludge, or other discarded materials, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material, that results from the exploration, drilling or extraction of natural gas.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after the effective date of a floodplain management regulation adopted by the community and includes any subsequent improvements to such structure.
NONCONFORMING LOT
A lot of record that was legally established prior to the effective date of this USDO, but that does not conform to the current minimum area and/or dimensions required in the zoning district in which it is located.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE
A structure that was legally established prior to the effective date of this USDO and under the laws and regulations in effect at the time the structure was established, but that does not conform to the current dimensional or frontage standards of the zoning district in which it is located.
NONCONFORMING USE
A use of a lot or a structure that was legally established prior to the effective date of this USDO, but that does not conform to the current zoning regulations of the district in which it is located.
NONRESIDENTIAL USE
Any use not listed within the land use category titled “Residential Uses” in Table 375.302.1 (Permitted Use Table).
OFFICE, GENERAL
Establishments providing executive, management, administrative, professional services, consulting, banking, laboratory, recordkeeping, music or sound recording, or a headquarters of an enterprise or organization, but not including the on-premises sale of retail goods. This use does not include a blood plasma center, laboratory or research facility, professional office, cannabis dispensary, medical clinic or methadone dispensary.
[Amended 11-25-2023 by Ord. No. 29.71.23]
OFF-STREET PARKING
All off-street areas and spaces designed, used, required or intended to be used for parking, including driveways or accessways in and to such areas.
OPEN SPACE
An area on a lot not covered by a principal or accessory building, parking or impervious surface.
OPERATING HOURS
The hours within which a product may be sold, offered for sale, or given away for on-premises consumption. No person shall be permitted to consume any product upon such premises later than 30 minutes after the end of operating hours.
ORNAMENTAL TREE
Any tree, shrub, or other plant grown primarily for decorative purposes and whose mature height can be expected to be between four feet and 12 feet, as specified by the American Standard of Nursery Stock.
OUTDOOR RECREATION OR ENTERTAINMENT
Facilities for outdoor sporting or recreational activities. This use includes but is not limited to amusement parks, commercial baseball or other athletic fields, race tracks, fairgrounds, commercial picnic grounds, commercial fishing lakes, marinas, boat launches, commercial stables, outdoor stage and concert facilities, gun clubs, skeet, trap, or target ranges, commercial golf courses, miniature golf courses, and commercial swimming pools. This does not include an outdoor stadium or arena.
OUTDOOR STORAGE
The keeping of any goods, material, merchandise or vehicles outside of an enclosed building, typically associated with nonresidential uses that may include loading docks, trash compactors, garbage/recycling collection areas, and or storage of trailers, equipment, containers, crates, pallets, merchandise, materials, forklifts, trash, recyclables, etc.
OVERLAY DISTRICT
A unique set of zoning regulations that are superimposed on one or more established zoning districts and shown on the Zoning Map, and subsequently imposed in addition to or in place of the regulations of the underlying district. The overlay district may be used to impose supplemental restrictions on uses in these districts, permit uses otherwise disallowed, or implement some form of site or architectural design program. Developments within an overlay district must conform to the requirements of the underlying district as modified by the overlay district and as set forth in the enacting ordinance.
PARAPET
That portion of a wall that extends above the roofline.
PARK or PLAYGROUND
A private or public open area for recreation, which may include accessory parking areas, shelters, picnic tables, restrooms, and other facilities for the use of park patrons. May also be a defined open space, typically interspersed within residential areas, which is designed and equipped for the recreation of children. Playgrounds may be freestanding or located within parks, greens, or school sites.
PARKING LOT, SURFACE
An area on the surface of the land for parking automobiles and light vehicles.
PARKING STRUCTURE
An area in an underground or aboveground structure, or an area incorporated into the structural design of a building, for parking automobiles and light trucks in return for direct or indirect compensation.
PARTY
For purposes of administration of this USDO, the applicant, City, and any affected person who has requested to be heard at a hearing on an application.
PASSIVE SOLAR SYSTEM
A solar energy system that relies upon original or retrofitted design features and building materials of a structure to enhance the use of natural forces to provide heating and cooling within a building.
PAVED
Surfaced with a hard, smooth surface, usually consisting of portland cement or asphalt underlain by a subgrade of crushed rock.
PAWN SHOP
The premises at which personal property or other valuables are purchased on condition of selling the same back again at a stipulated price, and/or the premises at which a pawnbroker loans money on deposit, or pledge of personal property, or other valuable thing, other than securities or printed evidence of indebtedness.
PEAK DISCHARGE RATE
The maximum instantaneous rate of flow during a storm, usually in reference to a specific design storm event.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, government agency, business trust, partnership, two or more persons having a joint interest, or any other legal entity.
PERSONAL OR BUSINESS SERVICE
Any business that primarily performs a support service for an individual or business, including but not limited to a tanning salon, tattoo parlor, shoe repair shop, dry-cleaning establishment, laundromat, photocopying (either self-service or full-service), design, printing and binding of documents, presentations, desktop publishing, packaging, and/or mailing, makerspace, collaborative work space, and sign shop. This use does not include a beauty salon or spa, barbershop, or controlled substance dispensary. Accessory sales of goods may occupy no more than 25% of the gross floor area of the establishment.
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM
A solar energy system that produces electricity by the use of semiconductor devices, called photovoltaic cells, that generate electricity whenever light strikes them.
PLANT NURSERY
An establishment, including a building, part of a building, or open space, for the growth, display and/or sale of plants, trees, and other materials used in indoor or outdoor planting for retail sales and incidental wholesale trade.
PLAT
A map or delineated representation of a subdivision of land, including other information required by this USDO.
PLAY EQUIPMENT
Accessory structures and uses, used for recreation and play, including jungle gyms, playhouses, play sets/structures/equipment, skateboard halfpipes, swing sets, trampolines, tree houses, sandboxes, and other similar uses.
PLAZA
A formal open space available for civic and commercial uses and spatially defined by building frontages. Landscaping in a plaza consists primarily of hardscape; trees and shrubs are optional.
POLICE OR FIRE STATION
Facilities for the provision of municipal rapid response emergency services, such as firefighting and policing, including areas for the storage and maintenance of emergency vehicles and equipment and housing and feeding of emergency personnel.
PORCH
An unconditioned exterior structure attached to the exterior wall of a building, and having a roof, floor, and foundation or piers. Porches may feature elements, including but not limited to, ballusters and railings, columns, and corbels. The enclosure of unenclosed porches is not permitted within the City.
PORTABLE STORAGE CONTAINER
A semitrailer, truck box, or other similar container placed on a property for use as accessory storage. Dumpsters or roll-off containers used for the temporary storage of solid waste shall not be included under this definition.
PREMISES
A lot, plot or parcel of land, including any structure on the lot, plot, or parcel of land.
PRIMARY FACADE
The front plane of a building not including stoops, porches, or other attached architectural features.
PRIMARY PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE
The entrance to a structure that is located along the primary street.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING
A building in which the principal use of the lot is conducted, or if there are multiple buildings in which such use is conducted, then as determined by the Chief Planning Official. In zoning districts where more than one principal use is permitted on a lot, there may be more than one principal building on the lot.
PRINCIPAL USE
The primary or predominant uses to which the lot or building is or may be devoted.
PROFESSIONAL ARCHAEOLOGIST
An individual possessing an appropriate level of educational achievement, expertise, and experience so as to be knowledgeable concerning relevant aspects of the archaeology, history, and culture of this City and who meets the professional qualifications standards set forth in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE
Any establishment providing a limited amount of services by licensed professionals, including, but not limited to, doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, chiropractors, attorneys, accountants, architects, physical therapists, or graphic designers predominantly by appointment only.
PROJECT
Any construction or development activity upon real property.
PROPERTY OWNER
Any person having a legal or equitable interest in real property.
PUBLIC ENTITY
The United States government, including any department, agency, or bureau thereof; the State of New York and any political subdivision thereof; or any county, school district, special district, or quasi-municipal corporation, including the City of Albany.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
Any parcel of land appropriated for the free passage of the general public.
PUBLIC UTILITY
Any person, firm, or corporation, municipal department, board or commission duly authorized to provide public utilities under federal, state, or municipal regulations, including but not limited to gas, steam, electricity, sewage disposal, communication, and water.
PUBLIC UTILITY OR SERVICES, MAJOR
Buildings and facilities for the provision and distribution of public utilities, including without limitation water, sewer, storm drainage, electric, and gas services, by a regulated utility or a public or quasi-public entity, of a size and scale found only in scattered sites throughout the city. This use includes but is not limited to electric transmission lines over 100 kilovolts, electric power substations, gas substations, regional stormwater drainage facilities, water treatment plants, sewer treatment plants, and public utility service centers.
PUBLIC UTILITY OR SERVICES, MINOR
The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance, by public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies, of underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam or water transmission or distribution systems, including poles, wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith, reasonably necessary for the furnishing of adequate service by such entities or for the public health or safety or general welfare, but not including buildings.
QUALIFIED CONSULTANT
A professional who is accredited by or registered with a professional group operating within the scope of their license that is acceptable to the City.
QUORUM
The minimum number of board members that must be present at a meeting for the board to conduct official business or take official actions.
RAINWATER HARVESTING BARREL
A barrel designed for the on-site harvest and storage of rainwater used to offset the potable water needs for a building and/or site.
RECHARGE
The replenishment of underground water reserves.
RECREATION
(1) 
ACTIVE RECREATION SPACEA common area designated for leisure activities that are usually formal in nature and intended for group participation, including, but not limited to, swimming pools, playgrounds, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, and baseball, soccer, or other playing fields.
(2) 
PASSIVE RECREATION SPACEAn area set aside for the use by the residents and/or the public that accommodates activities such as walking, jogging, biking, sitting, picnicking, and any activity that does not require improved structures or formal recreation fields.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A transportable structure or self-propelled vehicle with or without flexible removable or collapsible walls and partitions, designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreation or vacation uses. The term "recreational vehicle" shall include motor home, camper bus and travel trailer, but shall not include pickup trucks with camper shells that extend one foot or less above the cab of the truck.
RECYCLING DROPOFF CENTER
An building or area of land that serves as a dropoff point for temporary storage for recoverable resources, such as newspapers, glassware, plastics, and metal cans, for onward shipment to a recycling processor or distributor, but at which no processing of such items occurs.
REDEVELOPMENT
A change to previously existing, improved property, including but not limited to the demolition or building of structures, filling, grading, paving or excavating, but excluding internal renovations or ordinary maintenance activities.
REGULATING PLAN
A plan for form-based zoning districts that illustrates the overall vision for the district and describes the required form developments must follow in these areas. Each regulating plan is a part of the Zoning Ordinance.
REHABILITATION
The act or process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations and additions, while preserving those portions or features which convey its historic, cultural or architectural values.
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION
A structure or place in which worship, ceremonies, rituals, and education pertaining to a particular system of beliefs are held, together with its accessory buildings and uses (including buildings used for educational and recreational activities), operated, maintained, and controlled under the direction of a religious group. Examples include churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, or other places of worship. Accessory uses may include but are not limited to school facilities, parking, caretaker's housing, pastor's housing, group living facilities, such as convents, or a columbarium.
RESIDENTIAL USE
Any use listed within the land use category titled “Residential Uses” in Table 375.302.1 (Permitted Use Table).
RESTAURANT
Any establishment that prepares and serves meals for consumption on premises or to take away, and where any sale of alcohol permitted by the State of New York is secondary to the sale of food. This use includes a banquet facility.
RETAIL
A use that meets the definition of convenience retail, general retail, specialty retail, supermarket, but not including a methadone dispensary.
[Amended 11-25-2023 by Ord. No. 29.71.23]
(1) 
RETAIL, GENERALEstablishments engaged in selling goods or merchandise to the general public for personal or household consumption and rendering services incidental to the sale of such goods, including auction houses, that do not meet the definition of any other retail use, a restaurant use, or any other use listed in Table 375.302.1 (Permitted Use Table).
(2) 
RETAIL, CONVENIENCEA retail store selling a limited selection of groceries, beverages, snacks, lottery tickets, newspapers, magazines, tobacco products, household products and personal items to be consumed primarily off the premises. This use is designed to attract customers who purchase a relatively few items and depends upon a large volume of stop-and-go traffic.
(3) 
RETAIL, SPECIALTYA retailer concentrating on selling a limited or select merchandise line of goods and having a narrow but extensive selection in their specialty. Examples are bicycle shops, music stores, florists, photo supply stores and antique shops.
(4) 
RETAIL, SUPERMARKETA retail or wholesale store selling foodstuffs and daily essential items, which may include but not be limited to canned goods, meats, dairy products, vegetables, condiments and paper goods, and in which at least 5% of the gross revenues of the establishment come from sales of fresh vegetables, fruit, and produce.
REZONING
See "amendment to Zoning Map."
RHYTHM
A regular pattern of shapes, including, but not limited to, windows, doors, projections, and heights, within a building, structure or monument, or a group of the same.
ROOMING HOUSE
A building containing a single dwelling unit and rooms for the rooming and/or boarding of at least three persons by prearrangement for definite periods of not less than one week. This use also includes a building containing multiple single room dwelling units, with each unit for occupancy by no more than two individuals and with a maximum square footage of 450 square feet.
SANITARY SEWER
A sewer which carries sanitary sewage and to which storm, surface and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.
SATELLITE DISH ANTENNA
A dish antenna designed for transmitting signals to a receiver or receiving station or for receiving television, radio, data, communication or other signals from other antennas, satellites or other services.
SCALE
The size and proportion of a building relative to surrounding buildings and environs, adjacent streets, and pedestrians.
SCHOOL
An accredited public or private institution offering a course of education recognized by the State of New York as leading to a high school diploma or equivalent. Accessory uses may include student sports fields or facilities, playgrounds, gardens, and a dwelling unit for a caretaker.
SCRAP METAL PROCESSING FACILITY
An establishment engaged primarily in the purchase, processing and shipment of ferrous and/or nonferrous scrap, the end product of which is the production of raw material for remelting purposes for steel mills, foundries, smelters, refiners, and similar users.
SCREENING
Whenever this term is used, it shall refer to any landscaping, screening, buffering, fencing or other barrier as required by this USDO.
SELF-STORAGE FACILITY
An establishment that permits customers to store their own materials in private, commercially available warehousing space in individual lockable units accessible from outside driveways or from indoor hallways.
SERVICE AREA
Any building, land area, or other premises used for the retail dispensing or sales of vehicular fuels; minor towing, servicing, and repair of automobiles and light trucks; and including as an accessory use the sale and installation of lubricants, tires, batteries, and similar vehicle accessories. Body and fender work, transmission work, engine overhaul work, or repair of heavy trucks or vehicles is excluded from this use.
SETBACK
The required minimum distance between the lot line and the closest projection of a building or structure along a line at right angles to the lot line. Setbacks shall be unobstructed from the ground to the sky except as otherwise specifically allowed in this USDO.
(1) 
SETBACK, FRONT— A setback that extends across the full width of a lot or site, the depth of which is the distance between the front lot line and the closest projection of a building or structure line at right angles to the front lot line, excluding allowable encroachments and projections set forth in this USDO.
(2) 
SETBACK, REARA setback that extends across the full width of a lot or site, the depth of which is the distance between the rear lot line and the closest projection of a building or structure along a line at right angles to the rear lot line, excluding allowable encroachments and projections set forth in this USDO.
(3) 
SETBACK, SIDEA setback that extends from the rear line of the required front setback, or the front lot line of the site where no front setback is required, to the front line of the required rear setback, or the rear lot line of the site where no rear setback is required, the width of which is the distance between the side lot line and a line parallel thereto on the site.
SHADE TREE
Any tree, evergreen or deciduous, planted primarily for its high crown of foliage and whose mature height can be expected to exceed 20 feet, as specified by the American Standard of Nursery Stock. See Table 375.406.1.
SHOPFRONT
A room or set of rooms, making up a nonresidential tenant space, and collectively facing the street on the ground floor of a commercial or mixed-use building that includes a high percentage of transparent windows to create visual interest from the adjacent public sidewalk.
[Amended 8-5-2024 by Ord. No. 10.42.24]
SIDEWALK OR OUTDOOR CAFE
An outside area adjacent to an establishment selling food and/or drink on which food and drinks are served to patrons of the establishment.
SIGHT TRIANGLE
An area at a street intersection in which nothing shall be erected, placed or allowed to grow in such a manner as to materially impede vision of traffic at an intersection.
SIGN
Any announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration or insignia used to advertise or promote the interests of any business or persons when the same is placed in view of the general public.
(1) 
AWNING SIGNAny sign or graphic attached to, painted on or applied to an awning, awning canopy or fuel canopy.
(2) 
FREESTANDING SIGNAny sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground, and that are independent from any building or any other structure.
(3) 
MONUMENT SIGNSignage constructed on a monument base identifying the name of the business or retail center on the premises upon which the sign is placed. A sign face manufactured and constructed clearly to be a portable sign shall not be used in any form to be made into a permanent sign.
(4) 
POLE SIGNAny freestanding sign in which the sign face is supported by a single post, pole or support, and the area between the sign face and the ground is not opaque or enclosed, so that the sign face support structure is visible.
(5) 
OFF-PREMISES SIGNA sign unrelated to a business or a profession conducted or to a commodity or service sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
(6) 
POST-AND-PANEL SIGNAny freestanding sign in which the sign face is supported by two poles, posts, or supports, generally located at or near either end of the sign face, and between which poles, posts, or supports the sign face is visible.
(7) 
PROJECTING SIGNAny sign which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building with the display surface of the sign perpendicular to the building wall.
(8) 
WALL SIGNA sign attached to the wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the face of said wall, not extending beyond the ends or over the top of the wall to which the sign is attached, nor more than nine inches from the face of the building or structure to which the sign is attached.
SILL
The horizontal member (or assembly of members) at the base of a window or door opening.
SITE
Any lot or lots of record, or contiguous combination thereof, under the same ownership.
SITE PLAN
See "development plan."
SMOKE OR VAPE SHOP
An establishment primarily engaged in the retail sale of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco paraphernalia, electronic smoking devices, liquid nicotine containers or vapor products. A use shall be defined as a smoke or vape shop by considering factors such as the proportion of floor area dedicated to the display or sale of said products, the proportion of total revenue derived from said products, and the overall marketing or branding of the establishment.
[Added 8-5-2024 by Ord. No. 3.21.24]
SOLAR COLLECTOR
A solar photovoltaic cell, panel, or array, or solar hot air or water collector device, that relies upon solar radiation as an energy source for the generation of electricity or transfer of stored heat.
SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT
Solar collectors, controls, energy storage devices, heat pumps, heat exchangers, and other materials, hardware or equipment necessary to the process by which solar radiation is collected, converted into another form of energy, stored, protected from unnecessary dissipation and distributed. Solar systems include solar thermal, photovoltaic, and passive solar.
SOLAR FARM
A site at which photovoltaic cells and generators are used to generate and produce electric power for distribution to consumers, typically managed by a single entity.
SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS
A solar energy system that generates energy by collecting and focusing solar energy onto a small area to heat a fluid to a high temperature, which in turn drives an electric generator.
SPIRE
A tall, pyramidal, polygonal, or conical structure rising from a tower, turret, or roof (usually of an institutional use) and terminating in a point.
SQUARE
A formal open space available for recreational and civic uses and spatially defined by abutting streets and building frontages. Landscaping in a square consists of lawn, trees, and shrubs planted in formal patterns and it is typically furnished with paths, benches, and open shelters.
STADIUM or ARENA
An open or enclosed area where sporting events or contests are held and provides seating for more than 300 spectators. Stadium uses also include auditoriums and band shells.
STAFF
Employees of the City of Albany.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
The date of permit issuance for new construction and substantial improvements to existing structures, provided that the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition placement, or other improvement is within 180 days after the date of issuance. The actual start of construction means the first placement of permanent construction of a building (including a manufactured home) on a site, such as the pouring of a slab or footings, installation of pilings or construction of columns. Permanent construction does not include land preparation (such as clearing, excavation, grading, or filling), or the installation of streets or walkways, or excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundations, or the erection of temporary forms, or the installation of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main building. For a substantial improvement, the actual "start of construction" means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of a building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
STATE
The State of New York.
STOOP
A frontage element wherein the building facade is aligned close to the lot line with the first story elevated from the sidewalk sufficiently to secure privacy for the windows. The entrance is usually an exterior stair and landing.
STOP-WORK ORDER
An order issued by a Building Inspector or other authorized City staff that directs the person responsible for an activity in violation of this USDO or the adopted Building Code to cease and desist such activity.
STORAGE AND WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION
An establishment engaged in the sale of commodities in quantity to retailers, other businesses, industries or institutions, and/or an establishment for the storage of products, supplies, and equipment offered for wholesale distribution (not for direct sale to the general public). This use does not include a self-storage facility.
STORAGE SHED
An accessory structure used for storage of personal items.
STORM SEWER
A sewer which carries storm- and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes other than cooling waters and other unpolluted waters.
STORMWATER
Rainwater, surface runoff, snowmelt and drainage.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
The use of structural or nonstructural practices that are designed to reduce stormwater runoff and mitigate its adverse impacts on property, natural resources and the environment.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY
One or a series of stormwater management practices installed, stabilized and operating for the purpose of controlling stormwater runoff.
STORMWATER RUNOFF
Flow on the surface of the ground resulting from precipitation.
STORY
That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it; if there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling or roof structure next above it.
(1) 
STORY, HALFThat floor area under a sloped roof where no more than 70% of the floor area meets the minimum ceiling height requirements under the applicable building code.
(2) 
STORY, GROUND or FIRSTThe lowest story or the ground story of any building, the floor of which is not more than 12 inches below the average grade at the exterior front walls of the building.
(3) 
STORY, BASEMENTA floor area of a building where the finished grade of the floor is not more than four feet below the average grade along the front of the building. It shall be considered a story whether occupied or not.
(4) 
STORY, NONCOMMERCIALA horizontal internal surface of a building that is at least 50% as large as the footprint of the building on the lot at ground level, and that is only occupied by a group living use or a household living use, and/or by a permitted home occupation.
STREET
A right-of-way, typically publicly owned, serving primarily as a means of vehicular and pedestrian travel, providing access to abutting properties, and which may also be used to provide space for bicycle facilities, stormwater management facilities, shade trees, and utilities.
(1) 
PRIMARY STREETThe public right-of-way that serves as primary pedestrian access to a property.
(2) 
SECONDARY STREETThe public right-of-way that serves as the secondary pedestrian access to a property when coupled with a primary street or the primary access when coupled with a tertiary street.
(3) 
TERTIARY STREETThe public right-of-way that serves as the lower priority access to a property when coupled with a secondary or primary street or the primary access when coupled with a street of lower value in the street hierarchy; the third in line of street hierarchy.
(4) 
ARTERIAL STREETA street designed to be used by large volumes of through traffic, receive traffic flow from collector and local streets, allow for major movement between areas of the City, and usually have heavy traffic moving at relatively high speeds.
(5) 
COLLECTOR STREETA street that carries traffic from local streets to the arterial network, consists of principal entrance streets for residential, nonresidential and mixed-use developments, and provides for major circulation within the developments. These streets can be broken down into major and minor with major collectors typically being longer in length, having lower connecting driveway densities, having higher speed limits, spaced at greater intervals, having higher annual average traffic volumes, and may have more travel lanes than minor collectors.
(6) 
LOCAL STREETA street designed primarily for access directly to individual lots or developments. These streets are not intended for use in long distance travel as they are often designed to discourage through traffic.
(7) 
PRIVATE STREETAn interior circulation road designed and constructed to carry traffic from public streets within or adjoining a site to parking and service areas; it is not maintained nor intended to be maintained by the public.
(8) 
PUBLIC STREETA right-of-way that has been set aside for public travel, built to public street standards, and eligible for maintenance by either the City of Albany or the State of New York.
STREET FURNITURE
Fittings and fixtures installed in streets, such as lampposts, fire hydrants, street signs, and similar municipal structures, at or above grade level, including benches, litter and recycling receptacles, bike racks, newsracks, water fountains, pedestrian-scaled lighting and planters.
STREET TREE
A tree planted within a public right-of-way.
STREETSCAPE
The elements which lie within and adjacent to a public right-of-way that relate to the physical appearance of a street/road and the adjoining area which, as a group, define its character. They include, but are not limited to building facades, street/road furniture, landscaping, pedestrian walkways, off-street and on-street parking provisions, placement and design of awnings and marquees, signs and lighting.
STREETSCAPE ZONES
(1) 
FRONTAGE ZONEThe area between the building front or private lot line and the pedestrian zone, intended to buffer pedestrians from doorways and appurtenances.
(2) 
PEDESTRIAN ZONEThe area primarily used for pedestrian travel along a sidewalk.
(3) 
BUFFER ZONEThe area between the pedestrian zone and the curb zone, typically used for utilities, landscaping, public signage, transit stops, public street furniture, and other public streetscape amenities.
(4) 
CURB ZONEThe area located immediately adjacent to the roadway, which serves as a safety feature to prevent vehicles from driving onto the sidewalk and sometimes as a part of the storm drainage system.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATION
Any alteration involving a change in or addition to the supporting members of a building, structure, or sign, such as bearing walls, columns, beams, girders or poles.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected which requires permanent or temporary location on the ground or attachment to something permanently attached to the ground. This term shall include, but not be limited to, buildings, walls, fences, sheds, awnings, signs, billboards, lighting fixtures, screen enclosures, works of art, electronic transmission or reception devices or other electronic devices and mechanical devices related to a building function.
STYLE
A type of architecture distinguished by special characteristics of structure or ornament and often related in time; also, a general quality of distinctive character.
SUBDIVISION
The division of any parcel of land into two or more lots, blocks or sites, with or without streets or highways, and includes re-subdivision and the combination of existing parcels.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement. The term includes structures that have incurred substantial damage, regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:
(1) 
Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications that have been identified by the local code enforcement official and that are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
(2) 
Any alteration of a historic structure, provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT, CUMULATIVE
Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvement of a structure that equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure at the time of the improvement or repair when counted cumulatively for 10 years.
SWIMMING POOL
Any confined body of water designed, used, or intended to be used for swimming or bathing purposes, the bottom and sides of which are constructed using man-made materials.
TELECOMMUNICATION ANTENNA OR SATELLITE DISH AS ACCESSORY USE
A piece of equipment or a dish antenna used for receiving and/or transmitting telecommunications signals that is attached to or located inside a building as an accessory structure, as opposed to a freestanding antenna or tower structure mounted on the ground.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER
A freestanding structure erected on the ground to support wireless communication antennas and connecting appurtenances. Support structure types include, but are not limited to, stanchions, monopoles, lattice towers, wood poles or guyed towers.
TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION OFFICE OR YARD
A facility or area used as a temporary field construction office, temporary outdoor storage of construction equipment and materials associated with an active permit to demolish or construct buildings, structures or infrastructure.
TEMPORARY REAL ESTATE SALES/LEASING OFFICE
A facility or area used as a temporary office to sell or lease land or buildings or interests in land or buildings within a specified area.
TEMPORARY/SEASONAL SALES
The temporary sale of goods or products associated with the season or a cultural event, such as the sale of Christmas trees, pumpkins, or seasonal produce. Such sales typically take place in locations not devoted to such sales for the remainder of the year.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign that is designed to be used only temporarily and is not intended to be permanently attached to a building, structure or permanently installed in the ground.
TEN-YEAR STORM
The peak discharge rate associated with a twenty-four-hour storm event that has a 100% chance of being equaled or exceeded in a given ten-year period.
THEATER
A building or space, or portion thereof, used for cultural education and experiences, motion pictures, live productions, or other entertainment, including, but not limited to, museums, art galleries, aquariums, amphitheaters, theaters, cultural entertainment facilities and performance halls.
THROUGH LOT
A lot other than a corner lot with frontage on more than one street.
TOWER
Any structure that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas for commercial, amateur, or ham radio, telephone, television, and similar communications purposes, including self-supporting guyed towers, lattice towers, or monopole towers. The term includes alternative tower structures, cellular telephone towers, common-carrier towers, microwave towers, radio and television transmission towers, and ham radio towers, as well as any supports for them, and specifically includes "telecommunications tower" and "tower structure, other" as defined in this Article VI.
TOWER STRUCTURE, OTHER
All towers erected on the ground that do not meet the definition of "telecommunication towers," including but not limited to amateur/ham radio, broadcasting towers, radio towers, and television towers.
TRADE SCHOOL
A private or public institution that teaches students a trade or job skill rather than the broad curriculum offered by a college or university. Examples are welding, auto repair, barber/beauty, secretarial/office skills, construction, accounting, bookkeeping, web design, computer programming, and similar skills.
TRAILER
A vehicle without motor power, designed so that it can be drawn by a motor vehicle for the conveyance of cargo or property. This shall include but is not limited to utility trailers, cargo trailers, enclosed trailers, stock trailers, equipment trailers, car haulers and watercraft trailers devoid of watercraft.
TRANSIT FACILITY
A building, facility or area located outside of the public right-of-way and designed for and used by persons using or changing transportation modes or transit routes, or for the storage or parking of transit vehicles, generally for periods of no more than 24 hours.
TRAVEL TRAILER
Any coach, cabin, or other vehicle or structure, intended for or capable of human dwelling or sleeping purposes, mounted upon wheels or supports, or supported and/or capable of being moved by its own power or transported by another vehicle.
UNDEVELOPED LOT
A lot that is not in use, is in temporary use, or lacks permanent improvement.
UNDEVELOPED SITE CONDITION
Where any site was previously altered from its undeveloped state as determined from available topographic or historical maps. Where no information is available concerning the site in its undeveloped state, all calculations will be based upon the assumption of uniform gently sloping grades (5%), moderately impervious soils and light forestation.
USE
The purpose for which a structure or premises, or part thereof, is occupied, designed or arranged. Each line in the Permitted Use Table in § 375-302 establishes a separate and distinct use.
VACANT BUILDING
A building, building portion, or property that is unoccupied and left unsecured.
VARIANCE
The Board of Zoning Appeals' (BZA) authorized departure from the terms of this USDO in direct regard to conditions peculiar to an individual lot in accordance with the procedures set forth thereto in this USDO.
(1) 
AREA VARIANCEThe authorization by the BZA for the use of land in a manner which is not allowed by the dimensional or physical requirements of the applicable regulations of this USDO.
(2) 
USE VARIANCEThe authorization by the BZA for the use of land for a purpose which is otherwise not allowed or is prohibited by the applicable regulations of this USDO.
(3) 
FLOODPLAIN VARIANCEA grant of relief from the requirements of § 375-206(3) (FP-O Floodplain Overlay) that permits construction or use in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by § 375-206(3).
VEHICLE FUELING STATION
A building or place of business where gasoline, electric vehicle charging stations, and alternative fuels, such as compressed natural gas, are supplied and dispensed directly to customers at retail. This use may include the sale of food and convenience items, and automotive accessories to customers, but shall not include any vehicle repairs listed under light vehicle sales, rental, and servicing.
VEHICLE TOWING, WRECKING, OR JUNKYARD
The dismantling or disassembly of used motor vehicles or trailers, or the storage, sales, or dumping of dismantled, partially dismantled, obsolete, or wrecked vehicles or their parts. This use includes premises or lots used for the storage or handling of scrap or recyclable materials, as well as vehicle towing operations.
VETERINARIAN or KENNEL
An establishment that provides medical treatment and care to animals, and that may include temporary or overnight boarding of animals that are recuperating from treatment, or an establishment in which five or more domesticated animals (dogs and cats), more than six months of age, are housed, groomed, bred, boarded, trained or sold. This use includes but is not limited to, animal hospitals, kennels, veterinary clinics, and animal shelters.
VIOLATION
An action that results in a property or use not being fully compliant with the provisions of this USDO, as described in § 375-507(4) (Violations and responsible parties).
WALL PLANE
The predominant vertical or near vertical wall surface located on the facade of a building.
WASTE/RECYCLING PROCESSING FACILITY
A site or facility where solid waste, recycled materials and compostable materials are collected and/or processed. "Processing" shall mean the preparation of materials for the efficient shipment by such means as baling, compacting, flattening, grinding, crushing, mechanical sorting, and cleaning.
WETLAND
An area that is inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, commonly known as "hydrophytic vegetation."
YARD
An unoccupied area, open and unobstructed from the ground or any floor level to the sky, on the same lot as a building.
(1) 
YARD, FRONTA yard located between the front lot line and the front of any structure (not including fences).
(2) 
YARD, REARA yard located between the rear line of any building or structure (not including fences) and the rear lot line.
(3) 
YARD, SIDEA yard between any structure (not including fences) and the side lot line.
ZONING DISTRICT
Parts of the City for which the regulations governing the use of and occupation of property are the same.
ZONING MAP
The Zoning Map or Maps of the City of Albany, New York, together with all amendments thereto subsequently adopted.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Public Health Law § 3300 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: The former definitions of "marijuana dispensary" and "marijuana manufacturing facility," which immediately followed, were repealed 11-25-2023 by Ord. No. 29.71.23.