Below is a glossary of commonly used terms or acronyms in conducting City business.
Planning, Zoning & Inspections
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act |
| ADT | Average Daily Traffic - Sometimes used as a measure of traffic volume in traffic impact analysis |
| ALF | Assisted Living Facility |
| B-1 | Central Business Zoning District - See Chapter 9 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| B-2 | Highway Commercial Zoning District - See Chapter 8 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| BAR | Board of Architectural Review - See Chapter 14 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| BFE | Base Flood Elevation - See Section 14.1-6-2 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| BRL | Building Restriction Line - See Chapter 1 of Winchester Zoning Ordinance for definitions of Setback and Yards |
| BZA | Board of Zoning Appeals - See Chapter 20 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| CAM | Council Action Memo - Accompanies staff reports and exhibits for development cases subject to review by City Council |
| CE | Corridor Enhancement Zoning District - See Chapter 14.2 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| CIP | Capital Improvement Plan (or Program) |
| CLG | Certified Local Government - a federal program administered through the Virginia DHR that provides historic preservation grants to member Cities, including Winchester |
| CM-1 | Commercial Industrial Zoning District - See Chapter 10 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| COA | Certificate of Appropriateness - Issued for approved exterior changes in the HW and CE overlay districts |
| COB | Certificate of Occupancy for Business |
| CO | Certificate of Occupancy - See Section 18-1 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| COH | Home Occupation Certificate of Use - See Section 18-19 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| CP | Comprehensive Plan - State-mandated long-range plan for the City |
| CUP | Conditional Use Permit - See Section 18-2 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| DHCD | Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development |
| DHR | Virginia Department of Historic Resources |
| EIP | Education, Institution and Public Use Zoning District- See Chapter 16.1 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| EZ | Enterprise Zone- See Chapter 8 of City Code |
| FAR | Floor Area Ratio – a measurement of permitted building floor area relative to total parcel area |
| FIRM | Flood Insurance Rate Map - See Section 14.1-6-9 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| FP | Flood Plain Zoning District - See Chapter 14.1 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| FWSA | Federal Highway Administration |
| GDP | Generalized Development Plan - Sometimes included as a proffer with conditional rezoning requests |
| GFA | Gross Floor Area |
| HE-1 | Higher Education Zoning District - See Chapter 16 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| HR | High Density Residential Zoning District- See Chapter 5 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| HR-1 | Limited High Density Residential Zoning District - See Chapter 5.1 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| HS | Health Services Zoning District - See Chapter 15 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| HW | Historic Winchester Zoning District- See Chapter 14 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| LBBCA | Local Board of Building Code Appeals - See Section 6-3 of City Code |
| LR | Low Density Residential Zoning District - See Chapter 3 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| LSO | Land Subdivision Ordinance |
| M-1 | Limited Industrial Zoning District - See Chapter 11 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| M-2 | Intensive Industrial Zoning District - See Chapter 12 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| MC | Medical Center Zoning District - See Chapter 15.1 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| MPO | Metropolitan Planning Organization - Federal transportation laws and regulations require the establishment of an MPO in every urbanized area of the U.S. with a population over 50,000. MPOs are responsible for meeting the federal metropolitan planning regulations for transportation |
| MR | Medium Density Residential Zoning District - See Chapter 4 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| MS | Minor Subdivision - a division or consolidation of land involving 3 or fewer lots and not involving the dedication of new public streets or utilities. See Section 6-5 of the Land Subdivision Ordinance |
| NCU | Non-Conforming Use - The otherwise legal use of a building or structure or of a tract of land that does not conform to the use regulations of this ordinance for the districts in which it is located. See Chapter 17 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| NSVRC | Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission - Winchester City is a member of this state-defined regional planning body |
| NOV | Notice of Violation |
| PC | Planned Commercial Zoning District - See Section 13-2 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| PC | Winchester City Planning Commission - See Chapter 19 of City Code |
| PHW | Preservation of Historic Winchester - a grass roots local preservation organization that offers resource information to owners of historic properties |
| PUD | Planned Unit Development Zoning District - See Section 13-1 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| RB-1 | Residential Business Zoning District - See Chapter 7 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| RO-1 | Residential Office Zoning District - See Chapter 6 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| ROW | Right of Way - generally refers to public and private streets and alleys, but sometimes used interchangeably with ‘easement’ when referring to access, drainage, or utilities |
| RZ | Land Rezoning - See Chapter 22 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| SD | Major Subdivision - a division of land involving more than 3 lots or involving the dedication of new public streets or utilities. See Section 4 of the Land Subdivision Ordinance |
| SP | Site Plan - See Chapter 19 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| SV | Street Vacation - a request by one or more property owners to have the City approve an ordinance ceasing public street or alley use of public right-of-way. Often paired with a conveyance request. |
| TP | Temporary Permit - permit issued for certain uses of property on a periodic basis such as a fireworks stand, pumpkin sales, and Christmas trees |
| TPA | Total Project Area - All land within the exterior boundaries of the tract on which a multifamily or townhouse development is located, including private lots, off‑street parking areas, and common open space |
| VDOT | Virginia Department of Transportation |
| WFCHS | Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society - operates 3 museums (Abrams Delight, George Washington Office, and Stonewall Jackson HQ) owned by the City |
| WZO | Winchester Zoning Ordinance |
| ZTA | Zoning Text Amendment - See Chapter 22 of the Winchester Zoning Ordinance |