A building permit is permission granted by a local government to build a specific structure at a particular site. The number of residential building permits often forecasts the number of housing starts.
An arithmetic relationship of the total square feet of a building to the square footage of the land area, relevant in urban planning and zoning.
Minimum lot area refers to the smallest building lot area allowed in a subdivision, generally specified by a zoning ordinance.
Setback refers to both a specified distance from a curb or property line which restricts the erection of buildings, and to problems in business or manufacturing that lead to lower profits or delays in achieving targets.
