---
kind: "section"
citation: "40 U.S.C. § 8702"
title: "40"
title_heading: "Public Buildings, Property, and Works"
number: "8702"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/40/8702"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Public Buildings and Works"
  - "Part D — Public Buildings, Grounds, and Parks in the District of Columbia"
  - "Chapter 87 — Physical Development of National Capital Region"
  - "Subchapter I — General"
---

# §8702. Definitions


In this chapter—

- (1) **Environs.—** The term “environs” means the territory surrounding the District of Columbia included in the [National Capital region](#3).
- (2) **National capital.—** The term “National Capital” means the District of Columbia and territory the [Federal Government](/usc/40/3701.md?p=a) owns in the [environs](#1).
- (3) **National capital region.—** The term “National Capital region” means—
  - (A) the District of Columbia;
  - (B) Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland;
  - (C) Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties in Virginia; and
  - (D) all cities in Maryland or Virginia in the geographic area bounded by the outer boundaries of the combined area of the counties listed in subparagraphs [(B)](#3-B) and [(C)](#3-C).
- (4) **Planning agency.—** The term “planning agency” means any city, county, bi-county, part-county, or regional planning agency authorized under [state](/usc/40/3501.md?p=3) and local laws to make and adopt comprehensive plans.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–217, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1216.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 8702 | 40:71(b). | June 6, 1924, ch. 270, § 1(b), 43 Stat. 463; Apr. 30, 1926, ch. 198, 44 Stat. 374; May 24, 1928, ch. 726, 45 Stat. 726; July 19, 1952, ch. 949, § 1, 66 Stat. 782. |

In clause (3)(D), the words “now or hereafter existing” are omitted as unnecessary.

In clause (4), the words “whether or not its jurisdiction is exclusive or concurrent” are omitted as unnecessary.