40 USC § 8702 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t40/s8702"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "40 USC § 8702 - Definitions"
title_number: 40
title_name: "PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PROPERTY, AND WORKS"
section_number: "8702"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 87
chapter_name: "PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
part_number: "D"
part_name: "PUBLIC BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND PARKS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 107–217, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1216.)"
---


# § 8702. Definitions

In this chapter—

**(1)** **Environs.—** The term “environs” means the territory surrounding the District of Columbia included in the National Capital region.

**(2)** **National capital.—** The term “National Capital” means the District of Columbia and territory the Federal Government owns in the environs.

**(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) and (C).

**(4)** **Planning agency.—** The term “planning agency” means any city, county, bi-county, part-county, or regional planning agency authorized under state and local laws to make and adopt comprehensive plans.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 107–217, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1216.)

| RevisedSection | 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.