Legal Definitions - building

A building is a permanent structure that has walls and a roof. It can be a house, an office, a school, or any other structure that is meant to be used for a specific purpose.

Some criminal laws, like burglary and arson, consider other structures as buildings too. For example, a motor vehicle or a watercraft can be considered a building under these laws.

An accessory building is a separate structure on the same lot as the main building. It complements the main structure and can be used for different purposes, like a garage or a shed. Sometimes, the question of whether a structure is an accessory building or not is disputed in zoning cases.

For instance, if someone breaks into a garage and steals a car, they can be charged with burglary of a building. Similarly, if someone sets fire to a boat, they can be charged with arson of a building. These examples illustrate how a motor vehicle or a watercraft can be considered a building under certain criminal laws.

Another example is when a homeowner wants to build a shed in their backyard. They need to make sure that the shed is considered an accessory building and complies with the zoning regulations of their area.