Lake, Watercourses
Any natural or relocated stream, river, brook, swamp, sound, bay, creek, run, branch, canal, waterway, estuary and any reservoir, lake or pond, natural or impounded, in which sediment may be moved or carried in suspension and which could be damaged by an accumulation of sediment.

Land-Disturbing Activity
Any use of the land by any person in residential, recreational, industrial, educational, service, institutional, civic, office or commercial development, highway and road construction and maintenance that results in a change in the natural cover or topography or alters the natural structure of the land mass and that may cause or contribute to sedimentation.

Landfill (debris from on-site)
A demolition landfill that is limited to receiving from the site stumps, limbs, leaves, concrete, brick, wood, uncontaminated earth or other uncontaminated solid waste from construction activities on the same site.

Landing Pad
A firm, stable and slip-resistant surface typically located between the back of curb and adjacent sidewalk constructed from concrete at a bus stop. The pad provides continuity between the sidewalk and a transit vehicle for all users and allows for the deployment of wheelchair ramps from the transit vehicle. The landing pad may also serve as the foundation to which a bench or shelter is permanently mounted and shall satisfy the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Light Source
The element of a lighting fixture that is the point of origin of the lumens emitted by the fixture.

Loading Area
An off-street area, space, dock, door, or berth used for the loading or unloading of cargo, products or materials to or from vehicles. This does not include loading areas used by the general public in association with retail sales or a similar use.

Locally Adapted Species
Non‐native species of animal and plant life that are adapted to the climatic conditions of North Carolina.

Lot Coverage
The amount of net lot area within designated floodway fringe areas and future conditions flood hazard areas expressed in terms of a percentage that is covered by any obstruction and/or fill restricting or displacing the flow of flood waters.

Lowest Floor
The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement area is not considered a building’s lowest floor provided that such enclosure is not constructed so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable non-elevation design requirements of this UDO.

Lumen
A quantitative unit measuring the amount of light emitted by a light source.