Building 

activity

as published in 

Detailed 

Tables Examples and definitions of the subcategories

16 categories code 20 categories code 53 categories

Education 14 Education 27 College/university College or university classroom building

28 Elementary/middle school Elementary or middle school, junior high school, 

K-12 school

29 High school High school classroom building

30 Preschool/daycare Preschool or daycare

31 Other classroom education Adult education, career or vocational training, religious 

education, training for disabled, health-related training, 

art school, tutoring

Food sales 06 Food sales 12 Convenience store

13 Convenience store with gas 

station

14 Grocery store/food market Grocery store, supermarket, meat market, seafood 

market, produce store

15 Other food sales Retail bakery, other food sales

Food service 15 Food service 32 Fast food Fast food restaurant

33 Restaurant/cafeteria Restaurant, cafeteria, dining hall

53 Bar/pub/lounge Bar, pub, lounge

34 Other food service Catering service, coffee, bagel, or doughnut shop, ice 

cream or frozen yogurt shop, reception hall, concession 

stand

Health care – 

Inpatient

16 Inpatient health 

care

35 Hospital/inpatient health Inpatient hospital, inpatient rehabilitation center, 

inpatient psychiatric care

Health care – 

Outpatient

08 Outpatient 

health care

18 Medical office (diagnostic) Doctor's or dentist's office that reported equipment for 

medical diagnosis or treatment

19 Clinic/other outpatient health Clinic, outpatient rehabilitation, veterinarian, cancer 

center, blood donation center

Lodging 18 Lodging 37 Dormitory/fraternity/sorority Dormitory, fraternity, sorority

38 Hotel Hotel

39 Motel or inn Motel, inn, guest cottage

40 Other lodging Retirement home, convent, monastery, halfway house, 

shelter, children's home

17 Nursing 36 Nursing home/assisted living Nursing home, assisted living

25 41 Vehicle dealership/showroom Dealership or showroom for vehicles or boats

42 Retail store Department store, furniture, clothing, hardware, 

sporting goods, office supplies, drugstore, bookstore, 

building supplies, auto parts, lumber, home 

improvement, farm equipment, lawn and garden, 

floral, crafts, gifts, antiques, pawn shop, wholesale 

club

43 Other retail Beer, wine, or liquor store; rental center such as for 

equipment furnishings or movies; studio or gallery; 

showroom; wholesale supply

Principal building 

activity variable 

available in public 

use data (PBA)

Building activity subcategory 

variable available in public use 

data (PBAPLUS)

Convenience stores and convenience stores with gas 

stations are combined into one category in the building 

activity subcategory tables

Mercantile – 

Retail (other than 

mall)

Retail other than 

mall
Building 

activity

as published in 

Detailed 

Tables Examples and definitions of the subcategories

16 categories code 20 categories code 53 categories

Principal building 

activity variable 

available in public 

use data (PBA)

Building activity subcategory 

variable available in public use 

data (PBAPLUS)

Mercantile – 

Enclosed and strip 

malls

23 Strip shopping 

mall

50 Strip shopping mall Strip shopping center buildings contain establishments 

that are operated independently of each other; strip 

shopping center buildings are reported at the building 

level in the CBECS

24 Enclosed mall 51 Enclosed mall Enclosed malls usually contain a few anchor stores, 

many smaller establishments, and indoor common 

area

Office 02 Office 02 Administrative/professional 

office

Administrative or professional such as consulting, 

insurance, law, utilities, publishing, or college 

administration; non-profit or social services; religious 

office; research and development; sales or leasing 

office

03 Bank/other financial Bank, credit union, home finance

04 Government office Government office, city hall, city center

05 Medical office (non-diagnostic) Doctor's or dentist's office that did not report equipment 

for medical diagnosis or treatment

06 Mixed-use office Mixed-use office

07 Other office Call center; contractor's office such as construction, 

plumbing, or HVAC

Public assembly 13 Public assembly 22 Entertainment/culture Museum, theater, cinema, sports arena, casino, night 

club, aquarium, nature center, visitor's center

23 Library Library

24 Recreation Gymnasium, health club, bowling alley, ice rink, field 

house, indoor racquet sports, dance, gymnastics, martial 

arts

25 Social/meeting Community center, lodge, meeting hall, convention 

center, senior center

26 Other public assembly Armory, broadcasting studio, exhibition hall, funeral 

home, student activities center, transportation terminal 

(airport, bus, or train station)

Public order and 

safety

07 Public order and 

safety

16 Fire station/police station Fire station, police station, or combination fire and police 

station

52 Courthouse/probation office Courthouse or probation office

17 Other public order and safety Jail, reformatory, penitentiary, ambulance dispatch

Religious worship 12 Religious 

worship

21 Religious worship Religious worship
Building 

activity

as published in 

Detailed 

Tables Examples and definitions of the subcategories

16 categories code 20 categories code 53 categories

Principal building 

activity variable 

available in public 

use data (PBA)

Building activity subcategory 

variable available in public use 

data (PBAPLUS)

Service 26 Service 44 Post office/postal center Post office, postal center, mail processing

45 Repair shop Upholstery, furniture restoration, metal shop, shoe repair, 

clothing alterations

46 Vehicle service/repair shop Vehicle service, vehicle repair, tire center

47 Vehicle storage/maintenance Vehicle storage and maintenance (car barn), boat 

storage

48 Other service Beauty parlor, spa, salon, tanning salon, barber shop, 

building or grounds maintenance, car wash, copy 

center or printing service, dry cleaner, laundromat, gas 

station, kennel, animal shelter, pet grooming, mixed-use 

service, photo processing, embroidery, frame shop, light 

industrial

05 09 Distribution/shipping center Distribution, fulfillment, shipping center

10 Non-refrigerated warehouse Non-refrigerated warehouse or storage 

11 Self-storage Self-storage (each separate block of units is considered a 

building by CBECS definition)

11 Refrigerated 

warehouse

20 Refrigerated warehouse Refrigerated warehouse or storage

Other 91 Other 49 Other Agricultural with some retail, manufacturing or industrial 

with some retail, airplane hangar, crematorium, data 

center or server farm, telephone switching facilities, 

bathhouse for a swimming pool, public restroom, lockerroom

04 Laboratory 08 Laboratory Laboratory such as biosciences or medical research

Vacant 01 Vacant 01 Vacant Vacant (previously used for or intended to be used for 

commercial purposes)

Nonrefrigerated 

warehouse

Warehouse and 

storage