Appendix II: Definitions by Location Category

Businesses Open to the Public: Private properties with the primary function of making, buying, or selling goods or providing services in exchange for money where the public is anticipated on a daily basis.

Examples include restaurants, bars, theaters, malls, grocery stores, private civic organization spaces, and event venues.

This category does not include locations otherwise defined more exclusively in another category, such as health care facilities, or institutions of higher education.

Businesses Closed to the Public: Private properties primarily functioning in commerce without daily public traffic.

Examples include office space, manufacturing centers, packaging and distribution facilities and factories, warehouses, assembly plants, and commercial vehicle maintenance, storage, and repair facilities.

Pre-K – 12th Grade: Public and private properties used for educating students from pre-K to 12th grade, including extracurricular activities, as well as school administrative functions such as board and staff meetings.

Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL): Public or private properties used for postsecondary education.

Military Properties: Properties owned by the federal government and primarily reserved for U.S. military use. Examples include military bases, airfields, seaports, and training ranges.

Non-Military Properties: Properties owned by governmental entities, including courthouses, administrative buildings, and town halls. This category does not include locations otherwise defined more exclusively in another category, such as military property or schools.

Public or private facilities that provide primary or secondary health services. Examples include hospitals, clinics, urgent care, hospice care, and assisted living communities.

Public or private facilities used for religiously sponsored activities. This includes commercial properties used as houses of worship at the time of the incident. Examples include churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, and related religious gathering and retreat facilities.

Public or private property that is openly accessible to the public. Incidents are categorized as occurring in an open space when the primary location of the attack is outdoors rather than inside a building.

Examples include incidents involving shooters operating from a moving vehicle or on foot in public streets, parks, or other open-air locations.

Public or private, single-family or multi-family, dwellings occupied by one or more individuals.