A.Â
Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used
in this chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they have
in common usage and to give this chapter its most reasonable application.
B.Â
APPEAL
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
BASE FLOOD
BASEMENT
BREAKAWAY WALL
DEVELOPMENT
ELEVATED BUILDING
FLOOD or FLOODING
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
FLOODWAY
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM)
HABITABLE FLOOR
LOWEST FLOOR
MANUFACTURED HOME
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK or MANUFACTURED HOME SUBDIVISION
NEW CONSTRUCTION
START OF CONSTRUCTION
STRUCTURE
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
(1)Â
(2)Â
VARIANCE
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
A request for a review of the interpretation of any provision of
this chapter or a request for a variance.
A designated AO Zone on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The
base flood depths range from one to three feet; a clearly defined channel
does not exist; the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate; and
velocity flow may be evident.
The land in the floodplain within a community subject to a one-percent
or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded
in any given year.
Any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below ground
level) on all sides.
[Added 4-14-1987]
A wall that is not part of the structural support of the building
and is intended through its design and construction to collapse under specific
lateral loading forces without causing damage to the elevated portion of the
building or supporting foundation system.
[Added 4-14-1987]
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including
but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling,
grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations located within the area
of special flood hazard.[1]
A nonbasement building built in the case of a building in an area
of special flood hazard to have the top of the elevated floor or in the case
of a building in a coastal high hazard area to have the bottom of the lowest
horizontal structural member of the elevated floor elevated above the ground
level by means of piling, columns (posts and piers), or sheer walls parallel
to the flow of the water and adequately anchored so as not to impair the structural
integrity of the building during a flood of up to the magnitude of the base
flood. In an area of special flood hazard, "elevated building" also includes
a building elevated by means of fill or solid foundation perimeter walls with
openings sufficient to facilitate the unimpeded movement of floodwaters. In
areas of coastal high hazard, "elevated building" also includes a building
otherwise meeting the definition of "elevated building" even though the lower
area is enclosed by means of breakaway walls.
[Added 4-14-1987]
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation
of normally dry land areas from:
The official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration has
delineated both the areas of special flood hazard and the risk premium zones
applicable to the community.
The official report provided in which the Federal Insurance Administration
has provided flood profiles, as well as the Flood Boundary - Floodway Map
and the water surface elevation of the base flood.
The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land
areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively
increasing the water surface elevation more than 0.2 foot.
The official map issued by the Federal Insurance Administration where
the areas of special flood hazard have been designated "Zone A."
Any floor usable for living purposes, which includes working, sleeping,
eating, cooking or recreation or a combination thereof. A floor used only
for storage purposes is not a habitable floor.
The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement).
An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure, usable solely for the parking
of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement is
not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that such enclosure is
not built so as to render the structure in violation of other applicable nonelevation
design requirements.
[Added 4-14-1987]
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built
on a permanent chassis and is designed for use with or without a permanent
foundation when connected to the required utilities. For floodplain management
purposes, the term "manufactured home" also includes park trailers, travel
trailers and other similar vehicles placed on a site for greater than 180
consecutive days. For insurance purposes, the term "manufactured home" does
not include park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles.
[Added 4-14-1987]
A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two or more
manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
[Added 4-14-1987]
Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after
the effective date of this chapter.
For other than new construction or substantial improvements under
the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (P.L. 97-348), includes substantial improvement
and means the date the building permit was issued, provided that the actual
start of construction, repair, reconstruction, placement or other improvement
was within 180 days of the permit date. The actual start means either the
first placement of permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as
the pouring of a slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction
of columns, or any work beyond the stage of excavation; or the placement of
a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include
land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; nor does it include
the installation of streets and/or walkways; nor does it include excavation
for a basement, footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary
forms; nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory buildings,
such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the
main structure.
[Amended 4-14-1987]
A walled and roofed building, a mobile home or a gas or liquid storage
tank that is principally above ground.
Any repair, reconstruction or improvement of a structure, the cost
of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure either
before the improvement or repair is started or, if the structure has been
damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purposes
of this definition, "substantial improvement" is considered to occur when
the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part
of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external
dimensions of the structure. The term does not, however, include either:
Any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing state
or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications which are solely necessary
to assure safe living conditions: or
Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic
Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
A grant of relief from the requirements of this chapter which permits
construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The definitions of "existing mobile home park or mobile
home subdivision" and "expansion to an existing mobile home park or mobile
home subdivision," which immediately followed this definition, were repealed
4-14-1987.
