A. 
Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the meanings they have in common usage and to give this chapter its most reasonable application.
B. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APPEAL
A request for a review of the Construction Official's interpretation of any provision of this chapter or a request for a variance.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING
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.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
The land in the floodplain within a community subject to a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
BASE FLOOD
The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BASEMENT
Any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below grade) on all sides.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or improved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations, or storage of equipment or materials located within the area of special flood hazard.
[Added 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
ELEVATED BUILDING
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 elevated above the ground level by means of piling, columns (post and piers) or shear 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.
[Added 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
FLOOD OR FLOODING
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
(1) 
The overflow of inland or tidal waters; and/or
(2) 
The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
The official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the areas of special flood hazard and the risk premium zone applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
The official report provided in which the Federal Insurance Administration has provided flood profiles as well as the Insurance Rate Map and the water surface elevation of the base flood.
[Amended 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS
Zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, building codes, health regulations, special purpose ordinances (such as floodplain ordinance, grading ordinance and erosion control ordinance) and other applications of police power. The term describes such state or local regulations, in any combination thereof, which provide standards for the purpose of flood damage prevention and reduction.
[Added 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
FLOODPROOFING
Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents.
FLOODWAY
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.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
[Added 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
(1) 
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the Department of Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register;
(2) 
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
(3) 
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or
(4) 
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either:
(a) 
By an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; or
(b) 
Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.
LOWEST 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 area 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.
[Amended 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
MANUFACTURED HOME
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. The term "manufactured home" does not include a recreational vehicle.
[Amended 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR MANUFACTURED HOME SUBDIVISION
A parcel or contiguous parcels of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
[Amended 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after the effective date of a floodplain regulation adopted by a community and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures.
[Amended 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
NEW MANUFACTURED HOME PARK
A manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including at a minimum the installation of utilities, the construction of streets and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads) is completed on or after the effective date of the floodplain management regulations adopted by the municipality.
[Amended 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001[1]]
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A vehicle which is built on a single chassis; 400 square feet or less when measured at the longest horizontal projections; designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck; and designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as a temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use.
[Added 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
START OF CONSTRUCTION
Includes substantial improvement, and means the date the building permit was issued, provided 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 slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns or any work beyond the state 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 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. For a substantial improvement, the actual start of construction means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of a building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
[Amended 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
STRUCTURE
A walled and roofed building, a manufactured home or a gas- or liquid-storage tank that is principally above ground.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before damaged condition would equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
[Added 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001]
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
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:
(1) 
Any project for the 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
(2) 
Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
VARIANCE
A grant of relief from the requirement of this chapter which permits construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The former definition of "principally above ground," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 3-12-2001 by Ord. No. 7-2001.