A.
General. Unless specifically defined below, words and phrases used
in this chapter shall be interpreted so as to give this chapter its
most reasonable application.
B.
ACCESSORY USE OR STRUCTURE
BASE FLOOD
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE)
BASEMENT
BUILDING
COMPLETELY DRY SPACE
CONSTRUCTION
DEVELOPMENT
ESSENTIALLY DRY SPACE
FLOOD
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY (FIS)
FLOODPLAIN
FLOOD-PRONE AREA
FLOODPROOFING
FLOODWAY
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
(1)
(2)
(3)
IDENTIFIED FLOOD-PRONE AREA
LAND DEVELOPMENT
LOWEST FLOOR
MANUFACTURED HOME
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISIONS
MINOR REPAIR
NEW CONSTRUCTION
OBSTRUCTION
ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
REGULATORY FLOOD ELEVATION
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA (SFHA)
START OF CONSTRUCTION
STRUCTURE
SUBDIVISION
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
(1)
(2)
VIOLATION
Specific definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A use or structure on the same lot with, and of a nature
customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal use or structure.
A flood that has a one-percent chance of being equaled or
exceeded in any given year (also called the "one-hundred-year flood").
The elevation shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
for Zones AE, AH, A1-30 that indicates the water surface elevation
resulting from a flood that has a one-percent-or-greater chance of
being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
Any area of the building having its floor below ground level
on all sides.
A combination of materials to form a permanent structure
having walls and a roof. Included shall be all manufactured homes
and trailers to be used for human habitation.
A space which will remain totally dry during flooding; the
structure is designed and constructed to prevent the passage of water
and water vapor.
The construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, extension,
expansion, alteration or relocation of a building or structure, including
the placement of manufactured homes.
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to the construction, reconstruction, renovation,
repair, expansion, or alteration of buildings or other structures;
the placement of manufactured homes; streets, and other paving; utilities;
filling, grading and excavation; mining; dredging; drilling operations;
storage of equipment or materials; and the subdivision of land.
A space which will remain dry during flooding, except for
the passage of some water vapor or minor seepage; the structure is
substantially impermeable to the passage of water.
A temporary inundation of normally dry land areas.
The official map on which the Federal Emergency Management
Agency or Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the
areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable
to the community.
The official report provided by the Federal Insurance Administration
that includes flood profiles, the Flood Insurance Rate Map, the Flood
Boundary and Floodway Map and the water surface elevation of the base
flood.
See "flood-prone area."
A relatively flat or low land area which is subject to partial
or complete inundation from an adjoining or nearby stream, river or
watercourse; and/or any area subject to the unusual and rapid accumulation
of surface waters from any source.
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.
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
one foot.
Any structure that is:
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places
(a listing maintained by the Department of the Interior) or preliminarily
determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements
for individual listing on the National Register;
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the
Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered
historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary
to qualify as a registered historic district;
Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places
in communities with history preservation programs that have been certified
either:
The floodplain area specifically identified in this chapter
as being inundated by the one-hundred-year flood. Included would be
areas identified as Floodway (FW), Flood-Fringe (FF) and General Floodplain
(FA).
The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area, including basement.
An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking
or 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 the applicable nonelevation design requirements of this chapter.
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 that are placed on a site for more than 180 consecutive days. Included in this definition shall be the term "mobile home," and any reference to Chapter 140, Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks, of the Code of Latrobe shall be intended to mean and include the definition of a "manufactured home" as herein described.
A parcel of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale. Included in this definition shall be the term "manufactured homes park," and any reference in this chapter to the term "manufactured homes park," including but not limited to any reference to Chapter 140, Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks, of the Code of Latrobe, shall be intended to mean and include "manufactured home park or subdivision" as herein described.
The replacement of existing work with equivalent materials
for the purpose of its routine maintenance and upkeep, but not including
any addition, change or modification in construction, exit facilities
or permanent fixtures or equipment.
Structures for which the start of construction commenced
on or after July 18, 1986, and includes any subsequent improvements
thereto.
Any wall, dam, wharf, embankment, levee, dike, pile, abutment,
projection, excavation, channel, rectification, culvert, building,
fence, stockpile, refuse, fill structure or matter in, along or across
or projection into any channel, watercourse or flood-prone area which
may impede, retard or change the direction of the flow of water, either
in itself or by catching or collecting debris carried by such water
or placed where the flow of the water might carry the same downstream
to the damage of life and property.
A flood that, on the average, is likely to occur every 100
years.
A vehicle which is built on a single chassis; not more than
400 square feet, measured at the largest horizontal projections; designed
to be self-propelled or permanently towed by a light-duty truck not
designed for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters
for recreational camping, travel or seasonal use.
The one-hundred-year flood elevation, plus a freeboard safety
factor of 1 1/2 feet.
An area in the floodplain subject to a one-percent-or-greater
chance of flooding in any given year. It is shown on the FIRM as Zone
A, AO, A1-A30, AE, A99, or AH.
Includes substantial improvement and other proposed new development
and means the date the permit was issued, provided the actual start
of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition,
placement, or other improvement was within 180 days from the date
of the permit. 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 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. 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.
A walled and roofed building, including gas or liquid storage
tank that is principally above the ground, as well as a manufactured
home.
The division or redivison of a lot, tract or parcel of land
by any means into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions
of land, including changes in existing lot lines for the purpose,
whether immediate or future, of lease, transfer of ownership or building
or lot development; provided, however, that the division of land for
agricultural purposes into parcels of more than 10 acres, not involving
any new street or easement of access, shall be exempted.
Damage from any cause sustained by a structure whereby the
cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would
equal or exceed 50% or more of the market value of the structure before
the damage occurred.
Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvement
of a structure, the cost of which exceeds 50% of the market value
of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement.
This term includes structures that have incurred substantial damage,
regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not,
however, include either:
Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing
violations of state or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications
which have been identified by the local code enforcement official
and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions;
or
Any alteration of an historic structure, provided that the alteration
will not preclude the structure's continued designation as an
historic structure.
The failure of a structure or other development to be fully
compliant with the community's floodplain management regulations.
A structure or other development without the elevation certificate,
other certifications, or other evidence of compliance required in
44 CFR § 60.3(b)(5), (c)(4), (c)(10), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(4),
or (e)(5) is presumed to be in violation until such time as that document
is provided.
