As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
APPEAL
A request for a review of the local administrator's
interpretation of any provision of this chapter or a request for a
variance.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING
A designated AO or VO Zone on a community's Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM), with base flood depths from one to three feet where
a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding
is unpredictable and indeterminate and where velocity flow may be
evident.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
The land in the floodplain within a community subject to
a one-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. This
area may be designated as Zone A, AE, AH, AO, A1 through A99, V, VO,
VE or V1 through V30. It is also commonly referred to as the "base
floodplain" or "one-hundred-year floodplain."
BASE FLOOD
The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or
exceeded in any given year.
BASEMENT
That portion of a building having its floor subgrade (below
ground level) on all sides.
BREAKAWAY WALL
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 the supporting foundation system.
BUILDING
Any structure built for support, shelter or enclosure for
occupancy or storage.
CELLAR
The same meaning as "basement."
COASTAL HIGH-HAZARD AREA
The area subject to high-velocity waters, including but not
limited to hurricane wave wash. The area is designated on a FIRM as
Zone V1 through V30, VE, VO or V.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining,
dredging, filling, paving, excavation or drilling operations located
within the area of special flood hazard.
ELEVATED BUILDING
A nonbasement building built to have the lowest floor elevated
above the ground level by means of fill, solid foundation perimeter
walls, pilings, columns (posts and piers) or shear walls.
FLOOD BOUNDARY AND FLOODWAY MAP (FBFM)
An official map of the community, published by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency as part of a riverine community's
Flood Insurance Study. The "FBFM" delineates a regulatory floodway
along watercourses studied in detail in the Flood Insurance Study.
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM)
An official map of the community, issued by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, where the boundaries of the areas of special flood
hazard have been defined but no water surface elevation is provided.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
An official map of the community, on which the Federal Emergency
Management Agency has delineated both the areas of special flood hazard
and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
The official report provided by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. The report contains flood profiles as well as the Flood Boundary
Floodway Map and the water surface elevations of the base flood.
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.
(2)
The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters
from any source.
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 same meaning as "regulatory floodway."
FLOOR
The top surface of an enclosed area in a building, including
basement, i.e., the top of the slab in concrete-slab construction
or the top of wood flooring in wood-frame construction.
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT USE
A use which cannot perform its intended purpose unless it
is located or carried out in close proximity to water, such as a docking
or port facility necessary for the loading and unloading of cargo
or passengers, shipbuilding and ship repair. The term does not include
long-term storage, manufacture, sales or service facilities.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface, prior
to construction, next to the proposed walls of a structure.
LOWEST FLOOR
The lowest level, including basement or cellar, of the lowest
enclosed area. An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure, usable
solely for 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 the applicable nonelevation design requirements
of this chapter.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which
is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used with or without
a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. The
term also includes park trailers, travel trailers and similar transportable
structures placed on a site for 180 consecutive days or longer and
intended to be improved property.
MEAN SEA LEVEL
For purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program, the
National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929 or other datum to
which base flood elevations shown on a community's Flood Insurance
Rate Map are referenced.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced
on or after the effective date of this chapter.
REGULATORY 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 a designated height as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a Flood Insurance Study or by other agencies as provided in §
59-12B of this chapter.
SAND DUNES
Naturally occurring accumulations of sand in ridges or mounds
landward of the beach.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
The initiation, excluding planning and design, of any phase
of a project or physical alteration of the property and shall include
land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; installation
of streets and/or walkways; excavation for a basement; footings, piers
or foundations; or the erection of temporary forms. It also includes
the placement and/or installation on the property of accessory buildings
(garages or sheds), storage trailers and building materials. For manufactured
homes, the "actual start" means affixing of the manufactured home
to its permanent site.
STRUCTURE
A walled and roofed building, a manufactured home or a gas
or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground.
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 commence 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 improvement of a structure to comply with existing
state or local building, fire, health, sanitary or safety code specifications
which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
(2)
Any alteration of a structure or contributing structure listed
on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of
Historic Places.
VARIANCE
A grant of relief from the requirements of this chapter which
permits construction or use in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited
by this chapter.