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.
APPEAL
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
BASE FLOOD
BASEMENT
BREAKAWAY WALL
BUILDING
CELLAR
COASTAL HIGH HAZARD AREA
DEVELOPMENT
ELEVATED BUILDING
FLOOD BOUNDARY AND FLOODWAY MAP (FBFM)
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM)
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
THE OFFICIAL REPORT PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.
THE REPORT CONTAINS FLOOD PROFILES AS WELL AS THE FLOOD BOUNDARY
FLOOD or FLOODING
FLOODPROOFING
FLOODWAY
FLOOR
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT USE
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE
LOWEST FLOOR
MANUFACTURED HOME
MEAN SEA LEVEL
MOBILE HOME
NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM (NGVD)
NEW CONSTRUCTION
ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD
PRINCIPALLY ABOVE GROUND
REGULATORY FLOODWAY
SAND DUNES
START OF CONSTRUCTION
STRUCTURE
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
(1)
(2)
VARIANCE
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
A request for a review of the Zoning Enforcement Officer's interpretation
of any provision of this chapter or a request for a variance.
A designated AO or VO Zone on a community's Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM) with base flood depths from one foot 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.
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, A1-99, V, VO, VE or V1-30. It is also commonly referred
to as the base floodplain or one-hundred-year floodplain.
The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded
in any given year.
That portion of a building having its floor subgrade (below ground
level) on all sides.
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.
Any structure built for support, shelter or enclosure for occupancy
or storage.
The same meaning as "basement."
The area subject to high-velocity waters, including but not limited
to hurricane wave wash. The area is designated on a FIRM as Zone V1-30, VE,
VO or V.
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 areas of special
flood hazard.
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.
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.
An official map of a 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.
An official map of a 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.
Floodway Map and the water surface elevations of the base flood.
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation
of normally dry land areas from:
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 same meaning as "regulatory floodway."
The top surface of an enclosed area in a building (including basement),
i.e., top of slab in concrete slab construction or top of wood flooring in
wood frame construction.
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.
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface, prior to construction,
next to the proposed walls of a structure.
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.
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.
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.
The same meaning as "manufactured home."
As corrected in 1929 is a vertical control used as a reference for
establishing varying elevations within the floodplain.
Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after
the effective date of this chapter.
The same meaning as "base flood."
At least 51% of the actual cash value of the structure, excluding
land value, is above ground.
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 § 95-12B of this chapter.
Naturally occurring accumulations of sand in ridges or mounds landward
of the beach.
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.
A walled and roofed building, a manufactured 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 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:
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
Any alteration of a structure or contributing 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 or use in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by this
chapter.
