As used in this article, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
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 give 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
ground level) on all sides.
DEVELOPMENT
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.
EXISTING MOBILE HOME PARK OR MOBILE HOME SUBDIVISION
A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two
or more mobile home lots for rent or sale of which the construction
of facilities for servicing the lot on which the mobile home is to
be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities
either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads, and the
construction of streets) is completed before the effective date of
this article.
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 Flood Boundary-Floodway
Map and the water surface elevation of the base flood.
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.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A structure that is transportable in one or more sections,
building on a permanent chassis and designed to be used with or without
a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. It
does not include recreational vehicles or travel trailers.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced
on or after the effective date of this article.
NEW MOBILE HOME PARK OR MOBILE HOME SUBDIVISION
A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two
or more mobile home lots for rent or sale for which the construction
of facilities for servicing the lot (including, at a minimum, the
installation of utilities, either final site grading or the pouring
of concrete pads, and the construction of streets) is completed on
or after the effective date of this article.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
The first placement of permanent construction of a structure
(other than a mobile home) on a site, such as the pouring of slabs
or footings or any work beyond the stage of excavation. "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 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 as part
of the main structure. For a structure (other than a mobile home)
without a basement or poured footings, the "start of construction"
includes the first permanent framing or assembly of the structure
or any part thereof on its piling or foundation. For mobile homes
not within mobile home park or mobile home subdivision, "start of
construction" means the affixing of the mobile home to its permanent
site. For mobile homes within mobile home parks or mobile home subdivision,
"start of construction" is the date on which the construction of facilities
for servicing the site on which the mobile home is to be affixed (including,
at a minimum, the construction of streets, either final site grading
or the pouring of concrete pads, and the installation of utilities)
is completed.
STRUCTURE
A walled and roofed building, a mobile 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 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.
VARIANCE
A grant of relief from the requirements of this article which
permits construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited
by this article.