A.Â
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.Â
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 or FLOODING
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM)
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
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)Â
(2)Â
VARIANCE
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A request for a review of the local administrator'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 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 - A99, V, VO, VE
OR V1 - V30. 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 VI - V30, 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 area 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.
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete
inundation of normally dry land areas from:
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.
The official report provided by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. The report contains flood profiles, as well as the Flood Boundary
and Floodway Map and the water surface elevations of the base flood.
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 and structures and their contents.
The same meaning as "regulatory floodway."
The top surface of an enclosed area in a building, including
the basement, i.e., the top of the slab in concrete slab construction
or the top of the 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.
The lowest level, including the basement or cellar, of the
lowest enclosed area. An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure usable
solely for the 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, 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 § 113-13B 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.
