A.
Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this
chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning 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
BUILDING
CELLAR"
CRAWL SPACE
DEVELOPMENT
ELEVATED BUILDING
(1)
(a)
(b)
(2)
(3)
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
FLOOD BOUNDARY AND FLOODWAY MAP (FBFM)
FLOOD ELEVATION STUDY
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM)
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
FLOOD OR FLOODING
(1)
(2)
FLOODPLAIN OR FLOOD-PRONE AREA
FLOODPROOFING
FLOODWAY
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT USE
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRAD
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR
LOWEST FLOOR
MANUFACTURED HOME
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION
MEAN SEA LEVEL
MOBILE HOME
NEW CONSTRUCTION
ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR-FLOOD OR 100-YEAR FLOOD
PRINCIPALLY ABOVE GROUND
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
REGULATORY FLOODWAY
START OF CONSTRUCTION
STRUCTURE
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
(1)
(2)
VARIANCE
VIOLATION
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, AH or VO Zone on a community's Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM) with a one-percent-or-greater annual chance of flooding
to an average annual depth of one to three feet where a clearly defined
channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable
and where velocity flow may be evident. Such flooding is characterized
by ponding or sheet flow.
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-A30, A99, V, VO,
VE or V1-V30. It is also commonly referred to as the "base floodplain"
or "one-hundred-year floodplain." For purposes of this chapter, the
term "special flood hazard area (SFHA)" is synonymous in meaning with
the phrase "area of special flood hazard."
The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or
exceeded in any given year.
That portion of a building having is floor subgrade (below
ground level) on all sides.
See "structure."
Has the same meaning as "basement."
An enclosed area beneath the lowest elevated floor, 18 inches
or more in height, which is used to service the underside of the lowest
elevated floor. The elevation of the floor of this enclosed area,
which may be of soil, gravel, concrete or other material, must be
equal to or above the lowest adjacent exterior grade. The enclosed
crawl space area shall be properly vented to allow for the equalization
of hydrostatic forces which would be experienced during periods of
flooding.
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 or storage
of equipment or materials.
A nonbasement building:
Built, in the case of a building in Zones A1-A30, AE, A99, AO,
AH, B, C, X or D, to have the top of the elevated floor, or in the
case of a building in Zone V1-30, VE or V, to have the bottom of the
lowest horizontal structure member of the elevated floor, elevated
above the ground level by means of pilings, columns (posts or piers)
or shear walls parallel to the flow of the water; and
Adequately anchored so as not to impair the structural integrity
of the building during a flood of up to the magnitude of the base
flood.
In the case of Zone A1-A30, AE, A, A99, AO, AH, B, C, X or D,
"elevated building" also includes a building elevated by means of
fill or solid foundation perimeter walls with openings sufficient
to facilitate the unimpeded movement of floodwaters.
In the case of Zone V1-V30, VE or V, "elevated building" also
includes a building otherwise meeting the definition of "elevated
building," even though the lower area is enclosed by means of breakaway
walls that meet the federal standards.
The Federal agency that administers the National Flood Insurance
Program.
An official map of the community published by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency as a part of a riverine community's Flood
Insurance Study. The FBFM delineates a regulatory floodway along water
courses studied in detail in the Flood Insurance Study.
An examination, evaluation and determination of the flood
hazards and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations,
or examination, evaluation and determination of flood-related erosion
hazards.
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 designated as a Zone A but no flood elevations are
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.
See "flood elevation study."
"Flood" or "flooding" also means the collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm, or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as a flash flood or an abnormal tidal surge, or by some similarly unusual and unforeseeable event which results in flooding as defined in Subsection (1)(a) above.
Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from
any source. (See definition of "flooding.")
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.
Has the same meaning as "regulatory floodway."
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 facilities. The term does
not include long-term storage, manufacturing, sales or service facilities.
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface, prior
to construction, next to the proposed walls of a structure. "Historic
structure" means 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 states with historic preservation programs which have been approved
by the Secretary of the Interior; or
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places
in communities with historic preservation programs that have been
certified either:
The person appointed by the community to administer and implement
this chapter by granting or denying development permits in accordance
with its provisions. This person is often the Building Inspector,
Code Enforcement Officer or employee of an engineering department.
Lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement
or cellar). An unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure, usable solely
for parking of 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 designed to be used with or without
a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. The
term does not include a "recreational vehicle."
A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two
or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
For purposes of the National Flood Insurance Program, the
National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929, the North American
Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) or other datum to which base flood
elevations shown on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map are referenced.
Has the same meaning as "manufactured home."
Structures for which the start of construction commenced
on or after the effective date of a floodplain management regulation
adopted by the community and includes any subsequent improvements
to such structure.
Has the same meaning as "base flood."
That at least 51% of the actual cash value of the structure,
excluding land value, is above ground.
A vehicle which is:
Built on a single chassis;
Four hundred square feet or less when measured at the largest
horizontal projections;
Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty
truck; and
Not designed primarily for use as a permanent dwelling but as
temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal
use.
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 § 81-14B of this chapter.
The date of permit issuance for new construction and substantial
improvements to existing structures, provided that actual start of
construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition placement
or other improvement is within 180 days after the date of issuance.
The actual "start of construction" means the first placement of permanent
construction of a building (including a manufactured home) on a site,
such as the pouring of a slab or footings, installation of pilings
or construction of columns. Permanent construction does not include
land preparation (such as clearing, excavation, grading or filling)
or the installation of streets or walkways or excavation for a basement,
footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms
or the installation of accessory buildings such as garages or sheds
not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main building. 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 a gas or liquid storage
tank, that is principally above ground, as well as a manufactured
home.
Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the
cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would
equal or exceed 50% 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 equals or exceeds 50% of the market
value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement.
The term includes structures which 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.
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.
The failure of a structure or other development to be fully
compliant with the community's floodplain management regulations.
