As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
ADDITION (TO AN EXISTING BUILDING)
Any walled and roofed expansion to the perimeter of a building
in which the addition is connected by a common load-bearing wall other
than a fire wall. Any walled and roofed addition which is connected
by a fire wall or is separated by independent perimeter load-bearing
walls is new construction.
APPEAL
A request for a review of the Building Official'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.
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
any occupancy or storage.
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, excavating, drilling operations
or permanent storage of materials.
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), shear walls or breakaway
walls.
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM)
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 as "Zone A."
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
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.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
The official report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The report contains flood profiles, as well as the Flood Boundary
Floodway Map and the water surface elevation 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 water.
(2)
The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters
from any source.
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
one foot.
FLOOR
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. The term does not include
the floor of a garage used solely for parking vehicles.
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT FACILITY
A facility which cannot be used for its intended purpose
unless it is located in close proximity to water, such as a docking
or port facility necessary for the loading and unloading of cargo
or passengers, shipbuilding, ship repair or seafood processing facilities.
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 floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement).
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.
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 (not the revision date).
START OF CONSTRUCTION
Includes substantial improvement and means the date the building
permit was issued, provided that the actual start of construction,
repair, reconstruction or improvement was within 180 days of the permit
date. The "actual start" means the first placement of permanent construction
of a structure (including a manufactured home) on a site, such as
the pouring of slabs or footings, installation of piles, construction
of columns or any work beyond the stage of excavation or placement
of a manufactured home on a foundation. 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 accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not
occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main structure.
STRUCTURE
A walled and roofed building that is principally above ground,
a manufactured home, a gas or liquid storage tank or other man-made
facilities or infrastructures.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any combination of repairs, reconstruction, alteration or
improvements to a structure, taking place during the life of a structure,
in which the cumulative cost equals or exceeds 50% of the market value
of the structure. The market value of the structure should be the
appraised value of the structure prior to the start of the initial
repair or improvement or, in the case of damage, the value of the
structure prior to the damage occurring. 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 any project for improvement of a structure required to comply
with existing health, sanitary or safety code specifications which
are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions.
VARIANCE
A grant of relief from the requirements of this chapter which
permits construction in a manner otherwise prohibited by this chapter
where specific enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship.
WATER SURFACE ELEVATION
The height, in relation to the National Geodetic Vertical
Datum (NGVD) of 1929 (or other datum, where specified), of floods
of various magnitudes and frequencies in the floodplains of coastal
or riverine areas.