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. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
An appurtenant, unfinished structure of less than 401 square feet, the use of which shall be incidental or subordinate to the principal use of the parcel of the principal structure on the parcel, and which shall not be used for human habitation.
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
Either:
(1) 
A request for review of the Town Engineer's decision relative to the provisions of this chapter; or
(2) 
A request for a variance from the requirements of this chapter.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING
Designated AO or AH Zones on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) with a 1% or greater annual chance of flooding to an average depth of one foot 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.
[Added 7-13-2021]
BASE FLOOD
The flood having a one-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE)
The elevation of the crest of the base flood (one-hundred-year flood). The height in relation to mean sea level, North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) of 1988, expected to be reached by the waters of the base flood at pertinent points in the floodplains of coastal and riverine areas.
BASEMENT
That portion of a building having its floor below ground level on all sides.
BREAKAWAY WALL
A wall that is not part of the structural support of the building, intended through its design and construction to collapse under specific lateral wind and water-loading conditions without causing collapse, displacement, or other structural damage to the elevated portion of the building or supporting foundation system. Breakaway walls must include flood vents to further mitigate times of high water loading.
BUILDING
Any structure built for support, shelter, or enclosure for any occupancy or storage.
COASTAL AE ZONE
The portion of the Coastal High Hazard Area with wave heights between 1.5 feet and 3.0 feet and bounded by a line labeled the "Limit of Moderate Wave Action" (LiMWA) on a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). VE Zone floodplain construction standards are applied to development, new construction and substantial improvements in the Coastal AE Zone. [Note: The 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) refers to the Coastal AE as the Coastal A Zone.]
[Amended 7-13-2021]
COASTAL HIGH-HAZARD AREA
An area of special flood hazard extending from offshore to the inland limit of a primary frontal dune along an open coast and any other area subject to high-velocity wave action from storms or seismic sources. Coastal high-hazard areas are designated as Zone VE and Zone AE bounded by a line labeled "Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA) on a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).
COST
As related to substantial improvements, means the cost of any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, alteration, repair or other improvement of a structure which shall be established by a detailed written contractor's estimate. The estimate shall include, but not be limited to: the cost of materials (interior finishing components, structural components, utility and service equipment); sales tax on materials, building equipment and fixtures, including heating and air-conditioning and utility meters; labor; built-in appliances; demolition and site preparation; repairs made to damaged parts of the building worked on at the same time; contractor's overhead; contractor's profit; and grand total. Items to be excluded: cost of plans and specifications; survey costs; permit fees; outside improvements, such as septic systems, water supply wells, landscaping, sidewalks, fences, yard lights, irrigation systems, and detached structures, such as garages, sheds, and gazebos.
CRITICAL FACILITY
A development which is critical to the community's public health and safety, is essential to the orderly functioning of a community, stores or produces highly volatile, toxic or water-reactive materials, or houses occupants that may be insufficiently mobile to avoid loss of life or injury. Examples of critical facilities include: jails, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, nursing homes, wastewater treatment facilities, drinking water plants, and gas/oil/propane storage facilities.
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, buildings, additions, accessory structures or other structures, new construction, substantial improvements, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavating, drilling operations, or permanent storage of materials or equipment.
ELEVATED BUILDING
A nonbasement building to have the lowest floor elevated above the ground level by means of fill, solid foundation perimeter walls, pilings, columns, posts, piers, shear walls, or breakaway walls, as allowed under applicable standards.
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
The federal agency that administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
FINISHED LIVING SPACE
Finished living space can include, but is not limited to, a space that contains finished floors (tile, linoleum, hardwood, etc.), has sheetrock walls that may or may not be painted or wallpapered, and other amenities such as furniture, appliances, bathrooms, fireplaces and other items that are easily damaged by floodwaters and expensive to clean, repair or replace. A fully enclosed area below the base flood elevation (BFE), including the additional two feet of freeboard required by this chapter, cannot have finished living space and needs to be designed for exposure to flood forces and can only be used for parking, building access or limited storage of low-value items. A maximum of 25% of the floor area below the base flood elevation (BFE), excluding the area of any separate attached garages and open porches, may be determined to be utilized as an entry/foyer area, including but not limited to flooring, walls and trim, provided that all materials meet FEMA flood-damage-resistant materials requirements, and that the use of any such areas are restricted to parking, building access or limited storage of low-value items.
[Amended 7-13-2021]
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
The official maps of the Town of Old Saybrook on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated both the special flood hazard areas and the applicable risk premium zones.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
The official report, including any supplements thereto, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The report contains flood profiles, the water surface elevation of the base flood, and other flood data.
FLOOD or FLOODING
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from: a) the overflow of inland or tidal waters; and/or b) the unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOODPROOFING
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.
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 of 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, 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.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
(1) 
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;
(2) 
Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historic significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
(3) 
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
(4) 
Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either:
(a) 
By an approved state program as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; or
(b) 
Directly by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.
LIMIT OF MODERATE WAVE ACTION (LiMWA)
The landward limit of the 1.5 foot breaking wave within a Coastal AE Zone. These areas are bounded by a line labeled "Limit of Moderate Wave Action" on a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The LiMWA line delineates that portion of the special flood hazard area (SFHA) landward of a VE Zone in which the principal sources of flooding are astronomical high tides, storm surges, or tsunamis, not riverine sources. These areas may be subject to wave effects, velocity flows, erosion, scour, or combinations of these forces. The floodplain development and construction standards for VE Zones will be applied in the Coastal AE Zone.
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, provided that such an area meets the requirements of §§ 128-20C and 128-18I hereof.
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. Recreational vehicles and similar transportable structures placed on a site for 180 consecutive days or longer shall be considered manufactured homes for the purpose of this chapter.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION
A parcel, or contiguous parcels, of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
MARKET VALUE
Means that the market value of the structure shall be determined by the property's tax assessment, minus land value; or an independent appraisal by a professional appraiser.
MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL)
The North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) of 1988 or other datum to which base flood elevations shown on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) are referenced.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after June 26, 1978, and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A vehicle which is:
(1) 
Built on a single chassis;
(2) 
Four hundred square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projections;
(3) 
Designed to be self-propelled propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck; and
(4) 
Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use.
SAND DUNES
Naturally occurring accumulations of sand in ridges or mounds landward of the beach.
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA (SFHA)
The land in the floodplain within a community subject to a one-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. SFHAs are determined utilizing the base flood elevations (BFE) provided on the flood profiles in the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for a community. BFEs provided on Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) are only approximate (rounded up or down) and should be verified with the BFEs published in the FIS for a specific location. SFHAs include, but are not necessarily limited to, the land shown as Zones A, AE, AO, AH and the coastal high-hazard areas shown as Zone VE and Zone AE bounded by a line labeled "Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA)" on a FIRM. The SFHA is also called the "area of special flood hazard."
[Amended 7-13-2021]
START OF CONSTRUCTION [FOR OTHER THAN NEW CONSTRUCTION OR SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS UNDER THE COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES ACT (P.L. 97-348)]
Includes substantial improvement, and means the date the building permit was issued, provided 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. 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.
STRUCTURE
A walled and roofed building that is principally above ground, a manufactured home, swimming pool or a gas or liquid storage tank.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE
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. "Substantial damage" also means flood-related damages sustained by a structure on two separate occasions during a ten-year period for which the cost of repairs at the time of each such flood event, on the average, equals or exceeds 25% of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any combination of repairs, reconstruction, alteration, or improvements to a structure taking place within a ten-year period, 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 using the cost approach to value prior to the start of construction of the repair or improvement, or in case of damage, the value of the structure prior to the damage occurring. This term includes structures that have incurred substantial damage, regardless of the actual repair work performed. 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 improvement project required to comply with existing health, sanitary or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions. The start date for cumulative cost of repairs, reconstruction, alterations or improvements to a structure that was constructed in compliance with the minimum elevation requirements identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), including any freeboard requirements specified by this chapter, that were in effect at the time, shall commence on the effective date of any subsequent FIRM or ordinance amendments that render the structure to be noncompliant.
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. Such hardship shall be based on the unusual physical characteristics of the property in question which are not shared by adjacent parcels; hardship shall not be based on the structure, nor on economic or personal hardships.
VIOLATION
Failure of a structure or other development to be fully compliant with the community's floodplain management ordinance. A structure or other development without required permits, lowest floor elevation documentation, floodproofing certificates or required floodway encroachment calculations is presumed to be in violation until such time as that documentation is provided.
WATER SURFACE ELEVATION
The height, in relation to the North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) of 1988.