Definitions. These definitions are unique to this section.
BASE FLOOD (BFE)
The elevation of the base flood, including wave height, relative
to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD), North American Vertical
Datum (NAVD) or other datum specified on the Flood Insurance Rate
Map (FIRM).
DEVELOPMENT
Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate,
including but not limited to building or other structures, mining,
dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations
or storage of equipment or materials. [US Code of Federal Regulations,
Title 44, Part 59]
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
The governmental agency that administers the National Flood
Insurance Program and provides a nationwide flood hazard area mapping
study program for communities as well as regulatory standards for
development in the flood hazard areas.
FLOOD BOUNDARY AND FLOODWAY MAP
An official map of a community issued by FEMA that depicts,
based on detailed analyses, the boundaries of the 100-year and 500-year
floods and the 100-year floodway. (For maps done in 1987 and later,
the floodway designation is included on the FIRM.)
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM)
An official map of a community issued by the Federal Insurance
Administrator, where the boundaries of the flood and related erosion
areas having special hazards have been designated as Zone A or E.
[US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
An official map of a community on which FEMA has delineated
both the areas of special flood hazard and the risk premium zones
applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
An examination, evaluation, and determination of flood hazards,
and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations, or an
examination, evaluation and determination of flood-related hazards.
FLOODWAY
The channel of the river, creek 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. [780 CMR Base Code, Chapter 2, Section
202]
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT USE
A use which cannot perform its intended purpose unless it
is located or carried out in close proximity to water. The term includes
only docking facilities, port facilities that are necessary for the
loading and unloading of cargo or passengers, and ship building and
ship repair facilities, but does not include long-term storage or
related manufacturing facilities. [US Code of Federal Regulations,
Title 44, Part 59]; also [Referenced Standard ASCE 24-14]
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior
to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure. [US Code
of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is:
(1)
Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places
(a listing maintained by the Department of 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 historical 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.
[US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part
59]
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LOWEST FLOOR
The 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 non-elevation design requirements of
NFIP Regulations 60.3.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction commenced
on or after the effective date of the first floodplain management
code, regulation, ordinance, or standard adopted by the authority
having jurisdiction, including any subsequent improvements to such
structures. New construction includes work determined to be substantial
improvement. [Referenced Standard ASCE 24-14]
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 projection;
(3)
Designed to be self-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.
[US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
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SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA
The land area subject to flood hazards and shown on a Flood
Insurance Rate Map or other flood hazard map as Zone A, AE, A1-30,
A99, AR, AO, AH, V, VO, VE or V1-30. [780 CMR Base Code, Chapter 2,
Section 202]
START OF CONSTRUCTION
(1)
The date of issuance for new construction and substantial improvements
to existing structures, provided the 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.
(2)
Permanent construction does not include land preparation (such
as clearing, excavation, grading or filling), the installation of
streets or walkways, excavation for a basement, footings, piers or
foundations, 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.
[780 CMR Base Code, Chapter 2, Section 202]
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STRUCTURE
(For floodplain management purposes) a walled and roofed
building, including a gas or liquid storage tank, that is principally
above ground, as well as a manufactured home. [US Code of Federal
Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
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. [US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
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 that have incurred substantial damage,
regardless of the cause of damage and regardless of the cost of repair
work actually performed. However, the term does not include:
(1)
Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing
violations of state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications
that have been identified by the local code enforcement official,
and that are the minimum necessary to ensure safe living conditions;
or
(2)
Any alteration of an historic structure, provided that the
alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation
as an "historic structure."
[US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
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SUBSTANTIAL REPAIR OF A FOUNDATION
When work to repair or replace a foundation results in the
repair or replacement of a portion of the foundation with a perimeter
along the base of the foundation that equals or exceeds 50% of the
perimeter of the base of the foundation measured in linear feet, or
repair or replacement of 50% of the piles, columns or piers of a pile,
column or pier supported foundation, the building official shall determine
it to be substantial repair of a foundation. Applications determined
by the building official to constitute substantial repair of a foundation
shall require all existing portions of the entire building or structure
to meet the requirements of 780 CMR the Massachusetts State Building
Code, as amended.
VARIANCE
A grant of relief by a community from the terms of a floodplain
management regulation. [US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44,
Part 59]
VIOLATION
The failure of a structure or other development to be fully
compliant with the community's floodplain management regulations.
A structure or other development without the elevation certificate,
other certifications, or other evidence of compliance required in
§ 60.3(b)(5), (c)(4), (c)(10), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(4), or
(e)(5) is presumed to be in violation until such time as that documentation
is provided. [US Code of Federal Regulations, Title 44, Part 59]
ZONE A
An area of special flood hazard without water surface elevations
determined.
ZONE A99
Area of special flood hazard where enough progress has been
made on a protective system, such as dikes, dams, and levees, to consider
it complete for insurance rating purposes. (Flood elevations may not
be determined.)
ZONE AH
Areas of special flood hazards having shallow water depths
and/or unpredictable flow paths between one and three feet, and with
water surface elevations determined.
ZONE AO
Area of special flood hazards having shallow water depths
and/or unpredictable flow paths between one and three feet. (Velocity
flow may be evident; such flooding is characterized by ponding or
sheet flow.)
ZONE V
Area of special flood hazards without water surface elevations
determined, and with velocity, that is inundated by tidal floods (coastal
high hazard area).
ZONES B, C, AND X
Areas of minimal or moderate flood hazards or areas of future-conditions
flood hazard. (Zone X replaces Zones B and C on new and revised maps.)