Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in
this chapter shall be interpreted to give them the meaning they have
in common usage and to give this chapter its most reasonable application.
Flooding occurring on the surface of an alluvial fan or similar
landform which originates at the apex and is characterized by high
velocity flows; active processes of erosion, sediment transport, and
deposition; and unpredictable flow paths.
A point on an alluvial fan or similar landform below which
the flow path of the major stream that formed the fan becomes unpredictable
and alluvial fan flooding can occur.
A structure which is on the same parcel of property as the
principal structure to be insured and the use of which is incidental
to the use of the principal structure.
The land area that would be inundated by the one percent
(1%) annual chance (100-year) flood based on future conditions hydrology.
A designated AO, AH, AR/AO, AR/AH, or VO zone on a community’s
flood insurance rate map (FIRM) with a one percent (1%) or greater
annual chance of flooding to an average depth of one to three feet
(3') 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 (1%) or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
The area may be designated as zone A on the flood hazard boundary
map (FHBM). After detailed ratemaking has been completed in preparation
for publication of the FIRM, zone A usually is refined into zones
A, AO, AH, A1-30, AE, A99, AR, AR/A1-30, AR/AE, AR/AO, AR/AH, AR/A,
VO, V1-30, VE or V.
The flood having a one percent (1%) chance of being equaled
or exceeded in any given year.
Any area of the 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 supporting foundation system.
An integral and readily identifiable part of a flood protection
system, without which the flood protection provided by the entire
system would be compromised.
Any manmade change to improved and unimproved real estate,
including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, mining,
dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations
or storage of equipment or materials.
For insurance purposes, a nonbasement building, which has
its lowest elevated floor raised above ground level by foundation
walls, shear walls, posts, piers, pilings, or columns.
For the purposes of determining rates, structures for which
the “start of construction” commenced before the effective
date of the FIRM or before January 1, 1975, for FIRMs effective before
that date. “Existing construction” may also be referred
to as “existing structures”.
A manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction
of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes
are to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities,
the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the
pouring of concrete pads) is completed before the effective date of
the floodplain management regulations adopted by a community.
The preparation of additional sites by the construction of
facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes
are to be affixed (including the installation of utilities, the construction
of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete
pads).
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete
inundation of normally dry land areas from:
An examination, evaluation and determination of flood hazards
and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations, or an
examination, evaluation and determination of mudslide (i.e., mudflow)
and/or flood related erosion hazards.
An official map of a community, on which the Federal Emergency
Management Agency has delineated both the special flood hazard areas
and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.
See definition of “Flood elevation study”.
Those physical structural works for which funds have been
authorized, appropriated, and expended and which have been constructed
specifically to modify flooding in order to reduce the extent of the
area within a community subject to a “special flood hazard”
and the extent of the depths of associated flooding. Such a system
typically includes hurricane tidal barriers, dams, reservoirs, levees
or dikes. These specialized flood modifying works are those constructed
in conformance with sound engineering standards.
Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from
any source (see definition of “Flood or flooding”).
The operation of an overall program of corrective and preventive
measures for reducing flood damage, including, but not limited to,
emergency preparedness plans, flood control works and floodplain management
regulations.
Zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, building codes,
health regulations, special purpose ordinances (such as a floodplain
ordinance, grading ordinance and erosion control ordinance) and other
applications of police power. The term describes such state or local
regulations, in any combination thereof, which provide standards for
the purpose of flood damage prevention and reduction.
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.
See definition of “Regulatory floodway”.
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 shipbuilding and
ship repair facilities, but does not include long term storage or
related manufacturing facilities.
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior
to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
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:
A manmade structure, usually an earthen embankment, designed
and constructed in accordance with sound engineering practices to
contain, control, or divert the flow of water so as to provide protection
from temporary flooding.
A flood protection system which consists of a levee, or levees,
and associated structures, such as closure and drainage devices, which
are constructed and operated in accordance with sound engineering
practices.
The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement).
An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking
or 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 requirement of section 60.3
of the National Flood Insurance Program regulations.
A structure transportable in one or more sections, which
is built on a permanent chassis and is designed for use with or without
a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. The
term “manufactured home” does not include a “recreational
vehicle”.
A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two
(2) 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 or other datum, to
which base flood elevations shown on a community’s flood insurance
rate map are referenced.
For the purpose of determining insurance rates, structures
for which the “start of construction” commenced on or
after the effective date of an initial FIRM or after December 31,
1974, whichever is later, and includes any subsequent improvements
to such structures. For floodplain management purposes, “new
construction” means structures for which the “start of
construction” commenced on or after the effective date of a
floodplain management regulation adopted by a community and includes
any subsequent improvements to such structures.
A manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction
of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes
are to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities,
the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the
pouring of concrete pads) is completed on or after the effective date
of floodplain management regulations adopted by a community.
A vehicle which is: a) built on a single chassis; b) four
hundred (400) square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal
projections; c) designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable
by a light duty truck; and d) designed primarily not 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.
Relating to, formed by, or resembling a river (including
tributaries), stream, brook, etc.
See definition of “Area of special flood hazard”.
For other than new construction or substantial improvements
under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (Pub. L. 97-348), includes
substantial improvement and means the date the building permit was
issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction,
rehabilitation, addition, placement, or other improvement was within
one hundred eighty (180) days of the permit date. The actual start
means either the first placement of permanent construction of a structure
on a site, such as the pouring of slab or footings, the installation
of piles, the construction of columns, or any work beyond the stage
of excavation; or the 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 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.
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.
Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the
cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would
equal or exceed fifty percent (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 fifty percent
(50%) of the market value of the structure before “start of
construction” of the improvement. This term includes structures
which have incurred “substantial damage”, regardless of
the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include
either: a) 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 b) any alteration of a “historic structure”, provided
that the alteration will not preclude the structure’s continued
designation as a “historic structure”.
A grant of relief by a community from the terms of a floodplain
management regulation. (For full requirements see section 60.6 of
the National Flood Insurance Program regulations.)
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
section 60.3(b)(5), (c)(4), (c)(10), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(4), or (e)(5)
[of the National Flood Insurance Program regulations] is presumed
to be in violation until such time as that documentation is provided.
The height, in relation to the North American Vertical Datum
(NAVD) of 1988 (or other datum, where specified), of floods of various
magnitudes and frequencies in the floodplains of coastal or riverine
areas.
(Ordinance 10-24 adopted 2010)
