[Ord. No. 2480, 5-8-2023]
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.
ACTUARIAL OR RISK PREMIUM RATES
Those rates established by the Administrator pursuant to individual community studies and investigations which are undertaken to provide flood insurance in accordance with Section 1307 of the Act and the accepted actuarial principles. "Risk premium rates" include provisions for operating costs and allowances.
APPEAL
A request for a review of the Zoning Administrator's interpretation of any provision of this Chapter or a request for a variance.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING
A designated AO or AH 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 (1) foot to three (3) feet where a clearly defined channel is unpredictable and where velocity flow may be evident. Such flooding is characterized by ponding or sheet flow.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD
Is the land in the floodplain within a community subject to one percent (1%) or greater change of flooding in any given year.
BASE FLOOD
The flood having one percent (1%) chance of being equalled or exceeded in any given year.
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, excavation or drilling operations.
EXISTING CONSTRUCTION (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 FIRM's effective before that date. "Existing construction" may also be referred to as "existing structures."
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM)
An official map of a community, on which the Flood Insurance Study has delineated the Flood Hazard Boundaries and the zones establishing insurance rates applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY
The official report provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The report contains flood profiles, as well as the Flood Boundary 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 waters.
2. 
The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff or surface waters from the source.
FLOODWAY FRINGE
That area of the floodplain, outside of the floodway, that on the average is likely to be flooded once every one hundred (100) years [i.e., that has a one percent (1%) chance of flood occurrence in any one (1) year].
FLOODWAY or REGULATORY 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 (1) foot.
FREEBOARD
A factor of safety usually expressed in feet above a flood level for purposes of floodplain management. "Freeboard" tends to compensate for the many unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood and floodway conditions, such as wave action, clogged bridge openings, and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.
MANUFACTURED HOME
A structure, transportable in one (1) 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. For floodplain management purposes the term "manufactured home" also includes park trailers, travel trailers, and other similar vehicles placed on a site for greater than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days. For insurance purposes the term "manufactured home" does not include park trailers, travel trailers, and other similar vehicles.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION
A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two (2) or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Structures for which the start of construction or substantial improvement is commenced on or after the effective date of the FIRM.
OVERLAY DISTRICT
A district in which additional requirements act in conjunction with the underlying zone district(s). The original zoning district designation does not change.
START OF CONSTRUCTION
For other than new construction or substantial improvements under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (Pub. L. 97-348)[1] includes substantial improvement, and means the date the building permit was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, placement, or other improvement was within one hundred eighty (180) days of the permit date. The actual start means 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 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, as well as a manufactured home, and a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT
Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure either: (1) before the improvement or repair is started; or (2) if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purpose 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 either: (1) any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing, State or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions; or (2) any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
VARIANCES
A grant of relief to a person 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 16 U.S.C.A. § 3501 et seq.