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. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
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.
A request for a review of the Zoning Agent's interpretation of any provision of this chapter or a request for a variance.
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.
The area within a community subject to 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
The flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
That portion of a 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 the supporting foundation system.
[Amended 10-1-2025]
Any structure built for support, shelter, or enclosure for any occupancy or storage.
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.
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.
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
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 A Zones.
An official map of a community on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated both the areas of special flood hazard and the applicable risk premium zones.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The highest natural elevation of the ground surface, prior to construction, next to the proposed walls of a structure.
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.
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.
A parcel, or contiguous parcels, of land divided into two 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.
As corrected in 1929, is a vertical control used as a reference for establishing varying elevations within the floodplain.
Structures for which the "start of construction" commenced on or after the effective date of this chapter (not the revision date).
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.
A walled and roofed building that is principally aboveground, a manufactured home, a gas or liquid storage tank, other man-made facilities or infrastructure.
Any combination of repairs, reconstruction, alteration, or improvements to a structure taking place over a one-year period, in which the cumulative cost equals or exceeds 50% of 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 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 improvement project required to comply with existing health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions.
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.
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.
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Editor's Note: See 16 U.S.C. § 3501 et seq.