For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BASE FLOOD. A flood which has a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (also called the “100-YEAR FLOOD”).
DEVELOPMENT. Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real property, including but not limited to construction of buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations.
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT. Any permit otherwise required by this code for any development, including but not limited to a demolition, grading, or building permit.
FLOOD or FLOODING.
(1) A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from: the overflow of inland or tidal waters; the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or mudslides (i.e., mudflows) which are proximately caused by flooding as defined herein and are akin to a river of liquid and flowing mud on the surfaces of normally dry land areas, as when earth is carried by a current of water and deposited along the path of the current; or
(2) The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an unusual and unforeseeable event which results in flooding as defined in division (1) above.
FLOODPLAIN. Any land area subject to flooding during a base flood, as determined by the Floodplain Administrator based upon the Flood Insurance Rate Map issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR. The city’s Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee.
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 United States Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register; or
(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; or
(3) Individually listed on a State of California inventory of historic places; or
(4) Individually listed on the city’s local inventory of historic places if the city has adopted a historic preservation program that has been certified either by the State of California or the Secretary of the Interior.
NEW CONSTRUCTION.
(1) Any structure for which a building permit is first issued on or after the effective date of this chapter;
(2) Any subsequent improvements to any structure for which a building permit is first issued on or after the effective date of this chapter; and
(3) Any substantial improvement to any structure existing on the effective date of this chapter.
STRUCTURE. A walled and roofed building that is principally above ground; structure also includes a gas or liquid storage tank or a manufactured home to the extent the city may control such structures under state law.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. Damage of any origin sustained by a structure where 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 IMPROVEMENT. Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other proposed new development of a structure existing as of the effective date of this chapter, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the 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:
(1) Any project for improvement of a structure to correct violations of health, sanitary, or safety code specifications not resulting from substantial damage which have been identified by the city and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
(2) Any alteration of a historic structure, provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure’s continued designation as a historic structure.
(Ord. 1280, passed 6-7-06)