For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
APPEAL. A request for a review of the interpretation of any provision of this subchapter or a request for a variance.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING. A designated AO, or AH Zone on the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). The base flood depths range from 1 to 3 feet; a clearly defined channel does not exist; the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate; and, velocity flow may be evident. AO is characterized as sheet flow and AH indicates ponding.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD. The land in the flood plain within a community subject to a 1% or greater chance offloading in any given year. Designation on maps always includes the letters A or V.
BASE FLOOD. The flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. Also referred to as the "100-year flood." Designation on maps always include the letters A or V.
BASEMENT. Any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides.
BELOW-GRADE CRAWL SPACE. An enclosed area below the base flood elevation in which the interior grade is not more than 2 feet below the lowest adjacent exterior grade and the height, measured from the interior grade of the crawlspace to the top of the crawlspace foundation, does not exceed 4 feet at any point.
CONDITIONAL LETTER OF MAP REVISION (CLOMR). A letter from FEMA commenting on whether a proposed project, if built as proposed, would meet the minimum NFIP standards or proposed hydrology changes.
CRITICAL FACILITY. A facility for which even a slight chance of flooding might be too great. Critical facilities include, but are not limited to, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, police, fire and emergency response installations, installations which produce, use or store hazardous materials or hazardous waste.
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 or storage of equipment or materials located within the area of special flood hazard.
ELEVATED BUILDING. For insurance purposes, a non-basement building which has its lowest elevated floor raised above ground level by foundation walls, shear walls, post, piers, pilings, or columns.
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; and/or
(2) The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM). The official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY. The official report provided by the Federal Insurance Administration that includes flood profiles, the Flood Boundary-Floodway Map, and the water surface elevation of the base flood.
FLOODWAY. The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than 1 foot.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE. The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction, adjacent to the proposed walls of a structure.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE. A structure that is:
(1) Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the U.S. Department of the 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 to a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
(3) Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places 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 by the State of Oregon Historic Preservation Program.
LETTER OF MAP CHANGE (LOMC). An official FEMA determination, by letter, to amend or revise effective Flood Insurance Rate Maps and/or Flood Insurance Studies. LOMCs are issued in the following categories:
(1) LETTER OF MAP AMENDMENT (LOMA). An amendment to the Flood Insurance Rate Maps based on technical data showing that an existing structure or parcel of land that has not been elevated by fill (natural grade) was inadvertently included in the special flood hazard area because of an area of naturally high ground above the base flood.
(2) LETTER OF MAP REVISION (LOMR). A LOMR revises the current Flood Insurance Rate Map and/or Flood Insurance Study to show changes to the floodplains, floodways or flood elevations. LOMRs are generally based on manmade alterations that affected the hydrologic or hydraulic characteristics of a flooding source and thus result in modification to the existing regulatory floodway, the effective base flood elevation, or the special flood hazard areas.
LOWEST FLOOR. 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 provided that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable non-elevation design requirements of this subchapter.
MANUFACTURED DWELLING. 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 attached to the required utilities. The term MANUFACTURED DWELLING does not include a RECREATIONAL VEHICLE.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION. A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into 2 or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
NEW CONSTRUCTION. Structures for which the "start of construction" commenced on or after the effective date of this subchapter.
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.
START OF CONSTRUCTION. 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 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 installation of streets and/or walkways; nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, 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, a modular or temporary building, or a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground.
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.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT.
(1) Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure either:
(a) Before the improvement or repair is started; or
(b) If the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purposes of this definition, SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT is considered to occur when the first alteration of any way, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure.
(2) 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 structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or State of Oregon Historic Resources inventory.
VARIANCE. A grant of relief from the requirements of this subchapter which permits construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by this chapter.
WATER DEPENDENT. A structure for commerce or industry which cannot exist in any other location and is dependent on the water by reason of the intrinsic nature of its operations.
(Ord. 2021-08-02, passed 10-12-2021)