Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this chapter shall be interpreted to give them the meanings they have in common usage and to give this chapter the most reasonable application:
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD: The land in the floodplain within a community subject to a one percent (1%) or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
BASE FLOOD: The flood having a one percent (1%) chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
DEVELOPMENT: Any manmade 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 located within the area of special flood hazard.
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP OR FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP: The official map issued by the federal emergency management agency where areas of special flood hazard are designated as zone A.
FLOOD OR FLOODING: A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
A. The overflow of waters; and/or
B. The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
LOWEST FLOOR: The lowest floor of a structure including the basement. This means any floor used for living purposes, storage or recreation, and includes any floor that could be converted to such use.
MANUFACTURED HOME: A structure that is transportable in one or more sections, built on a permanent chassis, and designed to be used with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. For floodplain management purposes, it also includes park trailers, travel trailers, and other similar vehicles placed on a site for greater than one hundred eighty (180) days.
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 commenced on or after the effective date hereof.
STRUCTURE: A walled or roofed building, including mobile homes and gas or liquid storage tanks aboveground.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT: A. Includes: 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.
B. Does Not Include: 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. (1975 Code § 4-5-1-5)