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.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE (APPURTENANT STRUCTURE). A structure located on the same parcel of property as the principal structure, and the use of which is incidental to the use of the principal structure. Garages, carports and storage sheds are common urban ACCESSORY STRUCTURES. Pole barns, hay sheds and the like qualify as ACCESSORY STRUCTURES on farms, and may or may not be located on the same parcel as the farm dwelling or shop building.
ADDITION (TO AN EXISTING BUILDING). An extension or increase in the floor area or height of a building or structure.
APPEAL. A request for a review of the Floodplain Administrator’s interpretation of any provision of this chapter.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING. A designated Zone AO on a community’s flood insurance rate map (FIRM), with base flood depths determined to be from one to three feet. These areas are located where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate, and where velocity flow may be evident.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD. See definition of SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA (SFHA).
BASE FLOOD. The flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE). A determination of the water surface elevations of the base flood as published in the flood insurance study. When the BFE has not been provided in a SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA, it may be obtained from engineering studies available from a federal, state or other source using FEMA-approved engineering methodologies. This elevation, when combined with the FREEBOARD, establishes the REGULATORY FLOOD PROTECTION ELEVATION.
BASEMENT. Any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides.
BUILDING. See definition of STRUCTURE.
CHEMICAL STORAGE FACILITY. A building, portion of a building, or exterior area adjacent to a building used for the storage of any chemical or chemically reactive products.
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.
DISPOSAL. As defined in G.S. § 130A-290(a)(6), the discharge, deposit, injection, dumping, spilling, leaking or placing of any solid waste into or on any land or water so that the solid waste, or any constituent part of the solid waste, may enter the environment or be emitted into the air or discharged into any waters, including groundwaters.
ELEVATED BUILDING. A non-basement building that has its lowest elevated floor raised above ground level by foundation walls, shear walls, posts, piers, pilings or columns.
ENCROACHMENT. The advance or infringement of uses, fill, excavation, buildings, structures or development into a floodplain, which may impede or alter the flow capacity of a floodplain.
EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR MANUFACTURED HOME SUBDIVISION. A manufactured home park or subdivision for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities, the construction of streets, and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads) was completed before the initial effective date of the floodplain management regulations adopted by the community.
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
(2) The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOOD BOUNDARY AND FLOODWAY MAP (FBFM). An official map of a community, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on which the special flood hazard areas and the floodways are delineated. This official map is a supplement to and shall be used in conjunction with the flood insurance rate map (FIRM).
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM). An official map of a community, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where the boundaries of the special flood hazard areas have been defined as Zone A.
FLOOD INSURANCE. The insurance coverage provided under the National Flood Insurance Program.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM). An official map of a community, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on which both the special flood hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community are delineated.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY (FIS). An examination, evaluation and determination of flood hazards, corresponding water surface elevations (if appropriate), flood insurance risk zones and other flood data in a community issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The flood insurance study report includes flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) and flood boundary and floodway maps (FBFMs), if published.
FLOOD-PRONE AREA. See definition of FLOODPLAIN.
FLOOD ZONE. A geographical area shown on a flood hazard boundary map or flood insurance rate map that reflects the severity or type of flooding in the area.
FLOODPLAIN. Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source.
FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR. The individual appointed to administer and enforce the floodplain management regulations.
FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT PERMIT. Any type of permit that is required in conformance with the provisions of this chapter, prior to the commencement of any development activity.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT. The operation of an overall program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood damage and preserving and enhancing, where possible, natural resources in the floodplain, including but not limited to emergency preparedness plans, flood control works, floodplain management regulations, and open space plans.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS. This chapter and other zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, building codes, health regulations, special purpose ordinances and other applications of police power. This term describes federal, state or local regulations, in any combination thereof, that provide standards for preventing and reducing flood loss and damage.
FLOODPROOFING. Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes or adjustments to structures that reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitation facilities, structures, and their contents.
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 foot.
FLOODWAY ENCROACHMENT ANALYSIS. An engineering analysis of the impact that a proposed encroachment into a floodway is expected to have on the floodway boundaries and base flood elevations. The evaluation shall be prepared by a qualified, North Carolina-licensed engineer, using standard engineering methods and models.
FREEBOARD. The height added to the base flood elevation (BFE) to account 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, blockage of bridge openings, and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed. The base flood elevation (BFE) plus the FREEBOARD establishes the REGULATORY FLOOD PROTECTION ELEVATION.
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT FACILITY. A facility that cannot be used for its intended purpose unless it is located in close proximity to water, limited to a docking or port facility necessary for the loading and unloading of cargo or passengers, shipbuilding or ship repair. The term does not include long-term storage, manufacture, sales or service facilities.
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY. As defined in G.S. Ch. 130A, Article 9, a facility for the collection, storage, processing, treatment, recycling, recovery or disposal of hazardous waste.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE (HAG). The highest natural elevation of the ground surface, prior to construction, immediately next to the proposed walls of the structure.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE. Any structure that is:
(1) Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places (a listing maintained by the U.S. Department of Interior) or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register;
(2) Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of 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;
(3) Individually listed on a local inventory of historic landmarks in communities with a CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT (CLG) PROGRAM; or
(4) Certified as contributing to the historical significance of a historic district designated by a community with a CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT (CLG) PROGRAM. CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT (CLG) PROGRAMS are approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources through the State Historic Preservation Officer, as having met the requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended in 1980.
LOWEST ADJACENT GRADE (LAG). The elevation of the ground, sidewalk or patio slab immediately next to the building, or deck support, after completion of the building.
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 limited storage in an area other than a basement area is not considered a building’s LOWEST FLOOR, provided that the enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable non-elevation design requirements of this chapter.
MANUFACTURED HOME. A structure, 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. The term MANUFACTURED HOME does not include a RECREATIONAL VEHICLE.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION. A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
MARKET VALUE. The building value, not including the land value and that of any accessory structures or other improvements on the lot. MARKET VALUE may be established by independent certified appraisal, replacement cost depreciated by age of building and quality of construction (actual cash value), or adjusted assessed values.
MEAN SEA LEVEL. For purposes of this chapter, the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) as corrected in 1929, the North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) as corrected in 1988, or other vertical control datum used as a reference for establishing varying elevations within the floodplain, to which base flood elevations (BFEs) shown on a FIRM are referenced. Refer to each FIRM panel to determine datum used.
NEW CONSTRUCTION. Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after the effective date of the floodplain management regulations and includes any subsequent improvements to the structures.
NON-ENCROACHMENT AREA. 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 by more than one foot the water surface elevation as designated in the flood insurance study report.
POST-FIRM. Construction or other development for which the START OF CONSTRUCTION occurred on or after the effective date of the initial flood insurance rate map.
PRE-FIRM. Construction or other development for which the START OF CONSTRUCTION occurred before the effective date of the initial flood insurance rate map.
PRINCIPALLY ABOVE GROUND. At least 51% of the actual cash value of the structure is above ground.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND/OR NUISANCE. Anything injurious to the safety or health of an entire community or neighborhood, or any considerable number of persons, or which unlawfully obstructs the
free passage or use, in the customary manner, of any navigable lake, or river, bay, stream, canal or basin.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV). A vehicle that 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.
REFERENCE LEVEL. The top of the lowest floor for structures within the special flood hazard areas designated as Zone AE, A, A99 or AO.
REGULATORY FLOOD PROTECTION ELEVATION. The BASE FLOOD ELEVATION plus the FREEBOARD. In SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREAS where base flood elevations (BFEs) have been determined, this elevation shall be the BFE. In SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREAS where base no BFE has been established, this elevation shall be at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade.
REMEDY A VIOLATION. To bring the structure or other development into compliance with state or community floodplain management regulations, or, if this is not possible, to reduce the impacts of its noncompliance. Ways that impacts may be reduced include protecting the structure or other affected development from flood damages, implementing the enforcement provisions of the ordinance or otherwise deterring future similar violations, or reducing federal financial exposure with regard to the structure or other development.
RIVERINE. Relating to, formed by or resembling a river (including tributaries), stream, brook and the like.
SALVAGE YARD. Any non-residential property used for the storage, collection and/or recycling of any type of equipment, and including but not limited to vehicles, appliances and related machinery.
SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY. Any facility involved in the disposal of solid waste, as defined in G.S. § 130A-290(a)(35).
SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SITE. As defined in G.S. § 130A-290(a)(36), any place at which solid wastes are disposed of by incineration, sanitary landfill or any other method.
SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA (SFHA). The land in the floodplain subject to a 1% or greater chance of being flooded in any given year as determined in § 151.021.
START OF CONSTRUCTION. Includes substantial improvement, and means the date the building permit was issued, provided the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, 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 slabs or footings, installation of piles, 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 the building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
STRUCTURE. A walled and roofed building, a manufactured home, or a gas, liquid or liquefied gas storage tank that is principally above ground.
SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. Damage of any origin sustained by a structure during any one-year period, 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. See definition of SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE also means flood-related damage sustained by a structure on two separate occasions during a ten-year period for which the cost of repairs at the time of each flood event, on the average, equals or exceeds 25% of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. Any combination of repairs, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, taking place during any one-year period, for which the cost equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the START OF CONSTRUCTION of the improvement. This term includes structures that have incurred SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:
(1) Any correction of existing violations of state or community health, sanitary or safety code specifications that have been identified by the community code enforcement official, and that 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, and the alteration is approved by a variance issued pursuant to § 151.044.
VARIANCE. A grant of relief from the requirements of this chapter.
VIOLATION. The failure of a structure or other development to be fully compliant with the community’s floodplain management regulations. A structure or other development without the elevation certificate, other certifications or other evidence of compliance required in §§ 151.040 et seq. and §§ 151.060 et seq. is presumed to be in VIOLATION until the time that that documentation is provided.
WATER SURFACE ELEVATION (WSE). The height, in relation to mean sea level, of floods of various magnitudes and frequencies in the floodplains of riverine areas.
WATERCOURSE. A lake, river, creek, stream, wash, channel or other topographic feature on or over which waters flow at least periodically. WATERCOURSE includes specifically designated areas in which substantial flood damage may occur.
(Ord. eff. 10-6-2003; Ord. eff. 3-12-2012; Ord. eff. 8-11-2014; Ord. eff. 11-10-2014)