For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
APPEAL. A request for a review of the Local Administrator’s interpretation of any provision of this chapter or a request for a variance.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING. 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.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD. The land in the floodplain within a community subject to a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year. This area may be designated as Zone A, AE, AH, AO, Al-99, VO, VE or V1-30. It is also commonly referred to as the BASE FLOODPLAIN or 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
BASE FLOOD. The flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BASEMENT. That portion of a building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides.
BREAKAWAY WALL. 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.
BUILDING. Any structure built for support, shelter or enclosure for occupancy or storage.
CELLAR. Has the same meaning as BASEMENT.
COASTAL HIGH HAZARD AREA. The area subject to high velocity waters including, but not limited to, hurricane wave wash. The area is designated on a FIRM as Zone V1 - 30, VE, VO or V.
DEVELOPMENT. Any human-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, paving, excavation or drilling operations located within the area of special flood hazard.
ELEVATED BUILDING. A non-basement 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), or shear walls.
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 or runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOOD BOUNDARY AND FLOODWAY MAP (FBFM). An official map of the community published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of a riverine community’s flood insurance study. The FBFM delineates a regulatory floodway along water courses studied in detail in the flood insurance study.
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM). 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 but no water surface elevation is provided.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM). An official map of a community, on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated both the areas of special flood hazard and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY. The official report provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The report contains flood profiles, as well as the flood boundary floodway map and the water surface elevations of the base flood.
FLOOD PROOFING. Any combination of structural and non-structural additions, changes or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents.
FLOODWAY. Has the same meaning as REGULATORY FLOODWAY.
FLOOR. 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.
FUNCTIONALLY DEPENDENT USE. A use which cannot perform its intended purpose unless it is located or carried out in close proximity to water, such as a docking or port facility necessary for the loading and unloading of cargo or passengers, shipbuilding and ship repair. The term does not include long-term storage, manufacture, sales or service facilities.
HIGHEST ADJACENT GRADE. The highest natural elevation of the ground surface, prior to construction, next to the proposed walls of a structure.
LOWEST FLOOR. The lowest level including basement or cellar of the lowest enclosed area. An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access, or storage in an area other than a basement 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, 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.
MEAN SEA LEVEL. 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.
MOBILE HOME. Has the same meaning as MANUFACTURED HOME.
NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM (NGVD). As corrected in 1929, a vertical control used as a reference for establishing varying elevations within the flood plain.
NEW CONSTRUCTION. Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after the effective date of this local law.
PRINCIPALLY ABOVE GROUND. That at least 51% of the actual cash value of the structure, excluding land value, is above ground.
100-YEAR FLOOD. Has the same meaning as BASE FLOOD.
REGULATORY 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 a designated height as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a flood insurance study or by other agencies as provided in § 153.036 below.
SAND DUNES. Naturally occurring accumulations of sand in ridges or mounds landward of the beach.
START OF CONSTRUCTION. The initiation, excluding planning and design, of any phase of a project; physical alteration of the property, and shall include land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; installation of streets and/or walkways; excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms. It also includes the placement and/or installation on the property of accessory buildings (garages, sheds), storage trailers and building materials. For manufactured homes the ACTUAL START means affixing of the manufactured home to its permanent site.
STRUCTURE. A walled and roofed building, a manufactured home, or a gas or liquid storage tank, that is principally above ground.
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.
(2) For the purposes of this definition, SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT is considered to commence 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 either:
(a) Any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing state or local building, fire, health, sanitary or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions; or
(b) Any alteration of a structure or contributing structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
VARIANCE. A grant of relief from the requirements of this local law which permits construction or use in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by this chapter.
(Ord. 1-1987, passed 4-13-1987)