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. As used in this chapter:
(a) “Area of special flood hazard” means the land in the flood plain within a community subject to a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
(b) “Base flood” means the flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
(c) “Development” means any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures and mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations located within the area of special flood hazard.
(d) “Flood” or “flooding” means 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.
(e) “Flood Hazard Boundary Map” (FHBM) means the official map issued by the Federal Insurance Administration where the areas of special flood hazard have been designated Zone A.
(f) “Habitable floor” means any floor usable for living purposes, which includes working, sleeping, eating, cooking or recreation or a combination thereof. A floor used only for storage purposes is not a “habitable floor. “
(g) “Mobile home” means 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. It does not include recreational vehicles or travel trailers.
(h) “Structure” means a walled and roofed building or mobile home that is principally above ground.
(i) “Substantial improvement” means any repair, reconstruction or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty percent 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 purposes 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.
The term does not, however, include either:
(3) 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
(4) Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
(Ord. 77-65. Passed 10-13-77.)