SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before “start of construction” of the improvement. This includes structures which have incurred “substantial damage,” regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either 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 Development Services Director and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions; or any alteration of “historic structure,” provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure’s continued designation as a “historical structure.”
(Ord. 3639, passed - -2000)