For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BASE FLOOD. The flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
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.
FLOOD. A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
(1) The overflow of inland or tidal waters;
(2) The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOOD PLAIN or FLOOD-PRONE AREA. Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source (see definition of “flood”).
FLOODPROOFING. 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.
HABITABLE FLOOR. 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.
MOBILE 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. It does not include recreational vehicles or travel trailers. The term includes but it is not limited to, the definition of MOBILE HOME as set forth in the regulations governing the Mobile Home Safety and Construction Standards Program (24 CFR 3282.7(a)).
RIVERINE. Relating to, formed by, or resembling a river (including tributaries), stream, brook, etc.
STRUCTURE. For flood plain management purposes, a walled and roofed building, including a gas or liquid storage tank, that is principally above ground, as well as a mobile home.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. 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. 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 (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.
VARIANCE. A grant of relief by a community from the terms of a flood plain management regulation.
(‘82 Code, § 4-65-3) (Ord. 78-20, passed 7-24-78)