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) "Accessory structure" means a structure on the same lot with, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal structure.
(b) "Appeal" means a request for a review of the Director of Public Service and Safety's interpretation of any provision of this chapter or a request for a variance.
(c) "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.
(d) "Base flood" means the flood having a one percent chance of being equalled or exceeded in any given year. The base flood may also be referred to as the 100-year flood.
(e) "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, excavating or drilling operations located in the area of special flood hazard.
(f) "Federal Emergency Management Agency" (FEMA) means the agency with the overall responsibility for administering the National Flood Insurance Program.
(g) "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 run-off of surface waters from any source.
(h) "Flood Insurance Rate Map" (FIRM) means an official map on which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delineated the areas of special flood hazard.
(i) "Flood Insurance Study" means the official report in which the Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided flood profiles, floodway boundaries and the water surface elevations of the base flood.
(j) "Floodway" means 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.
(k) "Lowest floor" means the lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including the basement). An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage, in an area other than a basement area, is not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that such enclosure is built in accordance with the applicable design requirements for enclosures below base flood elevation specified in this chapter.
(l) "Manufactured home" means a structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis and designed for use with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. "Manufactured home" includes park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles placed on a site for more than 180 consecutive days.
(m) "Manufactured home park or subdivision" means a parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale. "Manufactured home park or subdivision" does not include any manufactured home park as defined in Ohio R.C. 3733.01, over which the Public Health Council has exclusive rule making power.
(n) "New construction" means structures for which the "start of construction" commenced on or after the effective date of this chapter.
(o) "Start of construction" means the date the building permit was issued, provided that the actual start of construction, repair, reconstruction, 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 slab or footings, the installation of piles, the 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; the installation of streets and/or walkways; excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms; the installation on the property of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds, not occupied as dwelling units or part of the main structure.
(p) "Structure" means a walled and roofed building, manufactured home or gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground.
(q) "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 before the improvement or repair is started, or, if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. "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 such alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure. "Substantial improvement" does not include 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 ensure safe living conditions, or any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
(r) "Variance" is a grant of relief to a person from the requirements of this chapter which permits construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by this chapter.
(Ord. 89-33. Passed 9-6-89.)