For the purpose of this title, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
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.
BASE FLOOD. The flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
DEVELOPMENT. Any human-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 located within the area of special flood hazard.
FLOOD or FLOODING. A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
(1) The overflow of waters; and/or
(2) The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP or FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP. The official map issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency where areas of special flood hazard are designated as Zone A.
LOWEST FLOOR. The floor of the lowest enclosed area of a structure including the basement. This means any floor used for living purposes, storage or recreation and includes any floor that could be converted to such a use.
MANUFACTURED HOME. 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. For floodplain management purposes, it also includes park trailers, travel trailers and other similar vehicles placed on a site for greater than 180 consecutive days.
MANUFACTURED HOME PARK OR SUBDIVISION. A parcel or contiguous parcels of land divided into two or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.
NEW CONSTRUCTION. Structures for which the “start of construction” commenced on or after May 1, 1989.
STRUCTURE. A walled and roofed building, including mobile homes and gas or liquid storage tanks above ground.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS.
(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 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.
(3) The term does not, however, include either:
(a) 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
(b) Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
(1985 Code, § 11.06.010)